Need help with 14 month old waking!

[GlowingMomma]

Hi Ladies, I'm actually writing for my sister...however I do have a 14 month old also with baby #2 on the way! My nephew is 14 months old and in December (when he was 9 months old) he had a bad case of broncilitis, where he woke several times a night for a bottle and to also receive breathing treatments. Since then, he wakes up twice every night for a sippie cup. She has tried to let him cry it out, but he cries so hard he gags. She has also tried just giving him a paci to help soothe himself back to sleep and that does not work. He is only calmed down with a sippie cup of water or milk. She doesn't want to leave a cup in the bed with him since they say it can lead to tooth decay and choking. Any suggestions on how to get him to sleep through the night without demanding a sippie cup??

[Newmom!]

I finally left a sippy cup of water in my toddler's bed. Water does not cause tooth decay, and if that sooths him then she should do it. I have worried about choking - but he doesn't choke or asperate in the day and it let me get some sleep. So I did it (probably around 14 mo). Look at all the people who put their kids to bed with a bottle of milk. I have yet to hear the stories about choking. As a toddler he is most likely able to cough out anything his mis-swallows.

The only "bad" thing about it is that he has a very wet diaper in the mornings (but Huggie's Overnights diapers hold it all in, most of the time).

I also look at the fact that my husband and I both sleep with water on our nightstands, and access it throughout the night. I also remember as a kid, having those half dreams of glasses of water because I am waking up thirsty. I finally decided a sippy cup of water is fine in the bed. We started about 14 mo old, and he's 2.3 months now and the habit it set.

Best of luck to your sister and you.