My 15 month old still wakes up for a bottle at night...

Question

There are times when he doesn't wake up for one but he pretty much wakes up every night for a bottle. He is 15 months old. I tried the crying it out method last night and it was horrible. I gave in and brought him a bottle. I'm about to have my new baby in 3 months and I'm super tired at night. Plus I wake up early in the morning to go to work. The only easy solution is to give him a bottle and he'll fall right back to sleep. But, I'd just rather him stop altogether because I want him to stop drinking a bottle before the new baby comes so he doesn't see the new baby with a bottle and think that he needs one too. What are some of the thinkgs that you've tried that have actually worked?

Answer 1

There's no magic trick I'm afraid.  My son woke up to eat in the night as long as I would feed him.  One night (around 11 or 12 months) I got tired of it, so I quit cold turkey.  The first night was a fight.  But, I did not leave him to cry it out.  I stayed with him and rocked him, walked with him, etc (he was crying, but I was there with him).  It took him about an hour but he fell back asleep.  The next time he woke up, my husband went in to comfort him.  The second night was a little of the same, but not quite as bad.  We did the same sorts of things, mostly taking turns when he woke up, and just rocking him.  My husband mostly went in to comfort him, as I was the one who had been getting up to feed him during the night (I was nursing him).  After a few days, he got out of the habit of needing to eat during the night and was sleeping much better!  It takes a little work, and a few tiring nights but it's worth it!  Just make sure he's well fed before bed.  Good luck!

Answer 2

WOW...this was me just a few weeks ago! My 14 month old would wake up for the bottle every night and I hated to hear him cry so it was easier to give in, but I finally had enough and wanted a good night's sleep. So here is what I did and I am happy to say he has slept through the night for 3 weeks now. I don't put him to bed until between 9 and 9:30 so he is good and tired and I give him a full bottle right before bed. For the first couple of nights he would still wake up and I would let him cry it out, no matter how much I wanted to give in. It sometimes took 20-30 mins for him to fall back asleep, but after a couple of nights he was cured. hang in there I know it's hard to let them cry especially when you just want to get back to sleep, but trust me try it a couple of nights and I am sure he will be cured. Let me know if this works. GOOD LUCK!

Answer 3

It is just something that you are going to have to put your foot down about! I know you hate the crying it out method! I did too!! If you are going to give in make sure there is only water in the bottle. Your son is old enough to be on a sippy cup now. Start offering him the cup more during the day and ween the bottle. At night when he wakes go into his room and comfort him by letting him know you are there. Maybe take in a cup of water. Eventually after a few nights of seeing that you aren't going to bring him a bottle he will eventually give up the battle! It will take crying, but just continue every 5-10 minutes reassuring him that you are near.

Answer 4

This isn't all that uncommon.  I had this problem with my first child.  Have you considered that maybe he's just thirsty at night?  I know the bottle is probably more for comfort, but he could also be thirsty.  I keep water by my bed at night because I often wake up thirsty.

Here's what I did with my first.  I changed it from milk in a bottle at night to milk in a sippy cup at night.  She wasn't happy about it, but she didn't scream like she would if it was nothing at all.  Once she was okay with the milk in a sippy cup I changed it to water in a sippy cup (of which I could leave w/ her before bed, so no nightime waking).  Now I leave water in a regular cup by her bed.  Working gradually helped to make the transition better for all.

Good luck.

Answer 5

I would give him half milk and half water tonight and tomorrow night and then just straight water going forward.  Have the bottle of water ready by your bed and when he wakes up, give it to him and then leave his room.  Let him cry too.  maybe he won't find the water as enjoyable and will stop waking up, or maybe he is just thirsty and will go back to sleep.

Answer 6

give him a soother instead. and make sure that he has something to eat and drink before he goes to bed at night. my son always wakes up like that, or wakes up really early in the morning if he didn't have enough to eat before bed or at dinner.