Bottle weaning challenges
Anyone else having difficulty weaning off bottle &/or pacifier? My 20 month old is VERY emotionally attached to both so our pediatrician said omit the bottle first. We’ve limited the paci to car (when needed) and home only (not at daycare) & mostly just at nap/bed time or for 2-3min if really emotionally dysregulated. She never uses it at daycare so she’s getting better about going without it at home. She still occasionally asks for a bottle before bed and when she wakes up, and she is inconsolable at these times. All she wants is ~2-3oz and then she’s fine and can put herself to sleep or move on. She sleeps thru the night 75% of the time but if she wakes up and the paci is not sufficient, she’ll ask for bottle. If I give her 2 oz she’ll go right back to sleep. If I refuse it’s total meltdown and no sleep for me or her for the rest of the night. I’m a single mom and work full time so we both need sleep. I have no idea how to eliminate both the bottle and the pacifier and ensure we both get enough sleep. I also just hate to have what little time I get to spend with her withholding these 2 comfort items and watching her cry real tears and not understanding. I’ve worked to condition a blanket lovey because it’s something I won’t have to take away, but it’s not enough of a comfort to compensate for losing bottle/paci. Advice appreciated. I feel like I’m failing her. Going to try “bottle fairy” at the end of month but scared I’m not strong enough to resist if she wakes at 2am crying for it. 😔
Have you tried some warm milk in a different cup? Like a water bottle with a straw or something that still requires some kind of the sucking motion? My daughter sounds the same as yours when she wakes up. We have a transition bottle from Dr browns but hoping to switch over soon 🥴