Sleeping through?
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Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
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Topic: Sleeping through?
Posted By: Sharlene28
Subject: Sleeping through?
Date Posted: 15 April 2011 at 12:51pm
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Hi all, my son is 13 months old and usually wakes up once per night, has a change and a bottle and goes back to sleep without any problems.
However, I was speaking to someone recently who was genuinely surprised at this and mentioned that I should employ a tough love approach and stop giving him the bottle mid way through the night. They suggested that I go in and comfort him after 10 minutes of grizzling and so on. I don't think this would go down well with him (naturally) and I think it would really bother me. I know that the mid-night bottle will finish at some time, but I really would prefer it to be a natural transition rather than me forcing the issue. Is this wishful thinking or do I need to be more proactive??? ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 15 April 2011 at 12:54pm
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Pfft .. if you were ok with how it was going, what does it matter what someone else says is "normal".
I'd prefer just to give them the bottle, change and go back to bed instead of fart arsing around at stupid o'clock with an upset child.  ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year  http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: SpecialK
Date Posted: 15 April 2011 at 1:01pm
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What lilfatty said! If you are happy with how things are, why change? My only concern would be whether the night time bottle is affecting his eating during the day but if his eating is fine, then I would do what works for you. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: maya22
Date Posted: 15 April 2011 at 1:05pm
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if you want it to be a natural progression then decrease the amount in the bottle by 30 ml every second night.
He might gradually start eating more during the day which would be better digestively speaking than guzzling a bottle of milk in the middle of the night. In a years time, do you still want to be giving a bottle? How about in six months? You are reinforcing it, so if you do not think it is going to be something you *want* for your child, then maybe you could think about how you might move along the path to changing the habit. With no bottle in the middle of the night, there would not need to be a nappy change either, and the two of you might enjoy sleeping more than being awake? ------------- DS1 July 2007 DS2 Nov 2010 http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: notenufchaos
Date Posted: 15 April 2011 at 1:06pm
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My 14 month old also still wakes once a night i think its pretty normal, the only people i know (mostly) that have babies leeping through are people who have done the cry it out approach or controlled crying my first DD started sleeping through at 16 months and at almost 3 is a fantastic sleeper so im just happy to wait until she is ready - we have had the odd might of sleeping through so i dont think it is far away now,.
if you dont see it as a problem then dont worry about it ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  DD 1-25/05/2008 DD 2-2/2/2010 |
Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 15 April 2011 at 1:13pm
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Isn't it frustrating how there's always some 'better' way to raise the kidlets? I reckon if you're happy, just keep going the way it suits you.
Chances are that yes, he could do without his bottle if you really hated getting up and wanted to change things. But if you want him to drop it himself, and are happy to keep giving it to him, do it your way! It's not going to do any harm at all or anything  -------------   
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Posted By: Bexee
Date Posted: 15 April 2011 at 1:33pm
| DS woke in the night on and off until about 15 months - still sometimes does at 20 months but that's usually only if he's sick. We did the bottle and he slept through in his own time. To be honest, I couldn't deal with the fight at night and would rather just be up and down quickly and have everyone happy that the fight (and DS would have fought!!!) Now if he wakes in the night he very rarely has a bottle. We didn't change anything to get him to sleep through, I think it was just time. |
Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 15 April 2011 at 1:37pm
Id find it HIGHLY unlikely that the child is going to wake for a bottle of milk and a nappy change forever .. by the time they are toddlers they arent even in nappies anymore  ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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maya22 wrote:Posted By: maya22
Date Posted: 15 April 2011 at 1:47pm
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I dunno, DS1 was in a night nappy until 3 years 6 months, and that is reasonably quick tting at night
If the OP doesn't want to be giving a bottle at night, then there are many options that don't involve leaving to grizzle/cry/scream for 10 min. In our case, dropping the volume in the bottle by 30 ml every second night worked really well, and it is worth considering, if the OP is interested. Of course the OP may like to change a nappy in the night? But it is somthing that would be waking the toddler up more in the night which could be avoided in many (most?) cases by dropping the volume of milk in the night. ------------- DS1 July 2007 DS2 Nov 2010 http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: 1st_Time_Preggies
Date Posted: 15 April 2011 at 1:48pm
| My DS has always been a shocking sleeper, and once a night would be a good night! :-) I ONLY night weaned when he was about 11 months because boobie stopped putting him back to sleep. I would happily have carried it on otherwise! So I agree with the others, if you are happy, carry on. I believe they will sleep through of their own accord, and do not believe in CC or CIO, so hopefully my DS will prove me right at some stage :-) |
Posted By: crafty1
Date Posted: 15 April 2011 at 1:53pm
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If you are happy with doing it then don't worry about it. Personally i couldn't handle still getting up in the night at that point but if it aint broke for you then don't fix it.
