Bottle & 16 Month Old... HELP ME! =/

To finally make my son completely stop using a bottle I started telling him what a big boy he was. I made a point of saying it a lot throughout the day, especially when he used a cup. When he used a botte I said nothing.

I did that for about a week, then picked a day to be his last bottle day. When he woke up that morning I told him that was the last day he would get a bottle. He got his bottle at the normal times all day, but every time I gave it to him I reminded him it was the last day. That night after his bottle before bed I took him with me to the kitchen. While he watched I rinsed out the bottle and threw it in the trash.

The next morning he wanted a bottle, but stopped fussing when I said there were no more bottles and reminded him we had thrown them away. He settled for a cup and never asked for a bottle again.

I don't know if that would work for you or not, but maybe just talking to her since she's old enough to understand is worth trying. I think if you say there are no more bottles though, you cannot give in. You have to be willing to stick to it, even when she gets upset. If you think she isn't ready yet, then don't force her.

Good luck. I know it isn't easy to get kids to let of go of comfort things like bottles and pacifiers.

In my opinion you may want to wait. Put off getting rid of the bottle when she has matured more. I'd say, relax, because you are not the only mom with a 16+ month old still using a bottle! You are probably getting pressured to get her off the bottle. Bah, humbug! Say "I'm sure she will be ready soon to put aside her bottle" (even if you say it for the next 9 months! Ha!).

Still, something you can try is to first get her to eat (or have a bottle). Then, for four hours (working up to being for the rest of the day), have only water in the bottle and a sippie cup ready to pull out of the fridge which has the milk (or whatever you have her drinking).

I would also suggest that when she does spit the milk out to keep trying. Don't let her actions raise your hackles. If she throws the cup, then put it back into the fridge. Keep in mind that she will not starve herself! She will get fussy and will need soothing and encouragement that she is getting to be a big girl and big girls use the sippy cup more than the bottle.

I don't know if that is of any help but still, good luck!

Can she use a straw? The sucking motion is still very soothing at this age; the sucking involved in using a straw may be a poor substitute, or she might be willing to accept it.

Or, you could try letting her walk around with a cup, but have to stay in her high chair when she has a bottle. She might decide that mobility is better.

Other than that, I think that Donna had good things to say.

I believe in making changes slowly....so if your goal is to remove the bottle and pediasure, and move to a sippy cup and table foods, start by diluting the milk/pediasure in the bottle with water. Keep diluting over a few weeks till it is just water and stop the pediasure. Yes, pediasure is convenient but not a longterm solution to getting nutrition. Its also very sweet!

At mealtime, continue to offer a variety of fruits/vegs/protein. She may not be drinking much milk so offer shredded cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt to make up for it. I've read that kids need to be exposed to some foods over ten times till they will actually eat it, so don't give up with the table foods. Just give her what you eat, but on the bland side. Chicken, noodles, muffins, rice, melon, green beans, avocados...so many good things to try. Yes, it takes time to prepare meals with variety but well worth it.

Take it slow and good luck!
A.

She won't take it to kindergarten; let her keep it for now. Her nutrition is the most important thing!

I don't recommend cutting her off cold turkey. I did that with one child and it worked out fine (with a pacifier, not a bottle). When I tried with the second, I think I traumatized the poor thing. She needed it for comfort. What I ended up doing was cutting off the tiniest of holes from the tip of the pacifier. She didn't really care. Then I cut a little more off every week that went by. However, what I would try first is a cup with a straw. My favorites are the disposable type (by The First Years). I think they are $2.50 for a pack of 3. They are simple and easy to clean. We just use them over and over. Don't make a big deal about it. Just put something in a cup and leave it at a level that she can reach while she's watching. Maybe if you don't draw attention to it (or to her!), she will immediately want it. Lastly, try putting water in her bottle as often as possible. Don't worry, she'll eventually ditch it.

What does it matter if she drinks her milk out of a bottle? When I quit drinking coffee, I would still (honest) buy a cup at a DD or gas station when I was filling up to drive. Many times I arrived at my destination still with a full cup- it was habit, and we used to tease, "a comfort blankie". I have a 2.5 yr old that still drinks his milk out of a bottle. He drinks out of a cup for everything else, or if we are at someones else's house, milk. But for nap time and prior to bedtime he wants his babba. Milk is good for him, and I have no problem with his drinking from a bottle. Every other 'habit' that people said would be hard to 'break', he has in his time totally adapted to the 'norm'. such as: co-sleeping, breastfeeding, potty training...

Please don't traumatize your kid! What's the big deal? It's not going to ruin her teeth or anything. It's her comfort right now, and when she's ready she'll grow out of it, believe me, she won't be a teenager with a bottle.

Replace the milk and pediasure in her bottle with water, or let her carry an empty bottle, if you think its a comfort issue. As someone else said, she won't starve herself. Continue trying with the cup, eventually you will be successful. Truthfully, my kiddo didn't give up his bottle til he was almost three, BUT he had ONLY a nighttime bottle filled with water for almost two years. He also started with a straw at about six months, so transitioning him to the cup with the "built in" straw was easier. He just liked that night time bottle! Just keep trying, you WILL be successful. Your little one may just not be ready to give up the bottle yet. Good luck!

You need to decide if you will give in to your daughter whenever she doesn't want something. It sounds like you have taught her that if she doesn't like something to just throw it at you and hold out and eventually you will give her exactly what she wants, the way she wants it.

I have a very strong-willed daughter so we had to learn how to teach her that we will not ever reward bad behavior. I would not give in to her crying all day in front of the fridge. I would put the milk in the cup within her reach (the kind that don't leak) and walk away. If she throws it, then calmly (you can't give her the satisfaction of getting you to act crazy) take it and say that is not acceptable and put it in the fridge. When she cries, just calmly walk away. In a few minutes leave it on the table and walk away again. Keep doing this until she learns what is acceptable. Eventually she will get thirsty. Your pediatrician can tell you how long she can go without milk. She will not starve or get dehydrated right away. I know it is different at different ages.

It is really tough, but you need to learn that you can change her behavior. Then you will feel more confident when the next issue comes up. If you have a strong-willed child, let me know. I have great books that will help you over the years because the issues will keep coming.