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Stopping night feeds

11 replies

Tulip65 · 16/08/2026 09:15

My little boy has just turned 1. He currently has 3 meals and 2 snacks a day, plus a bottle
of formula before bed. He drinks water throughout the day but won’t entertain any other types of milk (he has CMPA).

He is cuddled/rocked to sleep for naps and at bedtime but he sleeps happily in his cot when he is put down. Some nights he will let us lie him down when he is drowsy and pat him until he’s asleep, other nights we have to make sure he’s fully asleep before we put him in his cot.

He sleeps through most of the time but he does wake occasionally in the night. He won’t settle back to sleep when this happens unless we give him a bottle of formula. I don’t know what to do anymore, we offer water, he’s accepted this once but the rest of the time he will just cry until we give him a bottle. Last night was 1.5 hours of crying (and it wasn’t just ‘whining’ it was horrible crying while my husband and I tried to soothe him to sleep in any other way other than a bottle but we had to give him 6oz.

I’m convinced he’s not hungry because he eats well in the day but I don’t know what to do when he wakes in the night -
he gets SO upset, it’s not fair on him (or the neighbours for that matter). I was told to just persevere and he’ll go back to sleep but 1.5 hours of screaming tells me different.

The fact he sleeps through most nights tells me he knows how to settle himself when he stirs. He eats the same amount every day so I can’t figure out what is going on or what to do.

Any advice appreciated! We won’t actually have formula soon because of it being prescribed, now he’s 1 we’ve been told we only have a few weeks of ‘transition time’ allowed. We keep trying him with milk alternatives but he isn’t a fan at all.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Peonies12 · 16/08/2026 12:02

Honestly I think you just have to stop it. He’ll go to sleep eventually and should take more calories in the day. As you say, you know he can cope with out most nights. And it’s better dentally to avoid milk after teeth brush at that age

Tulip65 · 16/08/2026 13:07

Peonies12 · 16/08/2026 12:02

Honestly I think you just have to stop it. He’ll go to sleep eventually and should take more calories in the day. As you say, you know he can cope with out most nights. And it’s better dentally to avoid milk after teeth brush at that age

But how do I stop it - I get told this but I just don’t know how? Crying for 1.5-2hours at 2am with no end in sight - I can’t just let that happen!

He takes roughly the same amount of calories every day, he has large portions really and very filling snacks. I don’t actually think he needs more calories in the day, it’s definitely a comfort bottle.

OP posts:
rubyslippers · 16/08/2026 13:09

He may be hungry!
I’d give formula to a one year old especially if when it’s given he sleeps
I wouldn’t deal with 1.5 hours of crying instead
if he was three years old that’s different

LoafofSellotape · 16/08/2026 13:11

I would feed in the night until 18 months then just offer water at night.

Tulip65 · 16/08/2026 13:15

This is an example day of eating:
Breakfast - 1.5 weetabix with peanut butter and oat milk, berries soya yoghurt
Snack 1 - boiled egg, vegan cheese and cucumber sticks
Lunch - chicken and barley stew, leftover pasta, veg sticks
Snack 2 - rice cake with peanut butter, some more vegan cheese
Dinner - spaghetti bolognaise (2 helpings) corn, chia pudding with fruit and soy yoghurt

He had plenty of water through the day and then 9oz before bed

OP posts:
Tulip65 · 16/08/2026 13:16

rubyslippers · 16/08/2026 13:09

He may be hungry!
I’d give formula to a one year old especially if when it’s given he sleeps
I wouldn’t deal with 1.5 hours of crying instead
if he was three years old that’s different

But what about his teeth? He’s got nearly a full set. Plus - he won’t be allowed to have the formula prescribed soon.

It feels so stressful!

OP posts:
Peonies12 · 16/08/2026 13:38

Tulip65 · 16/08/2026 13:07

But how do I stop it - I get told this but I just don’t know how? Crying for 1.5-2hours at 2am with no end in sight - I can’t just let that happen!

He takes roughly the same amount of calories every day, he has large portions really and very filling snacks. I don’t actually think he needs more calories in the day, it’s definitely a comfort bottle.

You just persevere. I night weaned (boob) at 18 months and we just had to take it in turns to hold her for a lot of crying. But a week later she slept through the first time

Boymum2104 · 16/08/2026 13:46

He will night wean in his own time eventually or you can try take it away but it will likely be a few weeks or very disrupted sleep before the habit breaks.. my 20mo & 3yo still have bottles occasionally 😂

rubyslippers · 16/08/2026 14:00

Tulip65 · 16/08/2026 13:16

But what about his teeth? He’s got nearly a full set. Plus - he won’t be allowed to have the formula prescribed soon.

It feels so stressful!

he may be having a growth spurt
there could be all sorts of reasons for his hunger
adults wake in the night and feel hungry and thirsty
I really wouldn’t stress at age 1 - teeth - give them a quick clean after the night feed … he’s so young still
in another month he may be sleeping through

rubyslippers · 16/08/2026 14:01

Peonies12 · 16/08/2026 13:38

You just persevere. I night weaned (boob) at 18 months and we just had to take it in turns to hold her for a lot of crying. But a week later she slept through the first time

18 months is different from 12 months
I think night waking at a year is entirely normal and could be due to hunger

Meand2Ls · 16/08/2026 14:04

Both mine still had milk in the night occasionally until closer to 18 months

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