My son 19 months, still wake up middle of the night at leat 3 times for his formula. I'm working and feel tired the next day because it takes me a while to sleep again after that. What should I do?
2006-07-26 21:23:50 · 15 answers · asked by ? 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Aside from the fact that at this age your baby should be drinking cow's milk from a sippy cup, not a bottle....By the time a baby doubles his birthweight he doesn't need to eat at night, usually around 6 months.
You and your son simply have a bad habit. He is waking at night because he knows you will feed him. He is taking advantage of that.
STOP feeding him at night and teach him to go back to sleep on his own when he wakes up. Here's how:
1. When he wakes up the first time, go to him, hold him, comfort him, and then say goodnight and put him down. Leave the room and let him cry for 5 minutes (watch the clock). It will seem like forever but it's not.
2. After 5 minutes go back in the room, but DO NOT PICK HIM UP. Rub his back or belly, use a soothing voice, say goodnight again and LEAVE THE ROOM. Let him cry for 6 minutes this time, then go back in and again, DO NOT PICK HIM UP.
3. Repeat this process, adding one minute to the cry time every time you do it. Eventually he will fall asleep. It may take a week or two but he will stop waking up once he realizes he's not going to get that bottle anymore.
This is the method I used when we had night-waking problems. It is similar to the Ferber Method, about which you will find a lot of info online.
eta: DON'T leave a bottle of milk in his crib!!! It will rot his teeth. If you must leave a drink for him, make it water. But I wouldn't do it.
2006-07-27 01:55:26 · answer #1 · answered by brainchild 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
formula is for 12 and younger and your child only needs milk a couple times a day. Make sure it is whole milk and not reduced or fat free milk He should also be off the bottle by now. giving him milk or formula in the night will cause early tooth decay and if you keep him on the bottle can cause other serious conditions in the mouth, like the need for braces. If you want him to sleep through the night STOP WAKING UP WITH HIM. he should learn how to self sooth and put himself back to sleep. it's a habit best taught at four mo. for future reference. anyway, it may be hard at first but it only takes a few days and he'll get the hang of it.
good luck
2006-07-27 06:48:13 · answer #2 · answered by pebble 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My son has been sleeping through the night since he was 2 1/2 months old. I always make sure he gets a good meal a few hours before he goes to bed, that way I know he has a fully tummy and will get a good night's sleep. You should switch your son to cow's milk at 19 months.
2006-07-27 09:54:40 · answer #3 · answered by Chewie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No this isnt normal...he should be sleeping through the night..mine did at 3 months. It's a habit and your contributing to it. This could cause weight problems as well. I would try letting him cry it out...or maybe at first replacing the formula with water. And the other person is right...he shouldnt still be on formula. The formula should of stopped at one year..also the bottle should of stopped also. Introduce sippy cups.
2006-07-27 04:34:07 · answer #4 · answered by Bored in Michigan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At 19 months, your son should be on whole milk instead of formula. Also, instead of getting him formula/milk in a bottle, try water instead. It'll have less appeal and eventually he'll decide sleeping is better than water. If he's really resistant then do it gradually by cutting his formula/milk back to half-strength (watering it down). He doesn't really need the nutrition from his drinks at night anyway and he'll also find it less appealing.
2006-07-27 10:29:44 · answer #5 · answered by J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your son should have been off formula MONTHS ago. Give that child whole milk and feed him table food. He's not an infant anymore. And just so you know, all babies are different. My daughter turned 2 just 2 days ago and still wakes up in the night.
2006-07-27 05:05:33 · answer #6 · answered by TINA L 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree that he should be on milk by now. If he's allergic to cow's milk, then soy milk is the way to go. As for the getting up and giving him milk in the middle of the night, I know that has gotten old for you! Try leaving a bottle in his crib where he can find it, propped up on a toy or something. After a few times of waking up he'll reach for it on his own and not bother you. Also, try giving him water or watered-down juice, too.
And get him off the bottle! He's old enough now to be on sippy cups.
2006-07-27 09:26:50 · answer #7 · answered by drewsilla01 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try to decrease the amount of formula you give your son. Try to make sure he has a good, filling meal for tea, macaroni and cheese would be fine, if you have to, just to get him to eat. Give him either a bottle or cup of warm whole milk, before bed.
If he wakes up during the night, just comfort him and let him know it's night night time, and time for him to sleep. He will eventually learn that he won't be getting anything else, and learn to sleep.
Don't get discouraged, it does take time. Be persistent.
For you to go back to sleep, maybe play some soft music, to lull you back to sleep.
Good luck.
2006-07-27 06:57:19 · answer #8 · answered by Mummabear 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your son is 19 months old he needs to be put on regular milk and not formula he needs the calcium from the milk now. and i always gave my kids at that age a hearty warm meal before bed to fill their bellies up and they normally slept most of the night without waking up
2006-07-27 04:30:43 · answer #9 · answered by emilie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Y aren't u giving your child whole milk by now? My lil girl 13 months sleeps through the night now, my almost 3 month old boy now wakes just 2 times...
2006-07-27 04:27:51 · answer #10 · answered by Mama C. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