Weaning from Bottle

Updated on May 19, 2008
T.B. asks from Royston, GA
27 answers

I am seeking advice on weaning my 18 mo old son from his bottle. (Please don't tell me he should have already been weaned, because I already know that. I am a working mom and it's just been easier on me to give him the bottle.) He has been on the sippy cup since 9 mo but will not drink milk from it. I have never given him anything but milk in his bottle and have never let him take it to bed. He drinks one bottle in the morning as soon as he wakes up and 1 at night before bed. He eats solid foods very well and alot, so I know he's getting his nutrition. But when I give him a sippy cup of milk instead of his bottle he just plain refuses. I don't want him to stop drinking his milk altogether so what do I do? I haven't tried putting him to bed without a bottle either so I'm not sure if he would have trouble falling asleep without it or not? Right now we're working on getting rid of the paci and he's doing well with it as long as he doesn't see it. Please help!

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So What Happened?

It was easier than I thought. He hasn't had a bottle for going on the 3rd day and hasn't asked for it. He hasn't been drinking as much milk as I would like but we'll keep trying. He falls asleep in my lap after a story or 2. And the paci is gone too. I kept it beside the bed at night in case he woke up but he was able to soothe himself back to sleep without it. Thanks for all the advice.

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T.T.

answers from Savannah on

This sounds harsh, even to me, but it worked for my cousin. She put the bottle out empty and the cup out full. If her son wanted a drink he had to take the cup. It went on that way for most of the day, but eventually he chose the cup because it had something in it. After that she never offered the bottle again, and it wasnt an issue. Im not to good at weaning, so I have to give you someone else's advice!

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S.M.

answers from Atlanta on

Don't panic! I saw a post from a mom who 28 month old still LOVED a nighttime bottle. (The mom actually didn't mind, but she was getting a lot of pressure from others, and was starting to worry it might somehow be harmful.)

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=160294

Penelope Leach (author of Your Child from Birth to age Five) also has some comforting words on the subject:
http://www.babycenter.com/expert/toddler/toddlerfeeding/1...

It took us a long time, too, mostly because my son had to work so much harder to get milk out of the sippy cup than he did for a bottle. We got a spill-proof cup with a built-in straw, and that seems to work better, although at first that was a little hard because it came out TOO fast. Or he would tip it up, like he had the bottles and sippy cups.

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D.H.

answers from Atlanta on

I would wait until the paci-longing is totally gone before you take another thing away. We just took the paci away from our 2yo 3 weeks ago and she doesn't ask for it anymore. The paci's have long been in the garbage (we had 4 of them). We will start potty training this next month. I would just do one thing at a time completely.

As far as milk, well, he really doesn't need milk. I'm probably one of those few that view cow's milk (if that is what he is on) as really bad for the body. It's very mucus forming...ear infections, cold, sore throats, etc. He can get calcium from better sources. Or if you want to continue him on milk, just take him off milk for a while so you don't have to give him the bottle at all. Then once he is over the bottle, resume the milk back, but this time in a sippy cup.

Once you are sure you want to do this, throw the bottles away so you won't be tempted to give it back to him. I nursed up until a year and then switched our daughter to a bottle. What I did to prepare my daughter (we did this when she was around 15 months?) was talk to her about how she was a big girl, etc., and then I had her help me put the few bottles in a plastic grocery bag and then my neighbor came over and I had my daughter give her the bag.

Maybe it was too easy? She didn't have a problem with it...we just reminded her if she asked for it that it was gone-gone. The same thing with the paci..except this time, we really couldn't find them (we found them the next day, but I trashed them) and she knew we couldn't. She asked about once a day for the paci for about a week and without any problems...thankfully! I think she is just really easy.

I hope this helps a little.

