My Adventure last night with no bottles and CIO

[wendilee]

I have posted several times before on my rough nights with Colton.  He goes through phases- he'll wake up once to eat for a couple of weeks, then, something will happen and he will wake up every 4 hours, screaming for food, for 2 or 3 weeks.

Now, as he is 11 months old, it has been my opinion for a while now that the waking is pure habit, not real hunger,  He normally has a bottle right before bed at 6:30-6:45, so how on earth could he be starving again at 11? then again at 3?  Then again at 6?

So after a long conversation on our fabulous new IM with my good friend yesterday, I decided to just do away with the bottles.  He couldn't care less anyway- he's too busy to sit still long enough to drink it during the day. 

I gave him formula all day in a sippy cup, as well as right before bed.  I grappled over that for a while- I mean, isnt a bottle before bed important for comfort?  Not really- at least to Colton.  He NEVER goes to sleep in my arms, much less drinking a bottle, so it's not really necessary and he did just fine with the cup. That was at 6:45.

At precisely 12:15, he woke up scremaing as usual. I came downstairs so he wouldnt keep DH awake, with all that noise.  And the screaming was bad.  Loud, harsh screaming that made him start coughing.  It was not easy to not give in. I pulled out my copies of "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" and "What to Expect the First Year" to double check and reaffirm that babies this old do not NEED to eat in the middle of the night.

At precisely 1:05, quiet prevailed.  He screamed for 50 minutes. I had a predetermined amount of time in my head- one hour- that I would let him scream before I caved.  He gave me ten minutes to spare.

I went back to bed feeling pretty good about the situation.  He woke up again just before 5am.  I decided to get him some formula in a cup, as he has never gone that long without eating and probably felt like he was starving.  I took it up to him and he drank MAYBE. I mean MAYBE 2 oz!!!!  That kid wasn't hungry after all- I was right!  It was just the habit of having a bottle whenever he woke up.  If he was really hungry at midnight, he would have been starving by 5 and devoured that cup full and screamed for more......

He went peacefully back to sleep and woke up at 6:15am, in the BEST mood I have seen him in (in the morning) in a very long time.  So he is no worse for the wear,  not psychologically or emotionally damaged....and finally, I see a light at then end of the tunnel.  One day soon, very soon, I may actually get a full night's UNINTERRUPTED sleep.

[Aubreysmommy1]

Jun. 17, 2009 at 1:43 PM

Good Job Mama!!!!

[Keisha0806]

Jun. 17, 2009 at 1:59 PM

Oh YAAAY momma. I am so so so glad that it worked. you are so brave 50 minutes?>?? Of hollering. OMG>

[KellyMC]

Jun. 17, 2009 at 3:59 PM

I went through the same thing with Ian.  I also had decided to wait one hour before getting him following the advice of a sleep book I had.  The first night was rough but he improved so quickly.  It didn't take long at all before he was sleeping through the night.  I hope you get there soon.  Hang in there. 

[jaimiedeez]

Jul. 5, 2009 at 2:48 PM

Wow, actually made me teary.  I am getting ready to wean Katin as well so maybe it hit an area in me.  Like you are worried so much about traumatizing them...then to hear or see that they are fine is such an incredible comfort.  Not only that, I felt like I was right there with you and that I could put myself in your shoes.  Very nice, very happy for you an you should be proud.