So, Mommy got a big kick in the butt last night when she read an exerpt from “Caring for Your Baby and Young Child” published by the American Academy of Pediatrics:
In Chapter 10, the authors writes, “Most pediatricians recommend that the bottle be given up entirely at around age one and almost certainly by eighteen months…For a child who has trouble falling asleep or who wakes up at night, it’s easy to get into the habit of using food or a bottle to comfort him. But at this age, he no longer needs anything to eat or drink during the night. If you are still feeding him at that time, you should stop. Even if he demands a bottle and drinks thirstily, midnight feedings are still a comfort rather than a nutritional necessity.”
So, I am over nineteen months and I still take a bottle before going to bed. It’s the only time when I used the bottle, but it seems like I can’t give it up. Mommy has been thinking about when to start weaning me off the bottle since there are concerns about tooth decay. Dr. Lu recommended that we wait until after the trip to Taiwan. So, after reading this chapter and being “reminded,” Mommy has decided to cut me off cold turkey. Yes, for those of you who know my Mommy, there is very little gray area with Mommy. It’s usually an “all or nothing” deal.
How did I do?
Well, I was able to sleep last night continuously from 5:30 PM until 7:30 AM without any milk! Mommy is trying the same tonight, hoping last night wasn’t a fluke.
UPDATE on 2/9/2011:
I slept from 7:00 PM last night until 7:30 AM today straight without any milk before sleeping. Mommy and Daddy couldn’t be happier!