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C.L.

answers from Savannah on

T., been there, I feel your pain, except it was the sippy cup for us and she was 3. I just threw them all away. I decided I could live with the crying and she couldn't live with nutrition so, I tossed every last one of them and and she cried, but about 24 hours of asking and crying she got over it. In the between she drank from a cup because she was thirsty. Just like if he is thirsty and there are no bottles he will drink from a sippy. It says in the bible..."weeping only last for a night..." Good Luck
The paci was easier, she bit and nothing came out so she threw it away at nine months. I just have greedy children.

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D.T.

answers from Atlanta on

Hi T.,

I am going through the same thing, with a similarly aged child, and with the same advice from the pediatrician.

I am under the frame of mind that children are not like machinery, all fitting into the same mold. Some will hit milestones & changes earlier, some later. Additionally, I feel that things will happen & unfold as they should-- without being forced. Lastly, too many changes at one time could be disconcerting as well (comfort is found in the bottle and the paci).

With that being said, I found a great resource of mothers writing about the same situation... topics regarding bottle-feeding stretch from an 8-month old to a 5-year old, as well 18-month olds. You can find many questions & answers at this link:

http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/eating/toddler-bottle....

I hope this resource helps... there are many different experiences and opinions contained. Above all, don't feel pressured to do something that doesn't feel natural. Go with your instincts and listen to what your child is telling you.

We have our whole life to be adults, so if your 18-month old child is happy with the bottle for now (and he's only getting it 2x a day and his nutrition with solids is plentiful), let him have his comfort. No harm, no foul.

Best of luck,
D.

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L.P.

answers from Columbus on

T.,
Don't feel bad about weaning now. Children are all different and no set date is right for them all to wean. I would take away his bottle altogether, make sure you offer him milk in the sippy cup daily, but also make sure he gets plenty of yogurt, cheese and iron fortified cereal and OJ, and go to the cup only. So what if he doesn't drink milk for a few weeks?! He will get the calcium from other sources and you can even try the milk warmed in the cup and see if, after a few days of no milk, that is exciting to him.
My children all adjusted differently to the cup/no bottle, but the warm milk lasted for 6-12 months after the weaning from the bottle. My boys seemed to "need" it in the morning and at night, like we "need" our coffee. Be creative, get your calcium elsewhere, and ditch the bottle!
Good luck!

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J.E.

answers from Columbia on

I know this has sugar in it, but I'm wondering if it might help?! My little girl is 20 months old and has never cared for milk. It's a struggle to get her to drink it. Early on, I bought her sippy cups by Gerber. They have handles on them and they are clear so you can see the liquid. While we don't use them during the day, I do give her milk in it in the morning and evening. Gracie refuses to drink plain milk, so I add a little Nesquick Strawberry Mix just to add a light color. She still doesn't love the milk, but she now likes it. Could you maybe try this with your little one? It might make him feel like he is getting something different. You might could try the chocolate, too. We haven't tried that yet, but who knows. Good luck!

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S.W.

answers from Atlanta on

Get all of the paci's out of the house so there's not chance of him seeing them. Then do the same with bottles. (maybe wait a little while afte the paci's are gone...). I think once he doesn't have the option of milk in the bottle, he might re-think drinking it from the sippy. I don't think it will hurt him to go without milk for a while. Try to give him calicum in other forms. I tried weaning my kids gradually, but once we got down to two or so bottles a day, we just had to go cold turkey. If you don't give in and they don't see them, I really don't think he'll have a huge problem with it. I think the anticipation of getting it done is worse than actually doing it. Good luck.

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J.N.

answers from Savannah on

My older son didn't wean from the bottle until about 17 months and I know a lot of parents who give their kids the bottle up to even 2 years old. When he's ready to give it up, he will just lose interest in it. Mine showed he was ready by turning it upside down and dabbing it all over the floor and stairs when I gave it to him. At that point, I took it away and he never cried for it again. I would not take it away if he is enjoying it, especially if it helps him fall asleep. You have enough battles to fight without choosing that one. Doctors try to tell you it will give them orthodontic problems, but I have never known anyone who had that issue. And also they say it could give them bottle rot (tooth decay), but if you're brushing his teeth, you're probably fine. When he does get off the bottle, remember that cheese and yogurt count towards his daily amount he needs for milk. So don't freak if he's not drinking as much as he did when he was on the bottle. I always went by the 3 servings a day rule, but my current ped. now says at 1 year old, they only need 8oz of milk or 4 oz of yogurt a day. Both my kids eat dairy good, so I still give them 3/day, but it's prob. not a big deal if they don't get all 3.

