Best bedtime drink for 12mth old?

tankgirl1

Hi there :wave:

Just wondered if I could pick your brains please

DS is 12mths old, as up until now, has always had a bottle of formula at bedtime. Over the past week, he has been refusing to drink it, and I wonder if he is getting fed up of the taste??

My mum thinks that perhaps it's time to move off the formula, and start offering him something else at bedtime. I tried hm with warmed cows milk last night, and he wasn't interested.

Would hot choc/ovaltine be a bad idea?

thanks in advance for any input- much appriciated.

tg x

the_other_mce

Hiya- My two DD's were the same. I used to give them warm milk (with a little bit of sugar) but then they progressed onto horlicks or ovaltine. They sleep well and it does help them relax - maybe it's not the best advice but it did work for my two (and me when I was a baby!!! apparently).
The only thing you have to watch is teeth. Make sure you brush them before he goes to sleep!!!
Good luck....

funky-footprints

Once my two refused thier cup of cows milk, some times warmed, sometimes not ..they only got water, which they take up to bed with them.

emma_b_4

sugary drinks arent really recommended for children, water would be fine.
xx

tankgirl1

hmmm...... he won't drink plain water either - he has it with the tiniest bit of cordial in- barely enough to colour it.

I think I would prefer to give him a milk based drink, as morning and evening are the only times he has a bottle.
I found this on the ovaltine website- could any of you kind folks tell me if ovaltine would be ok, based on that info

many thanks

chatta

I wonder if he now needs any bedtime drinks, it wont be long before you would be discouraging them anyway. He seems to not want a drink so dont worry about it. He would be awake enough during day to have all the liquids he needs.

emma_b_4

i wouldnt bother with the drink, and would say no to ovatine (remember they are trying to sell a product and what is on ther site might be a little "biased") i have spent the last month with surestart, going around areas with poor dental hygeine, giving advice to parents......

advice is that if they dont need their bedtime drink dont give it

always brush teeth last thing at night as any drinks wll stay in the mouth and cause tooth decay

try just not giving the drink and of baby wakes up during the night offer water in a feeder cup

xxx

tankgirl1

thanks emma - i'm worried that he wont be getting enough calcium though?
if i cut out his bedtime drink, should i be offering him milk during the daytime?

thanks

tg x

sarahlouise210

I would offer as many drinks as they want during the day (milk and water) but would not give a bedtime drink anymore ...I found once the bedtime drink went from milk to water then the need and desire for it stopped. Once the bedtime drink stopped it was easier for them to be dry at night and in turn they slept better. Sometimes we can get het up on what we think they need when in fact they do not need it all!

chatta

tankgirl1 wrote:

thanks emma - i'm worried that he wont be getting enough calcium though?
if i cut out his bedtime drink, should i be offering him milk during the daytime?

thanks

tg x

I think they get to the age where they prefer solids etc, try other ways of getting calcium in him. Sounds like you are doing good job, its a natural progression to move onto more solid foods, cheese, eggs, yoghurts etc and so on. And yes maybe offer him more milk in the day. :A

Sarahjovi

When my son wouldn't drink warmed cows milk, I offered it to him cold, and he guzzled it down. I can't remember how old he was though. But he certainly prefered it straight out of the fridge.

Sarah