Help how do i stop my daughter from waking for a bottle all night?

Question

my 17 month old daughter has been waking up crying for a bottle three or four times a night for the past month she was really sick when it started so i figured it was that and didnt worry but since she got well ,i tried controlled crying, just giving her water so it wasnt worth her getting up but nothing seems to be working ,she still wakes. im 20 weeks pregnant and it is getting harder to stay calm at three in the morning.lol any advice would be welcome.

Answer 1

Ok heres what i did to my son when he was 30 months old and still had a bottle YES A BOTTLE.

I mixed his "normal" milk with a little bit of soy milk to change the taste and i proceeded to do this over several bottles and my son came to the conclussion that the bottles were makin the milk taste funny.

He now drinks milk from a cup like any other normal 4 yo and he doesnt drink it as often and only at brekkie every day.

I used Soy milk as it is healthy for them and it is harmless to them.

PPL CAN THINK IM A BAD MOTHER FOR LETTING MY SON HAVE A BOTTLE AT NIGHT AT 30 MONTHS BUT UNTIL THEY LIVE IN MY SHOES THEY SHOULDNT JUDGE.

AND THE SAME GOES INM EVERYONES CASE UNTIL THEY LIVE IN YOUR SHOES THEY SHOULD'NT JUDGE.

Answer 2

I am dealing with a similar situation with my daughter who turned 16 months old this week. She is a few months behind developmentally due to an condition she had the first 6 months of her life.

Her bedtime is at 7PM and we give her a bottle of milk just before bed. At around midnight or sometimes later, she wakes upset and makes her "sign" for "bottle". When we give it her, she's happy and goes back to sleep for the rest of the night.

Even though her docs say that by the time she is two years old, she should be caught up developmentally, I am still concerned that she is still taking these bottles (the only bottles she has for the day. She takes a sippy during the day.)

I don't have an answer for you but the suggestions given by the other posters are good ones. Some of those that we need to try ourselves. Good luck!

Answer 3

It's sounds as though she may need a comforter. If your happy to let her have a dummy/pacifier I would try that. If she already has one, try waiting for longer periods before you go to her and when you do don't give her a bottle, give her a big cuddle without talking to her at all. Wait until she is settled then put her back to bed without talking or turning any lights on. By her age you could even try explaining to her that it's sleep time when it's dark not time to eat or play she must sleep so that her and mummy are happy in the morning.

It's probably just a faze that will hopefully pass soon!!

Good Luck!

Answer 4

tell her cry...dnt give her a bottle

and eventually she will learn that she cant have a bottle at 3 in the morning!

Answer 5

Keep her nap short during the day or skip it  and get her to bed a little later than usual.  Make sure shes been fed well, Put her to bed with some water and then let her be till morning. (do not enter the room) The first few nights may be hard for you.  But trust me it's so worth it!

Answer 6

Have you tried to stop bottles all together? by 17 months she is well old enough to drink from a sipper cup. My youngest 2 are 18 months apart and it was my mistake not to stop the bottles before the new baby came because the older child did not break altogether from them until the baby did.

Make sure she has some water and a light snack before putting her to bed. I would go in to the room, check her diaper and change it if wet, tell her you love her and that it is time to sleep, cover her up and leave. Do not play, do not pick her up, keep it matter of fact and semi dark in the room.

Also, she may need a change in her nap schedule. My kids were all taking only 1 afternoon nap that was few hours long by this age.

Answer 7

She shouldn't be getting a bottle AT ALL at this age. You'll have to retrain her sleep patterns. No biggie. It happens to us all through out life. Think of how hard it is to get up in the morning after a long vacation of sleeping in...

Don't respond to her calls for a bottle at night. For the first few nights, you can try to calm and soothe her leaving before she actually dozes off, tapering off each night until IF she still cries, she has the ability to self soothe.

Answer 8

First of all, dont listen to those who say she shouldnt have a bottle at this age.  Every mother and child are different, and what was fine for one, may not be for another.  So, ignore that foolishness.

Ok, I suggest changing routines.  Apparently u broke her once from it and only because she got sick has she began doing it again.  I presume she likes the cuddle time with mommy.  I know your nerves are shot, your hormonal but honestly, she wants mom.  She may have gotten a little used to the cuddly nights with u and when she wakes, thats what she thinks about.  

I would be calm with her, I know its hard, but be calm.  Take her out of the crib or whatever she sleeps in, cuddle her up, and let her fall back to sleep without a bottle if u can.  If she insists, give her a little suckle, then when she closes her eyes and relaxes, take it away and lay her back down.  My son went through a spell like that right after he got sick as well.  I had to break the cycle that had made him so secure once again.  He was cuddled and pampered so much while ill, then he wanted it all the time.  And who can blame them?  lol  I would too...lol  

So, a change in routine would be a start if I were u.  Give a nice bowl of rice cereal or something like that before bed, my son always sleeps very well when he gets his before bed.  Be persistant, but remain calm.  She just wants that lovey dovey she had while she was sick.  She will soon move past it and begin sleeping through the night again.  

Also, my son did this during a growing spurt.  He woke a couple times a night hungry.  He would go right back to sleep after a bottle, but it went on like that for about a month or so.  Then abruptly stopped.  My ped. said it was probably a growing spurt, and he had grown an inch since his last appt., so it sounds pretty accurate.  That could be another possibility.  

Just keep in mind, it wont last forever, and treasure these lil moments with her, because soon, she will be getting even less time with u when new baby arrives.  Shes the baby, let her have her time hun.  Everything will be fine.  Good luck and congrats.

Answer 9

you have to do it slowly. My girl was like that. First, give her the bottle with water, if she doesnt take it leave it where she thows it. do this for two nights. the third night talk to her and tell her what and why you are doing this. many parents think kids are not smart enough to understand but you have to understand, if someone does something to you with out telling you wouldnt you be upset? Same for the child even though they may not fully understand talking lessens the blow. then that next day NO BOTTLE!!! This requires stamina to not crack and give it to her.  yo may have to sit by her bed/crib a few nights but dont hold her or pick her up. Wait until she falls asleep and leave the room. I know it is tough but u have to do it when you can stand to loose some sleep.

Answer 10

She has just got herself in the habit after her illness.

Problem is that at 17 months old she will probably get more upset if you don't give it to her. So wait for a weekend when hubby can have a turn and then just stick with NO.

Answer 11

Try not giving her a nap one day.  that way shes to tired to wake up for a bottle.  it  usually works.

Answer 12

OK>>>

I am having the same experience with my daughter who is 18months......

My daughter had a cold (well i thought it was a cold turned out to be chicken pox) and she has taken a milk bottle to bed for ages.....She takes a nomal cup during the day...

Since being sick she has woken up during the night and the only way to get her back to sleep was by giving her another bottle....

What i did as that i went in to her room and changed her bottom then left the room and went and made a bottle but not quite full........Then the next night i cut down her bottle even more and if she woke up it was cut down even more so.......

In the end there was no point giving her the bottle because it would be empty so i just explained that it was empty and there was none left for her...She cried for a little bit but then learnt that mummy wasnt comig back with a bottle and sometimes she would lay there and talk herself back to sleep....

My daughter has never taken a dummy...She hated it...