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E.B.

answers from Augusta on

Maybe you could try a small open cup. Some of the children I have worked with do well with it b/c it is what all the big kids and grown-ups use. Other than that, I can only suggest consistancy (if you wake up and decide "no more bottles," stick to it, even if he gives you a hard time). Perhaps only give him the bottle once a day if he asks for it- he might forget it if it's not offered to him. I know there are some sippy cups that have soft spouts- maybe look into that, too. Good luck!

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B.S.

answers from Atlanta on

i feel your pain. Had a similar problem with my daguhter and the breast. I had bought Dr Ferber's book on sleeping and it didn't work for sleeping but I decided to use the same method and Ferberized her off the breast! You could try the same with the bottle. She was attached to her bottle at bedtime afterwards so when we went on vacation, I didn't brng any. We had to go through every drawer and cabinet of the place we were staying and show her there were no bottles. SHe went to bed begrudgingly the first nite, but by the time vacation was over, she was completely off the bottle. When we got home, I sent my oldest into the house first and told her to get every bottle out of the house! It worked. You could try the same 'trick' one afternoon. Just tell him you 'lost them'

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S.M.

answers from Atlanta on

with our daughter, i just stopped the bottle cold turkey. it took 2-3 days before she started drinking the milk, but she picked it right up. if he is eating really well, a few days with a decreased amount of milk is ok, give some cheese and yogurt to make up for it. i also would give a bottle before bed, now we have a really good routine of a bath, some books and then rocking a little bit and then bed. she didn't miss it at all. once you do your bath, stay in the "bedtime mode" and he won't need that bottle at all. that's great about the paci too, we are weaning that off right now, our daughter is about 15 months or so.
hope this helps!

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S.S.

answers from Atlanta on

First - it is ok. There is nothing magic about 12 months and getting rid of the bottle. My DD is 14 and still gets a morning bottle because we both like it still. She is in daycare and gets milk/juice in a cup. Now she really prefers that most of the time. For the evening bottle, initially we just refused and when she realised it was milk from a cup or not at all she finally gave in. Now we just do milk at night with dinner and she does great with it. I am starting to give her a cup in the morning too, but am not is a hurry yet.

My niece wouldn't drink milk from anything but a bottle - and still won't. They tried every cup out there and finally just gave up and gave her the bottle until she turned 2. Now she won't drink milk (unless it is flavored) at all. If you do go this route make sure he gets lots of calcium from other sources.

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K.W.

answers from Atlanta on

I am in the cold turkey camp, and it seems most everyone else is too. The only thing I want to caution is that he needs milk. Calcium from other sources is great, but from 12 - 24 months children need whole milk (not 2%, 1%, or skim.) The fat in the whole milk is necessary for the nervous system. At 2 years, switching to skim, 1%, or whatever is fine.

I agree with the idea of not giving a bottle on Friday night or on Saturday morning. He may refuse milk in the sippy cup, but if that is all you offer, he will eventually get the idea. My son refused any and all sippy cups, so I got him the straw cups, where the straw pushes down. He loved those and they worked great.

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R.F.

answers from Atlanta on

Hey i know weaning can be hard im a mommie of 4 and i always told them after finishing a bottle to tell it bye bye and allow them to through them away one at a time after finishing it. When they are all gone you just say you told them bye bye . It also helped to allow them to pick out thier own sippy cups.

