My 15 month old won't stop waking up!

My son is 15 months. He never had a dummy, so instead has latched onto a bottle as a soother. He wakes up anything between 1 and 6 times for a night for a drink. Last week, we decided that we couldn't go on. We weren't getting a goods nights sleep, and all the sugar was probably rotting his teeth. The childminder suggested giving him water, and when he realised he wasn't going to get juice, he would give up. That hasn't worked. He has accepted he is only getting water (after a rough couple of nights), but still wakes up the same amount of times for whatever he can get. I think the next step is to give him a cup instead of a bottle, as I think it is the bottle he is attached to and not what is in it. Any other useful suggestions before I attempt this one??

personally I would give him nothing when he wakes. Put a hand on his tummy and quietly sshhhh him, no pick ups or cuddles. He has learnt that by waking he is getting attention and he needs comfort to go back to sleep. He needs to learn to settle himself when he wakes up. Once he settles with the hand on the tummy and ssshhh. Just stand next to his cot and sshhh and then head nearer and nearer the door, even stand outside the door and sshh. He will soon learn to fall back to sleep when he is not getting what he wants. It will take lots of time and effort on your part whatever you decide to do but it will be worth while.

This is only my opinion and others on here with probably disagree me. Listen to everyone's side and make your own decission.

I agree with Alex. I would just stop and once the decision is made no going back. Every time you give in you are showing that he will get his way in the end. You have to commit to it and no matter how tired or beaten down you get keep going because suddenly it will fall into place and you'll be glad you stuck with it. I had similar with my second child as I was worried he'd disturb his older sister but after so many sleepless night that I felt like a Zombie I just put my foot down. My third now is so mellow and not demanding at all as I didn't get into the bad habits.

Good luck. It can be hard but you will get there.

Having similar problem with Jess- she always wakes up at least 4 times a night and this is a big problem now as we have had to move her in with Gemma as Jezz has to be up at 6am for work and sleepless nights are causing all of us concern. I am succeeding in settling her off to sleep without cuddling her but when she wakes up in the night, my automatic response is to breastfeed her immediately so I can get her off to sleep quickly but this was going against my HVs advice to only feed her when she actually needs to rather then a 'quick fix' but I have just been so tired lately that I couldn't muster the energy to do anything else- Jess screams like a banshee at the moment if I don't BF her as I'm trying to wean her onto cow's milk and juice instead of BFing her during the day and she's finding it hard although she happily drinks from a bottle or cup. I'm having to bring her downstairs during the night to get her back off to sleep without nursing her to try to avoid disturbing the rest of the household!

I've got to stick at it though, tough love and all

Why don't you let Jess wean herself? She should still be having breast milk during the day at this age, most of what HV's tell you is well rubbish to be honest, why can't Jezz sleep in Gemma's room and Jess in your bed?

Well, I totally agree with Alex ideas. Great threat and helpful ideas.