my 15 month old son still gets up in the middle of the night 2-3 times to feed...i want to stop this now..how do i do it?? ( i dont feed him during the day)....stimes i give him whole milk around 12 in the night ( he drinks 100 ml)...but he still gets up to feed. plzz help!! do other 15 month olds also do this..??
padmaja replied. helo rashmi!
as u are not feeding ur kid in day time, your feeding is important at night. breast feeding is good for ur kid's IQ improvement. no other food can supplement ur feeding. yours trouble for a limited time is a great boon for kid for his whole life in many many ways.
i am doing the same.
bye Hetal replied. i see 2 reasons why he is getting up at night for feeds.

1. is he is attached to your breast and it si quite possible that it has become his habit.however it dpedns on your milk supply ! if your supply is good, there is no wonder why your baby wants it.
as recommended by aap(amercian academy of pediatrics), babies above 6months onwards dont need to fed at midnights, its a habit, try to elminate as soon as possible, at this point of time.

let him sleep with someone else, eventually he will stop asking for you, be unavailable whenever is feeding time at night, he will stop asking for it.let someone take care of your baby when he demands for bf, and let that person give him all the warmth, divert his mind to toher things, like rocking, singgin some songs, or music or even take for a ride !
whenever you latch him, while latching instead of your nipple put bottles nipple(just a nipple,might lead to that habit too but atleast be weaned from you),and then see his reaction.if he doesnt react, this shows that he needs something to suck..if so, it means he is restless in sleep and needs to calm down..before sleep give him a good massage..rest him to read something and make him relax esp in later part of day so that he stops being hyperactive, or overstimulated. try to pat him or rock him or take him for a ride...put some good music and calm him..sucking is because of anxiety,fear, restless in infants and toddlers...so check for that,if its the case with your toddler,,and he is waking for your warmth and touch to relax himself.

offer water by spoon or sippy whenever asking for feeds at night.sometimes baby is just thirsty,,and because he doesnt understand diff between thirsty and hungry, he will take watever is available in liquid form.

so first try to see if solids intake is less and if he is waking up for your feeds because he eats less.,,if so he will stop waking up at night.
also one reason is not adequate amt of fluids in diet.often kids misunderstand becoming thirsty and taking feed for hunger..since bm or bf is the only way he knows the quest himself he will ask for that,,,see if water works for you.

2. he is not getting enough food to eat through out the day which makes him hungry at night and ask for feed. also note that cows milk is just a liquid even though its heavy it cannot be provide the content of solid foods..so check on his diet,,
what does he eat from morning to eveing..
at 15months, your baby should be eating almost 1/4th of your each serving quantity.,,like in 1 chappati, make 1/4th of it and he should be able to finish that with vegie or dal and rice..all of 1/4th amt. or 1 serving of ne one type of food ! this is on an average expected diet, and not all the kids,,it dpends on baby apetite as well..

also, try for mini meals if your baby is not a good eater like most kids at one time.esp in later part of day,,after 1 noon,,check on his eating habits..make him eat atleast 3hours before he sleeps and then a normal level playtime and then a full feed of milk before sleep.avoid gassy foods on later part of day or ne strong foods,spicy or oily,, that might ne cause stomach discomfort.also being this as summer time, giving juices in midnoons might make him feel less thirsty,,esp orange juice..helps in keeping body cool and one feels less thirsty because of it..
also, keep your room temperature cool enough to prevent excess sweating at nights or later part of day. give him a good bath before he takes his milk and settle him to prepare for sleep.

later on in the end,,, its said by many drs & i too will not comment on that,,if you are happy to bf your baby and if your baby is also njoying bf, then its totally your personal decision whether or not to continue breastfeeding...however, many drs expect mother to start weaning from 7months onwards or even 1 year later on depending on how baby health is and mother milk supply is..so you be the best judge !

what does he eat whole day, his diet should consist, 2-3 times milk a day,1 breakfast,1 brunch, 1 lunch,1 midnoon snack,dinner and lastly a small bowl of fruit or dessert,,and then finally milk at night ! does he eat or drink that much,,,make sure the quantity in each serving is not more than 1/4th-1/2 cup..its ok for babies to skip brunch or sometimes dessert at night.

so good luck,