Time to stop the 4am bottle! Advice needed please!

[Life is Good]

So our little man (15 months old) is still waking for a 3am-4am bottle, which I have been giving him just because I don't really mind getting up and I feel it is part and parcel of having a bub anyway. He also then sleeps through until about 6:30am. I would, however, like to have him sleeping through by the time our next baby arrived in May next year.

I am pretty sure that he is just thirsty and not hungry and, in all honesty, I just think it is a habit that he has gotten into (he is so predictable when he gets tired, wakes up etc, which is why I think it is a habit).

Problem is (as per my other post), he doesn't like drinking water, so I am not sure that leaving a sippy cup with him over night is going to be a solution (at this stage anyway).

A friend told me that she got her kids to sleep through by diluting their formula over time. Has anyone tried this approach?

I guess I am just after some suggestions to either solve the drinking aspect or to just break the habit. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I am also just wondering if perhaps it is around this time that he may just start sleeping through of his own accord. When did your littlies stop their wake-ups? Do you think I should just persist and, if necessary, do something about it closer to bub no. 2's arrival?

Thanks a lot

[Purple Penguin]

If our little one (13 months) wakes over night for a bottle, we normally offer either half cow's milk/half water or 2/3 water/1/3 milk. She'll drink it without a problem.

[Arimeh]

I say don't do anything until closer to the time when he is a little bit older. Its not unusual that he is still waking up for a bottle at that age, and you may not have to do anything - he may drop it of his own accord.

[appletree]

You could always try reducing the amount you are offering him, so each week drop around 60mls? Maybe invest in some smaller sized bottles just for night time.

[Life is Good]

Sam, is there a reason for diluting the milk? I suppose that is what I am not sure about - is the intention to wean them onto water overnight or is it in order to increase their solids intake at night and in the morning?

AE - That is what I am hoping. A lot of littlies his age that I know have been sleeping through for ages and I was just wondering how long it can go on for!

Appletree - good suggestion - I may give that a try!

[Doing my best]

If it makes you feel any better, DS is still waking up for a bottle at that time.. I give it to him cause he goes back to sleep.. If he wakes 1/2 hr late and it is daylight, I don't cause I know he won't go back to sleep.

But my DS is off his food at moment cause his teeth are giving him grief

[Cocolove]

My 19month old DS is still having a 4am bottle and he also sleeps until 630 after that.
I just give it to him, I figure he will sleep through eventually...I hope lol