My fiance's 2 yr old daughter will only go to bed if she has a cup of juice with her. We put her to bed, by the time we go to bed the cup is empty and she wakes up in the middle of the night screaming because she is thirsty. I know juice is bad because of the sugar and can cause cavities... How can I break this habit of having juice in bed, and in the middle of the night? I've tried putting water in her cup but she knows the difference between that and juice. I've also started to dilute the juice with water,but I don't want her to end up with bad teeth. Is there anything else I can give her to drink at night that is better for her teeth, or any ideas of how to break this habit?
2007-10-22 02:47:34 · 17 answers · asked by Riley's Mommy 6 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
When I got my daughter off of the night time bottle of milk, she threw a fit! I just gave her water, and it took about three days of her crying at night to get her to accept it..You are just going to have to bite the bullet and give her water..Besides, when it's time to potty train, this will help too!
2007-10-22 02:54:44 · answer #1 · answered by Momto8gr8 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You said it yourself...it is a habit...now you just have to break her of it...she continues it because you continue....even at that age children are extremely far from stupid and she knows that by screaming it will get her her way. Talk to her and tell her that she will get a bit of juice (water it down) before she goes to sleep. It may take a bit of time, and you may have to let her scream a few nights, but do NOT give in in the middle of the night. If necessary, get up and tell her again that she had her juice before she went to bed and even assure her that she can have more in the morning, but none in the middle of the night. Reassure her of your love for her, then if you have to, let her scream. She will soon get the idea that you mean what you say and you may be amazed how this will work with other things she wants.......
2007-10-22 03:01:21 · answer #2 · answered by mbsb813 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would definately dilute the juice. I would have her only drink it before bedtime only. Not during the night. Get 100% pure apple juice, or Orange juice with no sugar added. All fruits have natural sugar. I wouldn't recommend the Fruit punches, they have more sugar in them. Don't let her sleep with the juice. Supervise her drinking it then you can put the cup away.
Perhaps you can brush her teeth after she drinks her juice and if she gets up in the middle of then night tell her it is water only or nothing at all, or extremely diluted juice like 1/4 juice and 3/4 water.
2007-10-22 02:55:45 · answer #3 · answered by Laura 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
She doesn't NEED anything during the night period. If she truly is thirsty then she would be drinking the water. Obviously she has control of the situation and has the adults well trained to give her what she wants. How you break the habit is simply to NOT give in to her demands for juice, either water or nothing. Yes she will throw a fit. So you walk away.
2007-10-22 07:33:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Over the course of a couple of weeks, gradually dilute the juice with water until it is almost all water. Then, give her a cup of water in case she gets thirsty in the middle of the night.
There may be a few nights of her screaming about it, but you need to be consistent. Giving in after a few nights of screaming is worse than giving in the first night. That teaches her that she just needs to scream louder and longer to get what she wants.
Actually, her dad needs to be consistent. She's his kid, so it's his decision.
Regarding the thirst, it this a common thing? Is she thirsty all the time? It's probably nothing, but it may indicate a medical issue.
2007-10-22 03:07:06 · answer #5 · answered by Kellie W 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Once a child is used to getting or doing one thing it becomes a hard habit to break. The only thing that I can suggest is to only give her the water if she absolutely will not go to sleep without something to drink. She is going to cry, scream, and pitch fits. But eventually, after some sleepless nights, she will get the hint. She has to know who is in charge, you and not her. I know that it sounds kind of cruel, but it is better than hearing her scream in a dental office because she is afraid of getting a shot for a cavity. Good luck and hope this helps.
2007-10-22 02:56:44 · answer #6 · answered by hairwstyle 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
start her on the routine of having a drink before bed (preferable water if she has brushed her teeth already) then thats it till morning. When she wakes up in the night, you just sooth her back to sleep, dont give in. It will take a few days to break the waking up but you have to hang in there if you want to break the habit
2007-10-22 04:04:32 · answer #7 · answered by louie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
go cold turkey and be consistent....That is what my sister and her husband did with their 3 year old daughter. She would wake up TWICE a night for juice and they would give it to her rather than hear her cry but her teeth suffered because of it. It took 4 nights of crying but she does not drink anymore at night, only before she goes to bed and only a sip and she is now out of diapers. Your fiancee's daughter is probably in diapers because she is drinking at night...no water, as well...she will be peeing the bed after the diapers.
2007-10-22 03:32:57 · answer #8 · answered by ♥Sexy Mama of 2 cuties♥ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try Giving her the juice before she goes down for the night, after she drinks it have her brush her teeth. Then give her water for in the middle of the night. she won't like it but will get use to it.
2007-10-22 02:55:11 · answer #9 · answered by TD R 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would begin to water down the juice that she receives when she first goes to bed. When she wakes up in the middle of the night.. I would offer her only water. I might try to offer a stuffed animal or other comfort item to help her sleep. Good luck...
2007-10-22 02:52:33 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Just keep diluting it more and more every few nights until it is just water then make sure you brush her teeth every morning. My kids need a sippy cup with water in order to go to bed.
2007-10-22 03:09:39 · answer #11 · answered by notthatiknow 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