Stopping the Bottle

Okay with my son I was so clueless in the beginning. We weren't getting sleep we weren't on a feeding schedule we thought we had it down, you know like most new parents to be you think "I got this" and then the #@$# hits the fan! (Can I swear on this site?) Anyhow my good friend gave me a book that saved my life; "Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child" by Dr. Marc Weissbluth. I highly recommend this book if you are new parent that needs help with schedules, sleep and feeding habits. He has a lot of factual evidence showing sleep habits, what is needed, how often, how much, when to feed, how to sleep train etc...Anyhow I read so many books I can't remember but this one was the one that made things click for me. I also went with the wake, eat, play, sleep schedule. It worked out good for him and myself and when I had to break the bottle it was no big deal, I gave him milk in a sippy at the same times. Although I must admit this schedule did cause some havoc. Owen was such a crank until he got that bottle or milk once he turned one and he had to have it warm! I was so paranoid he was not getting enough nutrition I caved and always warmed his milk for him which was a huge pain if we were out or somewhere else and I often got looks from other mom's like what are you doing? You are weak! Don't let your child rule you! Well I ignored them and did that for another year and finally said no more warm milk! We finally broke the last sippy before bed and started snack instead. Okay well enough of that, just a little background.

So with Avery things went a little differently. We started out with the same schedule, sleep-eat-play-sleep etc...but then she got sick, again and again and again. Don't you just hate that it screws everything up! Anyhow she wouldn't eat, and the only way I could get her to was to have a bottle right before sleep times, thus creating the habit of a bottle before naps and bedtime. Bedtime okay but before naps, I was told not to do that-but why? I'm not sure but it seems some mom's know it all? I decided, "whatever it works" and when she wakes up I can go-which is usually the case because I have to pick my son up from preschool. Okay so now she is 1 and we are supposed to kick the bottle habit according to her pediatrician-dentists etc...easier said then done. She won't drink milk and I refuse to heat it up for her this time around. For the last 2 days I've been giving her warm water in her bottle for her morning nap, then formula for her afternoon nap and night time. So she really is down to 3 bottles (actually 2 with formula) a day. That's not bad right? But what do I replace the nap routine with? I have friends who I consider nazi's at bedtime, they never did a routine or soothed their kids to sleep at naps and bedtime was always super short routines. Never rocked or sang songs or any of that-bath, book, bed! I envy them sometimes but I guess I don't opperate that way-I always enjoy a good snuggle so well I passed that onto my kids I guess. But I tell you what their kids go to sleep! Not that mine don't but it does take them a snuggle or rocking to soothe now. Again another thing. So what do we do about all of the "bad habits?" Are they really that bad? I say you have to go with what works for you but don't over do it you know? Your kids to need to learn to self southe but that is not to say you can't help. Or give them a flippin bottle before nap-who cares, according to Dr. Weissbluth there is no evidence showing this causes a need or habit and hinders sleep. Although I do think my daughter fully expects that bottle and screams her head off if I don't give it to her. So who knows. Just go with it. Kids are work, they are exhausting and the second well, do what works! I guess I'll continue the warm water and see how that goes and gradually do that with the second nap as well. Bedtime is another gradual process I think. Next how to stop rocking your baby to sleep...