Ideas on how to stop milk at night please

[peachespaige]

Morning, although it feels like afternoon after yet another practically sleepless night!
Ds is 12 months old and waking 3 times a night. He will drink about 5 oz of milk at these wakings.
He has a nasty cough and cold so Im reluctant to leave him to cry when ill but really the milk must stop.
Should I do it cold turkey or water it down?
If I offer water he takes it and then screams when I put him back to bed.
The trouble is its starting to effect my relationship with dh, we are bickering etc and I want it to stop before we start fully arguing.
This morning ds woke for the 3rd time at 4.45am and cried until 6am with us going in at 10 min intervals.
Im actually starting to feel wretched and Ive got 2 other sons who need me.
Im begining to feel that ds3 is just unhappy.
Please could you help.
Many thanks.

I would suggest you stop one feed at a time. Which one you stop first is up to you but the first one might be easiest as he will still be the most tired. You'll probably need to do some controlled crying but he should quickly get the message. It's your choice whether you offer water or not but that might just means he still wakes looking for water which isn't the idea! Once you've got one stopped and he's sleeping through a bit longer try the next one and then the last one until.

I did this with the 2am feed at about 10 months - took only a few nights until she was sleeping through to a 5am feed. Got rid of that one at about 13 months and for a long time we were up at 5.30am but it was worth it and I wish I'd done it sooner!

The alternative as you say is to do it in one shot which will get it over with but will probably mean a few painful nights of no sleep.

Meant to say - wait until he's well again before you try this or you won't be sure if he's crying cos he's mad that you're not giving him milk or because he's ill.