Hello!

“Hi, I am not sure if this is the right place to ask a question, I hope you can help. My 2 year old boy has been waking at around 4am everyday and demanding i.e. screaming, hitting, kicking and carrying on for a bottle of milk. Any ideas of how I can get him out of this habit? I’m trying to tell him calmly that it’s not morning yet and he can have one in the morning (I’m happy with even 5.30am) but then I give in every time just to calm him down. Should I just take the bottle away altogether and have a few days of crying? I know they say at this age no bottles but I’m a single mother and doing it alone and he doesn’t eat that well so I’m scared to give up his morning and evening bottle at this stage. Any suggestions are greatly welcome. I tried milk over formula and it didn’t make a difference and I try to offer water and this does not work. He comes into my room every night, early morning and I let him come into my bed so maybe this is the first step, not sure as that would mean actually locking him in his room as he can open the door! Thanking you” How do you stop a two year old from waking early to ask for a bottle?

Posted by Anon, 31/03/13

Want more real mum questions sent to you?

You'll need to check this email to complete your signup.
  • Maybe try and give him more food or milk during the day to try and fill him longer. Always try and enforce going back to sleep rather than giving in. Goodluck


  • Such great advice! It was interesting reading the comments on this!


  • Oh dear, you sure have set yourself some hard habits to break. But I completely understand, being a single mum, it’s so hard on your own. Could you maybe try a later bedtime? If he’s tired, he might sleep later. As for coming into your bed, one problem solved at a time I think. Don’t make things too hard for yourself


  • You are problably over the problem by now Anon, but I would have just left a bottle of milk in a insulated cover hanging near his bed, where he could reach it easily and telling him that if he wakes up in the morning early and he is thirsty or wants a bottle its there ready for him, and that he should get it himself, and if he still wants to wake you up and isnt happy with that you wont even leave it for him and you will throw his bottle away and he wont get it any more.
    Be the boss, he will appreciate the security of having someone who is in charge and is boss. Try out thinking him and being boss.


  • offer him food he might be hungry or offer him milk in a cup


  • Gosh I really don’t know except to stop giving them one and hope they’ll eventually stop wanting it


  • Hope you found some useful tips.


  • What did you end up doing?


  • How did you go with it


  • Some good suggestions below – hope something has helped.


  • I hope you have found some answers to this and got back your much needed sleep.


  • Hope you manage to find a solution.


  • I’d put a sippy cup of water next to his bed and get him to understand that its that or nothing.


  • Y don’t u jus give it to him. Or more dinner at night


  • just wondering how (if) you resolved this?


Post your reply
Add a photo
Your MoM account


Lost your password?

Enter your email and a password below to post your answer and join MoM:

↥ Back to top

Thanks For Your Star Rating!

Would you like to add a written rating or just a star rating?

Write A Rating Just A Star Rating
Join