Q:
My 10-month-old son goes to sleep at 8 p.m. If we don't wake him up at 10:30 or 11:00 p.m. for a bottle, he wakes up around 2 a.m. wanting one. How can we get him out of this routine?
A:
You can always go back to feeding him at 11 again, Patti. Otherwise, he probably wakes at 2 because he's hungry.
Sometimes children wake during the night for other reasons, too. You may try just to soothe him and put him back to bed without a bottle, especially because his teeth are forming below the gum and you don't want him to develop early tooth decay. If he is truly hungry, he won't settle and you'll have to feed him. If you do, please wipe his gums off after he finishes his bottle.
Susan M. Leisner RD, IBCLC, RLC Nutritionist & Lactation Consultant
Our parenting advice is given as suggestions only. We recommend you also consult your healthcare provider, and urge you to contact them immediately if your question is urgent or about a medical condition.
