I have tried and tried to stop him because I feel he is too old. He gets so distressed during the night, he has not slept for three nights, nor have I !, is it wrong to give him what comforts him so much ? It is not the milk (skimmed) so much as the bottle, he would even drink warm water from it. He was so upset he was hitting himself in the chest. Scary ! Am I too soft ? how do I ever get over this ?
2007-08-26 08:45:04 · 40 answers · asked by Alexa 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
You've really got to be harsh I'm afraid. Your child is winning, he kicks up a fuss and you give in. It's a vicious circle. He really should give up having a bottle, it is not healthy for his teeth. Perhaps take things in stages, first try changing his bottle to a cup that has a lid similar to a bottle teat and move on from there to a normal drinking cup. Take him shopping and let him choose a new teddy/toy as a bedtime comforter. It might take weeks to sort out but you have to perservere.
You are in charge not him and be firm!
Can I just add that you really should be giving him full fat milk or semi skimmed milk at his age. Skimmed milk does not provide enough energy or vitamin A for him.
Why is everyone getting thumbs down for stating proven medical facts? Pathetic
2007-08-26 08:56:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
It can be really hard to give up something like a bottle at bedtime especially the older they get, that is why when my son turned 2 we went through a few sleepless nights to get him off of his bottle. You just have to be firm I know it can be hard but the sooner you realise eventually it's got to be done it will seem easier. I know you've probably tried this but take him shopping and let him choose his own 'big boy cup'. As mummy's we feel we have to do what is right all the time and often feel useless so if it's really hurting you not giving him the bottle and the fact he has it doesn't bother you then just give in. My cousin was 6 when he gave up his bottle he is now 18 and perfectly normal!! Have you ever seen a grown up with a bottle? He'll give up when he's ready if your not ready yet. I really hope I helped and didn't just confuse you more!!
2007-08-28 10:13:06 · answer #2 · answered by Girlie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dont worry too much about this. Give him the bottle but only with water for a while and give him a special cup during the day that you can substitute later for the night cup. My son had a bottle for bed every night till he was 3 then I shown him that the bottle was broken and that he would have to start using his cup instead (I broke the bottle myself). (MAM cups are great for weaning) After he saw that his bottle was broken he seemed to accept it more than me telling him he had to be a big boy and leave it be. He wasn't ready for accepting he was a big boy as he wanted to stay the baby (second child).
Perseverance is the key but dont get stressed over it he will fell this and want the bottle more. Just keep trying. Good Luck!
2007-08-26 22:53:12 · answer #3 · answered by beccanross 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Think he ight be to old for a bottle at four however its not doing him any harm either.
Would he take one of the sippy cup things instead of a bottle you know the ones with the teet like tops. You could try giving him warm milk in the day jst to see how he reacts to the cup if he likes it through the day maybe he would be ok with it at night. My babys are 2 and 1 and they get a cup of water/ or milk to take to bed with them because a always need a drink in thew night so this is incase they need one to.
Hope this helps
2007-08-27 21:28:34 · answer #4 · answered by dan fan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is he really into being a "big boy" if so explain to him babies use bottles not big boys and have him throw all the bottles away! At the first birthday is when the bottles are supposed to go away and no milk at all at night once teeth come in! Consider getting him a sippy cup with a straw if he absolutely HAS to have some form of liquid in bed! Consider getting him a special bedtime "lovey" stuffed animal special blankie...etc. Also be aware that letting him have unlimited access to liquids at bedtime will sabatoge his potty training! My son is 3.5 years old and no liquids for an hour before bedtime except to rinse his teeth after brushing. That and he hasn't used a sippy cup for over a year now.
If he has to scream it out at night then fine but don't let him sleep during the day to make up for the lack of sleep at night. He's got you tricked into serving him and it's not right... Be mommy and set down the rules!
