Wean from Nighttime Bottle

Updated on November 29, 2007
J.P. asks from Muskego, WI
5 answers

I have a 9 month old daughter who recently had her 9 month check-up. The doctor informed me that I need to wean her from her nighttime bottle. Currently my daughter crawls up to me and gets a little whiny around 7:30-8 pm. This is my cue that she's ready for me to give her the last bottle of the night. As she drinks this she falls to sleep. How do I suddenly change what I've been doing for 9 months? Do I try to give her the last bottle around 6:30-7? Will she still sleep through the night? How do I get her to go to sleep without a bottle? When I put her in her crib, she cries. I look forward to all advice you great moms can offer!

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A.A.

answers from Kalamazoo on

My opinion is that she doesn't really have to give up the bottle just yet right before bed. I'm guessing that the issue is the milk on the teeth all night. Well, just try to give her the bottle at the same time, but in a place or position that she'll stay awake. Then brush her teeth or let her drink a little water to rinse out her mouth, then put her to bed (maybe start reading a story or singing her a song as you rock her or whatever you choose so there is another bedtime "ritual" other than just drinking the bottle.

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J.O.

answers from Boise on

I don't see why she needs to be weaned from her night bottle, I love that last bottle as I rock my one year old to sleep at night, I don't do the whole weaning thing I follow there cues, the more active they become the less bottles they take, same for food. My 15 monthe old usually sleeps threw the night, not always, and if he wakes I give him his bottle, there little bodies no what they need and then they give us the clue. One technique I use to help them fall asleep on thier own w/out letting them cry it out, which I find to be cruel is when they are sleepy and ready for a nap, i lay them down next to me on the couch I sit and they lay down, i give them thier bottle and just sit next to them I put my hand on thier leg or tummy so that I am still there, it doesn't happen right off, and still with time have to rock them those first few days but slowly they start to it on thier own, and then I remove myself from the couch when I lay them down, it doesn't happen over night as nothing does w/ most little ones but it does it in a way that I feel good about and causes very little stress for the little ones, I always rock at night just because w/ all the kids I have he is more interested in what they are doing no matter how tired he is :) I also enjoy that time with him, plus it gives me a reason to tell everybody to leave me alone for a few minutes, it's my "break" time, you can use the same tech with the crib but put a chair in there with and sit by the bed, don't talk to them though it makes it harder to work, and just slowly move away from the bed, don't expect her to sleep threw the night yet some kids don't master it until they are 2, I know some moms believe a child should, but even we adults don't always sleep threw the night and some times wake up for no reason, it is just life, but I beleive it can be done without tormenting a child into fitting into what we want them to do. Good luck.

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H.

answers from Provo on

If the reason behind the no nighttime bottle is becasue of milk in her mouth or causing teeth problems becasue she is sleeping with milk in her mouth then I think there are several options.
First you could put water in the bottle instead of milk, make sure she gets a little something heavier in her tummy before the bottle and then use water. Or if she is not falling asleep drinking the bottle you could use a soft toothbrush or gum brush to clean her mouth out before she falls alseep.
Does she use a binkie or thumb... she may just need that sucking feeling to fall asleep so you could do the bottle an hour earlier and then give her the binkie for that last cuddle as she falls asleep.
I hope you find something that helps.

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N.L.

answers from Omaha on

Our daughter is almost a year and it wasn't until about a month ago we stopped a nighttime bottle. She usually does well without the bottle. She will eat dinner at 5:30 and I will usually try to give her a snack about 7:30...sometimes the snack is milk in a sippy and some crackers or fruit. Does your daughter have a pacifier or a blanket she sleeps with? She may not be hungry for the bottle but that is her security and has been for 9 months. I think as a last resort you could allow her a drink or two from a sippy cup even if it is formula or breast milk. It may take a week or so for her to get use to the new routine. Good luck!

L.C.

answers from Janesville-Beloit on

Any specific reason he gave you for having to take it away? All my girls had a night bottle until they were about a year old (give or take). They gave it up when they were ready. I can honestly say that my 23 year old does not take a bottle in college, my 6 year old doesn't take a bottle to first grade and my 4 year old doesn't take a bottle ot preschool. All kids are different and she will give it up when she is ready.

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