My son is almost a year old and still wakes up once in the middle of the night for a bottle. He does go right back to sleep but it is still something i don't want to continue. Plus, i want to break him of the bottle thing when he turns a year anyway. How do i break him from waking up? He's a good sleeper at night otherwise and i have another baby on the way and there is no way i want to have to deal with 2 babies waking up at night. Help!
Jenna:
lots pf people - infants/ children/ adults do not sleep through the night. at some time he will no longer wake you though he may continue to "not sleep through the night"... relax,
P., RLC, IBCLC
Pres. Lactation Support Group, Inc
www.lactationsupportgroup.com
It's surely habit that he wakes up in the night. Gradually reduce the amount in the bottle each time until it is down to nothing...make it less worthwhile for him to wake up in the middle of the night. For the next baby, a schedule or at least routine of eat, play time, nap, eat play time, nap, etc. will help to promote healthy sleep habits, which not only help you to be well rested, but the baby as well. Plus, the middle of the night feedings are not good for the teeth when they come in because the milk then sits on the teeth while sleeping (unless you brush the teeth after feeding). Hope this helps. Best wishes to you!! :)
I would just simply second the advice that Cheryl gave you. For your next one, I would also recommend scheduling. There is a great book, "Preparation for Parenting" that has tons of information on how to do this.
We have 4 children and have used this method with #2, #3 and are currently doing it with #4, who is just 8 days old. We didn't schedule with #1, and I can tell you, it is a night and day difference! #1 was demanding (still is!) and we had to do the whole bottle/rock to sleep, put in crib...pat to sleep, duck out of sight, crawl out of the room and PRAY he stayed asleep! With the others, they were sleeping through the night by 8 weeks and have been great nappers/sleepers. They learned how to fall asleep on their own so early on, that bedtime/nap time was never an issue. Let me know if you want more info...and I wish you all the best with your new little one on the way.
As a mom whose baby did not sleep through the night until she was 9 mos old (and she was feeding 4-5 times every night), I feel your pain. I may get flamed for even suggesting this, but have you read Ferber's book? He is great and he has a section on night feeding issues. He has gotten a bad rap, but really he is caring and wants the transition to be easy for the baby. Do yourself a favor and don't do any methods that draw it out longer than a few days or so (3 - 4 days maybe). You want the transition to be as quick and painless as possible and Ferber can provide that. Plus, his book is very clearly written and easy to follow (unlike another sleep doc's book who shall remain nameless). As you can tell I am a Ferber convert, but this is only because my husband and I (and daughter) went through hell with sleep issues. It is in your child's best interest to get a good night's sleep, and that can only happen when they are not feeding at night :) Best of luck!
He is, more than likely, waking up because he is still hungry. Have you tried feeding him cereal an hour or so before bedtime? I found that just a small bowl of cereal and some fruit helped my son sleep all the way through the night.
I agree with both of the moms. I had that problem, but I took my son off the bottle early last week and he does not get up and look for that bottle. He turned 1 on May 25. My son is not on the bottle nor is he waking up in the middle of the night. Also try really heard to give him a good dinner. Baby food like chicken if he is on baby food or cream of wheat sticks to their stomaches better. He is looking forward to waking up in the middle of the night getting that good bottle. Good luck it will get better.
I agree with Cheryl too. A 1 yr old should be able to sleep through the night without waking for a bottle. It's all what they get used to. I read a book called "The Baby Whisperer" by Tracy Hogg. I would definitely recommend it to you for your next child. It covers the EASY plan (Eat, activity, sleep, & you time) and gets them on a great routined schedule. All 3 of my kids are great napers and sleepers. I think because I used that plan from about 8 weeks. Good Luck!
Well first of all congratulations on surviving almost your first year year with your first, and congrats on your soon to be new family addition as well. That being said...I feel you. My son woke up several times a night until he was eighteen months. He ate every 1 1/2 hours the first six months of his life, and he was a lazy eater (30 plus minute bottles). My daughter will be one in three weeks, and she wakes up once a night now, when she is not teeting, to eat, usually around 2:30 - 3:30 a.m. I just figure she hasn't eaten for 7 or 8 hours by that ppoint, of course she's hungry...wouldn'y you be too... (fortunately she eats quickly, 5, 10 minutes tops. I'd be willing to bet as his activity level increases he will sleep longer, also have you tried some little toys he can play with, just for him. Do you rush right in? I know I rushed right in wioth my first too. Hang in there, you will all sleep eventually..beside, your hubby could wake up to feed him too, especially since your pregnant right now.
P.S. Also remember, sleeping through the night means seven or eight hours, not twelve.
