Bedtime

Don't back down - when you make a decision, stick to it!! HE WILL GET OVER THIS and it will get better, but only if you stick to your guns. If you waver and give it to him when you are feeling weak or tired or just to get him to stop, he will learn this and continue his rampage until you give in (which he fully expects you to do, since you did it that one time last week)

This is sooooo important for you to stick with your decision because your boy will learn that you are serious, and will not question you in the future when you tell him to do something (or stop doing something or whatever you tell him.)

Good work!!

He's transitioning now with his bedtime routine... giving up a bottle per say, can take time. Don't worry, kids are resilient and will get used to it. Give it time, and keep with the same routine. I know it's not easy... but every phase will pass. Sometimes, kids will even give up the bottle on their own and 'self-wean.' Every kid/baby is different. Sometimes they are just not ready to go according the their parents' time line of events. But routine is important. Do you give him a sippy-cup before bed? or just nothing before bed? In the crib or before putting him down in the crib? Sometimes this can make a difference. I give my boy his milk cup before bed and before putting him in the crib... I sit with him in a chair and that's our cuddle time, before he goes IN the crib for the night. And he has a 'transition' object (a stuffed cow) that he holds as he falls asleep. And he uses a pacifier until he falls asleep, and then he will 'spit' it out on his own once he falls asleep. It helps a lot. Good luck!
~Susan
www.cafepress.com/littlegoogoo

You have a dew options, each with their own pros and cons.

1) Keep his routine the same as it's always been, with the exception of the bottle. Put up with his nightly tantrums, and likely middle of the night wake-up crying, for AT MOST 2 weeks. At the end of that time, you ALL will rest soundly again. Pro- no more bottles, better for teeth, only 2 weeks. Con- 2 WEEKS!, hard on everyone in the house, exhusting.

2) Keep his routine the same as it's always been, except put water in the bottle. He may be willing to except this as a comforting tool. If it works then GREAT! My ped says water in bottles is no big deal. He preffers this to pacifires. Pro- He see's the bottle as soothing, water is better for teeth, If it works you all go to sleep easily. Con- Still a bottle, drinking TOO much water in bed may cause him to start leaking, and IF he leaks- even worse time get him back to bed.

3) Give up and hand him back a bottle of milk. Pro- easy to go to bed. Con- Teeth, teaching him to get his way, you feeling like you quit... you can see I don't like this option. Once you start, you need to continue in the same direction. YES, I KNOW it's hard!

In my opinion, the 1st choice is your best choice, followed by number 2. You could try diluting it if you need to.

Hope it helps~ J.

Try just giving him a sippy cup with water for bed...I started that when my twin boys were 10 months and they were fine with it!

Routine is important. So, how do you prepare for bedtime? At my house, it's dinner, then playtime or t.v.. Afterwards, it's bathtime. Then storytime with Daddy, "night pee" and brush your teeth, kiss Mommy goodnight and then listen to music or more reading with Daddy. Then light out and time to sleep. This works well with our 4 yr. old. Sometimes he stays in bed talking to himself and/or singing. If my husband is in bed with him, he'll ask for quiet and if he doesn't get it, then my husband leaves the room and we let our son put himself to sleep.
Find what works for you and be consistent.
Good luck,
F.
www.discoverytoysinc.com/fatimac GREAT BRAIN POWER SALE GOING ON NOW!!

Hi
You can try putting just water in the sippy cup for bedtime, maybe just a touch of milk? That might help......but, it will be hard for a few days. He will soon get the hang of it. CONSISTENCY IS THE KEY! Don't give up!! Be consistent, and within a week or so, he will have it figured out. Every night, the cries will get shorter and shorter. Maybe you can try going in every 10 min to pat him on the back, tell him its sleepytime, or bedtime and walk out. You can start in 10 min incriments, then move it to every 15 minutes, then every 20 min. It will click with him soon. The first few nights will be the roughest, but he will get the idea as long as you are consistent, as hard as it is, do not give up!!!

hope this helps...
Good luck!
S.

How did your brother turn out? I am guessing htis is a normal 2 year old thing. Sorry! Boys are real brats. I have a 6 year old who gets that face. my daughter is 12 and actually has bipolar. Medication works for her.
if you ask me, all 2 year olds have bipolar, lol.
Have fun!