Getting Rid of the Bottle and Sleeping Through the Night??

I think just going cold turkey would probably be best... you'll probably have a few rough nights, but then it should get better. If not, just put water in the bottle, then slowly decrease the amount until there is nothing. I'm sure you probably already know this, but letting babies/toddlers sleep with bottles increases the chance of getting ear infections (and thus having to have tubes put in) and is bad for their teeth. So, the sooner you take it away the better.

As for sleeping through the night, she may not feel well, but part of it may also be habit. Put her back to bed (her bed) without talking and without turning on lights. Back to bed and say "It's night-night time." If she gets up again, don't say anything, just put her back to bed. If you're sure she's not waking because she isn't feeling well, then don't feel badly about letting her cry for a bit. She's old enough that she should start to get the point that night time isn't for playing, it's for sleeping. Be consistent, stick to it, and eventually they will get it.

well, you have a couple of problems. 1 is that by 2 your child does not need a bottle at night. She is doing it out of habit or for comfort and you need to wean her off of it.

Also, if the girls want in your bed at 3 am - dont let them! Put them back in their own beds, tell them you love them and will see them in the morning, and keep doing it until they stay in their own beds! It will be hard and probably result in a couple of sleepless nights, but it's better in the long run. Good luck!

I agree with Amber too. Nip it in the bud now and you'll be much happier in the long run... and so will your kiddos!

Have you considered that she might have a food allergy? Lots of kids who need tubes are allergic to milk (but don't wait for a doctor to suggest that) and GERD can be caused by food allergies too...I've had docs tell me they are 2 different things, but when I was nursing my daughter and went off of dairy, hers improved dramatically. My daughter still has food issues (allergy, intolerance, doesn't matter. Might not show up on an allergy test, but foods definitely affect her.) They also affect her sleep. Waking at night...often with nightmares, sometimes screamsing. Waking early and needing to come to our bed...still happens (because she's got issues with corn which is virtually impossible to avoid in this country--even on fruits and veggies). With dairy products, it may take up to two weeks to get it out of their system and see a difference, but it may be worth a try. (My daughter didn't sleep through the night until she was around two when we eliminated some corn derivatives--vitamin enriched juice and rice milk. Now if she has a corn free day, she sleeps 12 hours at night. But unfortunately, I've had no help from docs...I had to diagnose her myself, and I've had two allergists tell me to let her eat what she wants, even though foods change her behavior and personality, plus sleep problems). Good luck.

Life is full of habits with kids. If you start a night bottle it will go on and on, if you start letting them in bed it will go on and on and the longer it goes on the harder to break. I would stop the night bottles NOW. I had a child that did that and I gave in because I didn't want the hassle in the night but as I had more kids I stopped it right away. No need for bottles all night, we don't eat all night, and maybe that would help the gerd and ear problems as they say not to give bottles laying down as it affects the ears. Stop the bottles and stop the getting in your bed now and you won't sleep for a couple of nights but it will stop quickly IF you are consistent. Hard to do when you need sleep but otherwise you'll continue to be up all night anyone with bottles and kids in the bed.

As far as getting rid of the bottle, I suggest cold turkey. My 27 month old had her binky until about a month and a half ago (only at nap and bedtime) but once I found out she was napping at daycare without it, I asked her if she had one at daycare at bedtime and she said no so I told her we were getting rid of them. She's asked for them a few times but that is it. I'm not sure if getting rid of the bottle would be that easy. I know this is not a full proof idea but what about allowing her to switch to water in a sippie cup to take to bed? Or offer to take her to build a bear and use the bottles to 'pay' for her new bottle (essentially a new comfort item).

As far as getting up through the night, my daughter still does as does my nephew who is four. I think some kids are great sleepers, others are not great sleepers and others are just light sleepers. My problem is that once my daughter wakes up, she cannot fall back asleep on her own because she's used to us being there while she's falling asleep (first I nursed her then would rock her when she was older, now I just sit in the room with her).

Regarding sleeping in bed with you, we choose to allow our daughter to do this if she gets up several times a night or asks to come in our bed. I guess my husband and I just don't mind it (he doesn't usually go to bed until around 4 am due to his work schedule). I guess my thinking is that I'd rather her fall back asleep quickly than risk her waking up again when I leave and having to go back in there! However, I have a three month old who sleeps next to our bed so I guess one more child in our room/bed isn't a big deal. I also keep telling myself that someday, they won't want to be in teh same room, let alone the same bed at me so I'm taking it while I can!

Good luck!

amber described exactly what i would do...so i won't repeat it! good job amber!