BTW lots of babies do sleep through on their own - DS1 at 12 weeks, lots of babies in our baby group did at around that age too and my sil's DD3 at 7 weeks!!! Was so jealous of that. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: Sharlene28
Date Posted: 15 April 2011 at 1:56pm
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Update: I thought that the longer a nappy is on a child the more likely nappy rash is, that's why I always change him when I give him the bottle, keep going ladies you're really helping! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: newme
Date Posted: 15 April 2011 at 1:58pm
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If it isn't a problem for you or your child then just leave it alone :)
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Posted By: Sharlene28
Date Posted: 15 April 2011 at 2:07pm
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So toddlers generally sleep through eventually of their own accord?
I guess I don't really want to be still waking up in the middle of the night when he's say, two, but if he's likely to drop the bottle himself in the next few months I'll probably just leave it. However, if he's likely to be perfectly happy having a bottle indefinitely then I'm going to have to do something about it. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: MamaT
Date Posted: 15 April 2011 at 2:24pm
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Remember the saying - "Don't fix what ain't broke".
My son is 15months and still wakes anywhere from 3-8 times a night, but a quick breastfeed and/or cuddle aways fixes it and he's soon back fast asleep. Personally this is much easier and far less stressful for both me and him than employing some 'sleep training' method. Like someone else mentioned, I believe babies learn to sleep on their own accord. They won't be waking in the night for milk forever, so if you're happy with it, why change? -------------  
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Posted By: maya22
Date Posted: 15 April 2011 at 2:28pm
Not all.... and you can't know in advance when. But maybe in a few months it might matter more to you whereas now it doesn't sound like it does ------------- DS1 July 2007 DS2 Nov 2010 http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 15 April 2011 at 3:34pm
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my 14 month old still does wake though its once now..and i feed him as well..he 100% isn't hungry it's just habit..i prefer to do it naturally too I have decided i just dont have the energy for any other way!:) and the bottle way is 9mins up and back to bed:) unless teething.. we dont change in middle of night anymore..that took 13.5 months though:) I am different in that I really am over it( i do them all and with no sleep since i got preg it's grating on me now! ) i certainly did not expect to with him ..my first son wasn't even having bottles at this age lol
but if you are happy i say stay with it:) all good! about half the kids i know his age sleep through and half don't ... ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 15 April 2011 at 3:51pm
Is he in MCN or sposies? Sposies are designed to last the night I've not changed DD overnight since she was 8 weeks old unless she did #2's. Huggies will hold up to 12 hours of pee and we've never had a problem with nappy rash. It's made feeding her in the night a lot quicker and easier ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: escadachic
Date Posted: 15 April 2011 at 4:28pm
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I'm on the fence regarding this subject.
I personally don't like having to go downstairs while half asleep to get a bottle. What I do, is give her a chance to self-settle and if it seems like she's not going to, I'll go in and cuddle her back to sleep. If she's teething and needs some pain relief, I'll give her some and as a last resort, if all that doesn't work, I'll give her a bottle. And yes, huggies and even treasures are good for overnight sleeps, with no need to change. I can't remember if your boy wears MCN's or disposables at night. -------------   
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 15 April 2011 at 5:41pm
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I don't change DD overnight unless she poos as well. We are in Sposies and for us personally only the Woolworths Select ones work atm.
I agree with LF and if it isn't bothering you then where's the issue? That's just their opinion imo. I also agree that they will break the habbit when they are ready. It won't last forever... My 14mo still wakes about 4+ times a night! But for me personally I find it much easier to just give her a quick 5 min breast feed and then back to bed rather than being up for a few nights in a row for hours on end with a baby who is upset and won't sleep by the sudden confusion of the sudden change and then is grumpy the next day as a result... Just my 2c worth. If it is bothering you then there are things you can do but if it isn't bothering you then don't worry too much about it, they will wean from it when they are ready. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: HuntersMama
Date Posted: 15 April 2011 at 6:03pm
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DS starting sleeping thru pretty early on, nothing I did its just the way he was. I found it soooo much easier settling him at him when all he woke for was a feed......now if he wakes (which he does when hes teething etc) its takes a while to settle him again, where as when he woke for a feed it would be 15 mins max.
