Switching from Bottle to Cup

Hi K., I know how tough this is because my youngest son had so many ear infections fro allergies and from drinking a bottle. I tried to have him drink his bottle sitting up, it is when they lie down that the fluid accumulates in the ear. My son was a little bit older but I was also told to give him some sudafed in the morning and at night, Some children need the sucking longer than others. Keep trying bu meanwhile maybe you can have her drink sitting up and ask about the Sudafed. My best, Grandma Mary

take her to the store and tell her to pick out the cup she wants to drink her milk maybe one with her favorite cartoon tell her she is a big girl and if she drinks her milk you will award her with a toy because she has gotten bigger and stronger

Your right about the milk, calcium is the larger issue which can come from other foods like broccoli and cheese. If you really want the milk maybe try soy, rice or goats milk, maybe being a differnt taste she'll take it, with being it being totally different flavor but it is milk! My son had battled fluid in his ears for years and even went to speech/early intervention because of his hearing affecting his speech.

Its hard when two doctors don't agree- but I would think for the short term go with the ENT as speech issues due to fluid also grow into long term. Good luck, hard to be in the middle

My toddler was able to drink Enfamil Next Step interchangeably with warm milk but always refused the cold milk. I'm going to assume you have tried warming it. Maybe she would like the tast of the Next Step.

You might also want to buy the single serving milk boxes sold at the grocery store that look like juice boxes--the novelty of it may be enough to get your daughter to drink it.

Or have someone she recognizes as a special relative (grandma, etc) give her a special cup--again the novelty of it may be enough for her to drink whatever is in it.

Just a little suggestion..try a little strawberry syrup to change the color yet still give the milk ...a little change of taste never hurt nobody..when the baby gets used to the change maybe u could lessen it back up to milk...not sure if it works but its similar to when a baby doesnt take to water that well and u add a little sugar or syrup...idk.. But good luck for the baby does need her calcium

Good Morning,
I had a lot of trouble getting my oldest son to drink milk. I found that mixing a little vanilla carnation instant breakfast worked instantly. Also Nuby makes a sippy cup (sports cup). That is shaped like a bottle and looks like a nipple. You can try that i know people i have suggested that sippy to and it has worked.
Good Luck,
Jen

Try putting a little bit of chocolate syrup in the milk or strawberry syrup making chocolate/strawberry milk.

First question - Does she have tubes in her ears for the fluid? If not, why? I went thru ear problems with my first child and it was a nightmare and for whatever reason never did the tubes. With my son I did not hesitate. I think because I am older now and less worried about the surgery. He even went back and and had his adenoids out. The fluid in my sons ears was so bad that our ENT fit him in for the tubes one week before we left for a Florida Vacation. Anyway back to your question.

If its just that she doesn't like sippy cups maybe you can do something fun to transition to them. What we did was say that the Easter Bunny was coming and would bring her presents if she sacrificed her bottles. She did it. We got a huge basket, she put all the bottles in it and in the a.m. they were all gone, never to be seen again and the basket was full of all new cups and presents. She never asked for a bottle again. So you could do this, you could just tell her than the bottle fairy is coming tonight to take the bottles away. Even if she rebels, she won't starve, eventually she has to drink. Stick to your guns. I know its hard. I'm trying to get my son to sleep in his own bed and that is a battle in itself.

I know they have a new style sippie cup too that doesn't have the pronounced spout and is better for the kids as far as looking toward the future and speach etc.... It is almost like an adult coffee mug with lid but they work great.

Maybe try sippie cups with juice for a bit or even try warming the milk a bit, my son loves it that way.

Otherwise, get a second opinion from a different ENT. I didn't like the first office I went too. Too much like a production line. Small and personal is much better in my opinion.

Hope I didn't blab too much.

I had the same problem w/3 of my kids. As soon as I took away the bottle they never drank milk again. I am not a Dr, but my pediatrician said that they can get their calcium from yogurt and cheese as long as they eat enough of it. I have 5 kids and as I said 3 of them won't drink milk (although 2 of them will drink chocolate milk - you might want to try that), but they are all healthy, so try not to worry to much about it. She will get what she needs. Good luck.

I agree with the Chocolate/Strawberry in the milk also have you tried the NUB cup, you can get this at walmart. It has a rubber tip that is the same material as a nipple but shaped and functions as a sippy cup.

Hi K.,
I would try using the NUK Orthodontic cup. My daughter is 16 months old and from day one refused a bottle or anything besides me. She will now drink water out of just about anything, but milk she will only drink from the NUK cup. I still breastfeed her in the morning and at night (or whenever else she asks), but will also give her milk and she has no problem drinking from this cup.
Good Luck!

I'd have to agree with Alesha ... I read a report that adding a little chocolate or strawberry syrup to the milk is completely harmless. The point is to get baby to drink the milk. When the time comes, I'll try that if necessary. Wanna here somethin' funny? My son is only 8 1/2 months, so he's too young for the milk yet, but I have been trying to get him to drink his water or juice from a cup. He also wants absolutely nothing to do with sippy cups (of any kind). The funny part is ... he sees me drinking my coffee out of one of those domed-lid cups from dunkin donuts, and he always reaches for that. I started putting his juice in one of those--the girls at the coffee shop are really nice about giving me some extra cups and lids. Now, baby sits on the floor with his "coffee" cup drinking his juice. So funny to see that! At least it's not a bottle. I guess it's a grown-up version of a sippy cup! lol

-T.

The problem with the bottle and ear fluid is the angle in which she sucks. If you can get her to sit upright while taking the bottle there shouldnt be a problem. Just dont let her lie down.