2007-08-26 09:00:25 · answer #5 · answered by starfire978 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
If I were you, I'd stop giving him milk in the bottle and swap to water instead. I wonder if he'll get so bored with the water that he'll not bother with it after a while anyway.
My little boy stopped having bottles at 13 months, but then he's so laid back he's almost horizontal. No idea where he got that from because his Dad and I aren't!
Good luck, hope you get some sleep soon!
2007-08-26 10:51:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My son is the same, he is nearly two though so a bit younger, but he will not go to bed without a bottle of milk, and if he wakes in the night which is usually two or three times a night, he has to have annother bottle of mildk and then he will go straight back to sleep. I have tried to get him off this routine, but to be honest if a bottle or dummy is all that will get him to sleep then so be it. I make sure his teeth are brushed twice a day. Ignore all the people with perfect children that just go to sleep when they are told without needing any thing to help them relax, they don't understand. I have tried going to doctors, they won't give him anything to help him sleep because he is not two yet, and they tell me to just ignore him and let him scream the house down all night every time he wakes, but they also do not understand that I have other children who need to sleep and my husband has got to drive around all day every day at work and needs his sleep. I really don't want to listen to a little boy crying all night and throwing himself around just because he wants a bottle.
I personally wouldn't want him to still have a bottle or a dummy at the age of four, but if it is only at bedtime, then I can't see it is a major problem. Maybe just try the water in the bottle, then maybe you could get a kids flask with his fave character on it- one with a sports cap- that he will drink through the lid- and tell him that is instead of his baby bottle. My older two who are 7 and 10 still take water to bed in one of those just so they have a drink that won't spill too easily for the night.
It's worth a try, but don't feel bad for giving in to this, you need to sleep and this way every one gets some rest.
By the way.... Some people are telling you to not go back in his room and let him tear his room apart etc but not go back to him............. My son isn't even two and he gets out of bed, opens the door and stands at the top of the stairs by the stair gate and shouts at me in the middle of the night, MUM , NILT ( MILK), and if I don't go to him with it he will stand there and shout and scream all night. How do you think she is going to keep a four year old in his bed??? Just wondered.......
2007-08-26 09:35:09 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
God... my answer is going to be different from everyone else's and I will probably will be skinned for it.
I say it is NOT wrong. NOTHING WRONG in giving your kid what comforts him the most. What I think you should, however, do is to USE the ability of a 4-year old to understand that he is no longer a baby.... Talk to him during the day.... offer him a reward every time he manages to go to sleep without a bottle of milk. If you fail,.well,. he'll grow out of it I thing (we don't really think that he will still be doing it at age 15, do we ?) And how is he at other things? Is he perfectly normal ? - If so.... then continue giving him what he needs. It is a private thing between you and your child now and I am sure he will grow out of it.
2007-08-26 09:06:32 · answer #8 · answered by RED-CHROME 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Look my nephew turned four in June and he lives 1 week with mom and 1 week with dad. At mom's house he gets a sippy cup of milk at bed time and at dads nothing. He does trow a fit at dads house but dad just ignores him. The more attention that you give him with this then the more he is going to use it against you. It is hard to deal with this stuff but here is a neat trick that my husband told me. Take your child to the store what ever store you want. Have him pick out something that he really wants and make him pay for it with his bottle and explain to him that he can't have the bottle back because he used it to pay for this totally awesome toy. It may work. It's at least worth a shot. Of course you may have to wink at the cashier so they understand that they are to take the bottle and keep it. I hope this helps.
2007-08-26 11:58:09 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My mother worked at a children's dentist and most of the "cases" they saw where children needed capped or replaced teeth all together because of what dentists refer to as bottle rot.. The milk is full of sugars that if left on the teeth will rot the tooth enamel and eventually cause cavities and tooth loss. It also has a damaging effect on the adult teeth that have not "come down" yet... It's very, very bad for children to have juice/milk at bedtime... If you have to try water... Good luck
2007-08-26 14:24:02 · answer #10 · answered by pebblespro 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