When we started to cut the night feeds, I wouldnt rush in as soon as he started crying. Most time he would be asleep within a few minutes and not wake until morning but if he persisted with crying I would get up and change/feed him. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Mum2ET
Date Posted: 16 April 2011 at 9:53am
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only just skimmed the other posts BUT.. #2 still wakes 3x a night for a quick b/f feed (I am planning on trying to night wean sometime soon in the future) and I never bother changing this nappy and he doesn't get nappy rash.
#1 had 1 feed in the night until she was 2 and then I totally weaned her and staight away she stopped waking in the night for the feed and from then on was a perfect night sleeper.....so there is hope.
Just do what feels right for you. If you don't have a problem waking once in the night, then just carry on. Personally for me if I only had to wake up once a night I would be very happy. ------------- Mum to Ella (5) and Tom (2) |
Posted By: Sharlene28
Date Posted: 16 April 2011 at 10:03am
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Thank you ladies, your responses have been very helpful! It's rather ironic that last night he chose to sleep right through from 6.30pm till 7 this morning :) looks like things are fine the way they are and he's going to do it himself anyway. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: maya22
Date Posted: 16 April 2011 at 11:52am
there you go, looks like he doesn't *need* the food at night afterall 
hope you managed to sleep through too! ------------- DS1 July 2007 DS2 Nov 2010 http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: freckle
Date Posted: 16 April 2011 at 2:47pm
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Good stuff Sharlene - Fx it continues! ... I gave both my older two a bottle in the night until they stopped wanting them. They both gave them up on their own at around 18 months. I did it cos it was the easiest thing to do, and I preferred to let them have it than have them distressed about it - I will do the same with number 3.
Maya - after reading your comment I went and reread all the posts and I didn't really get the impression anyone was saying they still *need* the bottle, just that some still *want* it - and I guess for some (me included) that's a good enough reason to give them one and get some sleep ------------- mum to 3 lovely girls :D |
Posted By: Mum2ET
Date Posted: 16 April 2011 at 2:57pm
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Thats great Sharlene
Tom doesn't need the feeds, but at the moment its much easier giving him a quick feed (i.e. 2-3mins) and then he goes back to sleep without a fuss rather than listening to him cry/grizzle for hours. What works for one family doesn't necessary work for another.... ------------- Mum to Ella (5) and Tom (2) |
Posted By: Sharlene28
Date Posted: 16 April 2011 at 2:57pm
| Thanks Maya and Freckle, I actually didn't sleep through because DH sets the alarm clock for 3.45am to get up for work...sigh! At least he works 4 on 4 off so it doesn't happen all the time. |
Posted By: escadachic
Date Posted: 16 April 2011 at 9:44pm
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Glad to hear he slept through the night. Pity DH woke you!
Hopefully he sleeps through again. Wish Annabelle would sleep through! -------------
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Posted By: londonbaby
Date Posted: 17 April 2011 at 8:34am
I have never used CIO or CC and my DS has slept through from 3 months. I think all babies are different just as all parents are different. There is no right or wrong. If you are happy feeding your baby in the middle of the night then don't change it :) Its not like there are a bunch of teenagers walking around who still need bottles in the middle of the night, they will all sleep through one day!!! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: NovemberMum
Date Posted: 17 April 2011 at 9:16am
| well my daughter was sleeping through from about 4 months but my 16 month old arghhh but I have resigned to the fact that he is a crappy sleeper |
Posted By: princesspumpkin
Date Posted: 17 April 2011 at 9:56am
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If it's not bothering you, just go with it!! We've never used CIO or anything related to it, and we have a very secure little 2 year old who's an awesome sleeper. Not every baby is ready to sleep through at the same time - I often wake up in the night as an adult & want a cuddle . Do what works for you & your family
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Posted By: millymollymandy
Date Posted: 17 April 2011 at 6:55pm
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I guess its only a problem if you feel it is. You just do what works.
Personally I like sleeping and I'm a CC advocate and I have a very secure, happy and loving 20 month old. 13 months ago I was getting up 4 or 5 times a night tho. In the last year she has required night intervention 4 times, a quick cuddle and she's back to sleep. As others said I wouldn't change a nappy unless there was a problem. |
Posted By: FionaO
Date Posted: 19 April 2011 at 4:22pm
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I won't jump in on the bottle thing, but with regards to nappy rash, I have only ever had DS get nappy rash from being in a poo nappy for too long - and generally if they have done a poo they wake anyway so I wouldn't worry about the nappy rash side of things, the sposies can hold one heck of a lot of wee and are designed to draw away from the skin. ------------- 
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