Finally Sleeping Through the Night & Transitions

Photo LullabyIsland

Emory is 13 months old and has maybe slept through the night 3 times.  There are several things we feel could have been contributing to this (over the past 13 months):

• Acid reflux
• Colic
• Eczema
• Transitions (pacifier free, formula to milk, bottle to sippy cup, shared room)  
• Noise (that comes with living in an apartment and not having a "real" bedroom)
• Habit & Routine.  (Wakes up every 3 hours for a bottle)

One of Emory's hardest transitions has been "no bottles" during the day. We finally recognized his bedtime bottle gradually turned into a make-shift pacifier for him.  The routine became a warm bottle of milk every time he'd wake up crying (every 3 hours or so).  Smart Boy.  

NO MORE smart boy, NO MORE!! This past week I decided this habit had to change; nights have been dreadful. Enough was enough.  

The Plan

• No more bottles throughout the night.
• Let him cry it out. 
• ONE bottle at bedtime.  Bottle to contain 8 ounce bottle of warm milk, with 2 ounces of baby oatmeal.
• DO NOT give in!

Guess what?  Emory's sleeping through the night!  8-10 hours a night!  It's been almost a week and I can not express how excited I am.  Like feeling so good I could do cartwheels, kind of excited. :-)

I don't intend to make this change (an oatmeal bottle) a permanent ritual to our bedtime routine, however I am really thankful it's helping us through this most difficult  transition.  Maybe soon he'll appreciate sleeping through the night, and maybe just maybe, no longer want a bedtime bottle.