[Bridgett_H]

I know this is not good, so I don't need people jumping on me. I just need to see if y'all think my solution sounds like a good plan. I am guilty of the biggest mommy sin ever. I let Jr go to sleep with a bottle. I know you're not supposed to, but it started when we were cosleeping, and he would wake up for a bottle well, I would just give it to him while I was still laying down with him. Then when he started being able to hold it himself he wanted to. Fast forward to going to his own bed...he still would cry to have his bottle. We tried pacis and everything else, but the only way he'd stop screaming was the bottle. Well, now he has teeth, so it has to stop. I'm thinking today I'm just going to stop giving him anything in a bottle but water. I thought if I make the bottle not so tasty, he might not want it. I'm just going to give him milk and everything in a cup, and give him a bottle of water when he goes to bed, and maybe he'll stop wanting it. At least it won't hurt anything anyway.
Does this sound like a stupid plan? He's mostly drinking out of cups anyway. He only gets the bottles at bedtime, so it's not going to cut back on how much he's getting or anything. Anyway, like I said...we've tried every other solution I can think of, so I finally decided maybe cold turkey is the only thing going to work. I'm just getting really frustrated.

[AmandaEliz]

Actually, I think that sounds like a great plan. I was thinking "maybe if she just put water in the bottle, he would stop wanting it" before I got to the end. I do have to say, I think he might be a little angry about it for awhile & you might still have to deal with some crying & sleep deprivation when you make the switch. I know that really stinks because you're in that exhausting 1st trimester.

We all do things that are "no nos" I think, especially when it comes to trying to get some sleep.

[Arei_720]

If he flat-out refuses the bottle of plain water, try doing it more gradually by watering the milk down a little more each night.

The others said what I was thinking. Good luck with it, let us know how it works.

[madelynsmomma]

I would do a couple nights of half water/half milk, then go to straight water. He'll probably freak at going straight to water right off. Or maybe not? Maybe its just a comfort thing now and he won't care whats in the bottle. But if it were me I would do half/half then all water. Also, lose the guilt! Faaaaaar from the biggest mommy sin in my book!

[Daffodil]

My daughter wakes up at night for a bottle... I got her to actually sleep through that bottle a couple of months ago by diluting it with water and then just water... but it doesn't work anymore. It seems like she is hungrier/thirstier than ever these days. If I just give her water at night she cries until she gets formula. Last night she had a 6 oz bottle at bedtime and woke up a few hours later and had another 6 oz bottle. She was drinking as if she was in the Sahara!

So....no advice. Just wishing you good luck!

[starrsgirl]

I actually think it sounds like a good plan as well. But, I kinda agree with Seema above. He may actually be hungry at least once during the night still. So, in that case, I might feed him a real bottle to get some ounces down him. Then take it away and give him the bottle of water that he might fall asleep with. I dunno, just a thought. Emmett is still getting up at least once per night and is actually hungry IMO.

[Bridgett_H]

Thanks guys. I gave him a bottle of water at his first nap, and he went right to sleep. Something tells me his actual bedtime might not be that easy, but at least it gave me a little hope.

[dinamommy]

I hope it works out for you! I have no idea what to add. The only time Eli even gets a bottle is once in a very great while he'll get some watered down apple juice.

[Karlie]

I don't leave my kids with bottles, but I stopped Luca waking up for one by offering him water intead. He now has a non- spill sippy of water that he sips on through the night if he wants to.

I can think of much worst "mommy sins". I think the water is a good idea.

[Wren]

So, we sometimes give Stella a bottle before nap time in her crib, or her 4 am bottle in her crib. She finishes it in about 10-15 minutes, falls asleep, and we take it out. I know I am not supposed to do this, but is the real issue if they are sucking on it all night long?

[TarrahLovesHuLo]

Originally Posted by Wren

So, we sometimes give Stella a bottle before nap time in her crib, or her 4 am bottle in her crib. She finishes it in about 10-15 minutes, falls asleep, and we take it out. I know I am not supposed to do this, but is the real issue if they are sucking on it all night long?

The actual issue is that the sugars in the milk/formula can rot their teeth with time. The sugars and bacteria are able to attack their teeth all night as they sleep.


(I too don't think this is the worst mommy sin, and have nothing to get on your case about. We do what we can for sleep in the beginning, and sometimes we pay for it later. LOL. At least you are trying to change it )