Night feeds at 21 months

2 replies

alliwantissleep · 28/12/2009 19:10

DS2 is 21 months and still wakes for milk during the night usually between 2.30 and 4pm. He'll down a full beaker and then go back to sleep until 7/7.30am. We have had runs of a few nights were he's slept through but then just as I'm starting to feel like a human being again, he starts waking. I have tried giving him water to break the pattern and to encourage him to "fill up" during the day and although he will often go to sleep after water he'll then wake up 5.30/6 screaming for MILK and then won't go back to sleep. He's a big toddler (98 centile for height and 91st for weight)so I am thinking maybe I'll just have to live with it? DD1 slept through from 9 months so never been blessed with a child who sleeps from 6 weeks (ha ha! I think people make these children up to depress me!) My mum keeps telling me she can't believe I give him milk during the night and should leave him to cry and resettle himself. I've never left either of my children to cry it out and don't really want to start now and part of me thinks he wakes because he needs it. I would however love some SLEEP!

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countrylover · 28/12/2009 20:36

I think you already know the answer to this - he doesn't need milk at night. Not at 21 months and not when he's in the 91st centile.

However I completely sympathise as DS1 used to wake up regularly around this time for milk. The solution is simple - leave a beaker of milk by the side of his bed. If he wants it at night then at 21 months I'm sure he can feed it to himself. Unless of course he insists it's served hot!

blinks · 28/12/2009 21:24

it's probably you he wants more than the milk.

i'd try making a BIG song and dance about his pre-sleep milk (maybe buy new milk beaker of his choosng blah de blah), making it clear that it's only for bedtime, not through the night. when he wakes try the rapid return, no verbal attention, tuck back into bed and leave room. there will be tears but that doesn't mean you're being cruel... you're helping him form a more appropriate bedtime routine for his age.

if you have a partner, take it in turns to spread the load.

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