Can I get some advice on my little girl?

Question

My daughter is 18 mos old. For the past month she wakes up at 2 am every morning & demands milk. Some nights she'll wake up 2 or 3 times and wants it. Of course I always give it to her, which is why, I imagine, she's waking up. I tried giving water & she refuses it. If I don't give in she cries until she pukes. It's awful & I don't know what to do to break this cycle. I brush her teeth in the morning because I'm worried what all the milk will do to her teeth. She used to always sleep through the night so I don't know what started this. I feel stuck & don't know what to do about this. I hate making her scream because she won't eventually stop, like I said she cries til she throws up. I could really use some advice. Thanks.

Just want to add she eats plenty so she's not waking up wanting milk because she's hungry.

I have consulted with her Dr & she acts like its abnormal but said to wait a while longer to see if she stops.

Answer 1

It could be just a soothing thing for her. Try cutting down on the amount you give to her each night till you basically 'wean' her off it. Or you could brush her teeh directly after drinking the milk, it might annoy her enough to not want the milk anymore.

Answer 2

It's not at all uncommon for toddlers to wake up at night needing comfort. She's not waking up because you've been giving her a bottle, she's waking up because something is disturbing her sleep (teething, maybe?) and she still needs help to get back to sleep.

If you don't want her to have a bottle when she wakes, you can begin to replace the bottle with some other form of comfort. For instance, let her have a bottle while you rock her. Gradually reduce the amount of milk in the bottle, but keep rocking her until you can just skip the milk and rock her back to sleep when she wakes.

She'll get past this stage soon, so hang in there!

Answer 3

I used to be a nanny, and this is actually a really common thing. Her asking for milk is an instinctual comfort for her as obviously you used to bottle feed her milk, and now it seems like she is connecting comfort with milk because you bring it to her.

Just in case, I would contact her pediatrician and make sure this isn't a nutritional issue. Even though she may be eating often, and a lot, there could be an underlying thing like diabetes, as sometimes children over drink when they have sugar deficiencies.

But since I'm guessing it's probably not that, I would suggest running her a warm bath with lavender, or her favorite soap. Giving in, even is she is crying to the point of vomiting hysterics, is just a less desireable part about parenting as we never want to leave our children wanting for anything. Try the warm bath in place of the bottle for atleast a week. I think the issue here is her association with YOU and the milk, not just the milk itself.

Answer 4

I know how you feel I been there and am still there with three kids. Has there been a change in situations, like a new babysitter or change in your routine? Another thing ask your Doctor about GERD or a hernia. ( Dont worry its not as bad as you can think.) Go to www.webmd.com and you can look it up. And the fact your daughter is changing and growing this is another growth spurt. I see it helps me to keep my kids awake for most the day or at least 6 hours before bedtime. Also see if she is eating enough I know you are feeding her well but growth spurts can change her appetite and children have small tummies so they can only hold but so much in their tummy at a time. Try giving her a cream to drink before bedtime and when she cries at night. Like Campbell's cream of potato just strain the potatoes out heat it up and put it in the sippy cup. Its thicker than milk but still has a milk like taste. I hope this helps and good luck.

Answer 5

I understand. My daughter was the same way, but with juice. It's not good for their teeth at all.

Naturally you don't want her crying til she throws up (mine was the same way!), but you might just have to let her do that. Have a sippy cup of water near her if she wants a drink in the night, and be firm. Tell her "no milk at night," "milk goes night-night too" or whatever you need to tell her. And yes, the first night will probably be hell. But she'll be ok. It's worth it to save her teeth, trust me.

Answer 6

Haven't read the others so I hope I am not repeating...Have you tried watering down the milk more and more. Maybe she will get to the point where it isn't worth it to her to drink it at night. Good luck!!

Answer 7

either she isnt getting enough befor she goes to bed or shes just getting hungry during the night shes still very young and cant realy explain it so thats probably why she crys if your still worried call your pediatrician

Answer 8

Trust me, she will eventually stop. I went through a similar thing when my son was small. You are doing your daughter no favors by teaching her that all she has to do is through a big enough fit and she will get what she wants.

Answer 9

Have you tried upping her milk before you put her to bed. you say she didn't use to do this but she also didn't use to require a bigger feed... good luck, Mike

Answer 10

ahhhhh welcome to parenthood! been there done this lol. it seems cruel but let her cry...this is just a habit. unless u want to keep waking up let her cry herself to sleep to break the habit. also i know u stated she eats plenty but try something like oatmeal that will really stick to her tummy. hope something works for you! good luck