This is a bit off topic because the child in question is breastfed not
bottlefed but I expect that there will be well reasoned opinions from
Lactnetters nevertheless.

Background is:
Child adopted from institutional care at 10 months of age and is now 15
months. Child wakes 2-4 times a night (cot next to bed). Mum and dad believe
firmly in responding to their child's needs but they are copping a bit of
flack from those around them for doing so and are getting pretty stressed
about night waking and second guessing what they are doing. The night waking
issues sound pretty normal to me (heck I've got a 4yo home nearly a year
waking 2-6 times a night) but the all powerful paediatrician recommends
training this child to sleep (one can guess at what that involves). The
question I have to ask Lactnetters is with regards having milk at night.
When the child wakes most times it seems to be for reassurance (child is in
a cot in parents room- I've suggested that they move it next to the bed and
let the side down so  that they can touch her and don't need to actually get
up) but at between 2 and 4 when she wakes she will not go back to sleep
without being given a bottle and will drink up to 200ml. Previously
mentioned paediatrician has said that a child her age should be able to go
all night without milk- they should stuff her during the day so she sleeps.
They have tried to get as much food into her as possible but she still wakes
and want milk. This child is tiny too- not actually on the growth charts-
but has been growing.
Obviously there are a heap of emotional issues with this little one and I
think that the parents are doing a great job in working against the flow to
be responsive to their child- they're first time parents. I would love to be
able to tell them that other children her age also need milk (breast or
bottle) at night- they don't need to stress about this one either. Don'tcha
wish that our cultures were more supportive of responsive parenting.

Karleen Gribble
Australia

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