What if your toddler still wants a bottle at night?
Many toddlers find it difficult to give up the night feed. But most of them don't need it - they just want the attention they get from you during the feed. Here are our dos and don'ts.
Do:
- Wean her off her night feed gradually by diluting the milk more each night until it's plain water, which isn't so appealing!
- Give her a small snack with her bedtime milk to prevent her getting hungry overnight.
Don't:
- Go cold-turkey on this one: 'If it's something your child is accustomed to, it would be unfair to withdraw it suddenly,' says health visitor Annette Maloney.
- Give in on a bad night and offer her a bottle after successfully weaning her off it or you'll be right back to square one.
- Next: How to keep nightmares at bay
More help and advice
- Sleep strategies that really work
- Sleep problems in children
- Tips on establishing a bedtime routine
- Find out more about insomnia
- Is your child ruining your sleep? Find some help in Chat
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