Taking the bottle away @ night!

Korrie - posted on 09/24/2009

I breast fed all four of my children and my last is now 14 mo. and I did the same as far as rolling over and let him feed on demand and I believe it is a comfort thing. Our dr. had said that babies can sleep through the night as early as 1 mo. and they don't need to eat at night. I'm not a perfect mommy but with my 3 other children I also did the same, and to take them off the bottle I basically had to suffer through the water instead of milk and eventually just didn't give the bottle to them and rocked them back to sleep. Also my husband was also a big help! Don't worry it won't last for much longer and really no matter what any one tells you, even me or your dr., no one else is taking care of your child so only you have to deal with it and if it gets too stressful he will eventually give the bottle up!

Stina - posted on 09/23/2009

To me, this is kind of a tough love thing. Taking a bottle to bed is a bad habit and as your doctor said, it's not good for his teeth. It could also leak.

I like the diluting of his night bottle till he rejects it. Less harsh then just taking the bottle away- but, the sooner you do take the bottle away, the less of a fight you'll have from him later on. I gave my son plain water when he needed to stop relying on the bottle to get back to sleep, but I was also holding him so he had me for comfort even when he decided he wasn't hungry since he didn't like the water. As soon as he was calm I'd put him back to bed. Eventually he stopped waking to eat since he didn't like what was being offered. I never left a bottle in bed with him though.

Rebekah - posted on 09/23/2009

Try diluting the milk down with water. And keep diluting until he no longer wants it. I know a friend of mine this worked great for her with her son.

Another option is after he falls asleep, take the bottle out of the crib. If he wakes up, give him a paci instead or an empty bottle for comfort. No milk. I don't know if this will work, but it might.

I stopped night feedings way before 6 months of age, so I wouldn't have to break it later. Sorry I can't be of more help!

Jennifer - posted on 09/23/2009

Throw all bottles away... then the option isnt avaiable to him or you as an alternative. Give him some baby cereal before bed to curb hunger and offer water to him before he lays down. If he rejects it , then he rejects it. It is all about habit and rejement (sp?) anyway... stand firm and get him his own bed....
Think of it like this.. My girls never took a pacifier, never took a bottle at bed time, never slept with me, never sucked their thumbs or any of that. Why you ask? Because I did not allow a habit to begin, at day one, that I would only have to break them of later.

Food for Thought.... Good Luck!

Sara - posted on 09/23/2009

sometimes water helps and is a lot easier on the teeth...also, sometimes it just takes prayer and patience....lay down with him if you have to. it worked for me:)