Suddenly needing a bottle to go to sleep

[CrazyLady]

For 4.5 months I was following eat, play sleep for my little one and all of a sudden it's changed. She outright refuses the bottle when she wakes and will demand a feed to go to sleep. She's always been hard to settle because had undiagnosed silent reflux for the first 9 weeks and started to (semi) settle after we got medication for her. I'm now having trouble with keeping her settled regardless and unable to comfort her to get her to sleep without the bottle. She's also become very clingy during the day. Any suggestions on how I can fix this?

Thanks in advance!

[Kahlan]

Hi Charlotte's mum,

Does she have to have the bottle first? My DD is the same, ie she would normally wake, play, feed and then sleep. I tried initially with feeding straight after wake but it didn't work as she was not hungry then. What I found was that as long as after the feed when I put her down she is aware, ie opens her eyes and knows I am putting her down it doesn't matter, she would self settle if she happens to wake after a cycle of sleep. After 3 days she was able to just go off to sleep whenever she is tired regardless of whether it is after feeding or 30- 40 mins before her next feed was due. It is not good to allow bub to go to sleep still hungry. I would suggest, feed and then when she nods off to sleep, you burp her (she would then wake I assume), then you put her down. If it helps, start with putting her down when she is still in that drowsy state. If she cries rock her a little but still put her down when she is calm and almost asleep. Just know that she does not have to be awake after every feed and before putting down. As long as it is not every time then she can still associate falling asleep without sucking the bottle/breast.

Good luck

[CrazyLady]

Thanks so much for your reply. I am doing something along those lines but it's been rough and i think i needed reassurance i was going the right way about it. knowing my luck i will just get her sorted out then will go to melb and unsettle her again