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A.P.

answers from Atlanta on

He'll only be a baby once, so feel free to let him be one! If he's just had to give up a paci, then maybe wait a while before you push him to give up something else. Sucking is a totally normal behavior for a little one, and if it brings him comfort, why not let him have it? If it's just social pressure from others that you're having to contend with, either keep the bottles for 'at home' use only, or remind yourself who's more important: your son, whom you love, or others who will get over it!? It sounds like you're watching out for his teeth, which is the only health matter I can see. Few of us took our mother's breast or a bottle off to college, so I'd let it go, and not create a problem where there isn't one :) Good luck!!

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J.I.

answers from Atlanta on

I think you are asking a lot of an 18 month old. Pick one thing to get rid of and then wait on the other. It is more "acceptable" to allow the paci than the bottle because of tooth decay. The paci could also help soothe your child if he has trouble going to sleep without the bottle. I believe in Moderation when it comes to parenting and the pediatricians that I consult feel the same. Our children thrive off of a routine so don't make it rigid and unforgiving but keep it consistent. Start with the morning bottle and instead of the bottle give him breakfast and some milk in a new fun cup. Then after he is comfortable with this remove the nighttime bottle and if he needs it allow the paci in his bed to help soothe him. To help with bedtime make sure that he has a good night routine, a bath, pjs, brush teeth, a book, and a song. If you start the routine I think you will have success. Then you can ween the paci when he is 2. This is very acceptable and much better than the bottle until 2. This will require extra effort on your part but if you are ready for it you can do it! Let us know how it goes.

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A.J.

answers from Atlanta on

My daughter was doing the same thing (not w/ milk, but w/ water)but after a week or so of only giving her beverages in a sippy cup she didn't look for her bottle. We just tossed out all our bottles last week. It's tough, but just keep at it.

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K.L.

answers from Myrtle Beach on

Mine did the same thing. Only water from her cup, no milk. I started very slowing diluting the water with a little milk. Every few days, I'd add just a little more milk to her water in her cup. It works!!! My dr said to just give her calcium in other ways to supplement the loss of milk while she adjusted. So I would give her more cheese and yogurt. She loves the yogurt drinks too. Try diluting his water with a little milk and ease into it. With the bottle thing, I took away her morning bottle and replaced it with the diluted water/milk. I gave it a week. Then I took away her afternoon bottle, waited a week and did the night one. She adjusted well, first few days without the bottle were a little tough, but she got through it just fine! Good luck!!

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M.N.

answers from Atlanta on

Hi T.,

First let me say, that I think too many moms judge others regarding bottles and breast-feeding. I breastfed all my children and all of them nursed for a long time (years, not months). I personally think little ones nurse or bottle-feed for that special comfort it brings and the closeness to you. You hold your baby and he feels secure and happy. He doesn't want to give that up. My now 5 year old would still love to nurse (but obviously he doesn't). What he is really wanting is that closeness and nurturing he felt when we did nurse. I would recommend trying a rountine where you still give him milk before bed, but in a sippy cup (Avent has one that might work well in this case). You could still sit in the rocking chair or whereever you normally sit to feed the bottle. Tell him that he can have his milk and that you will hold him in your lap, but it has to be in the sippy cup. You could explain that the bottle is no longer available to him (just like the pacifier). He may be resistant at first, but if you are calm and can maybe just rock him for a few minutes before giving him the sippy, he should settle in. I would also say that children all mature at different times. Only you know what his maturity level is. You must determine if he is really ready to give up that nighttime bottle. Maybe try to cut out the morning bottle first. The nighttime feeding was always my last to go. Remember, because you do work outside the home, he probably needs more snuggle time with you. He might truly need that bottle in the morning and at bedtime. I personally feel that getting rid of the pacifier is the bigger issue and that is definitely the best thing for him and his mouth/teeth development. If pacifiers are used, and are allowed throughout the day, this is a danger. The same with thumb-sucking which could begin if you don't get rid of the pacifier before your son is so attached and used to having something in his mouth, that he switches to thumb-sucking. My sister thumb-sucked (a long time) and her mouth is malformed and her front teeth do not touch the bottom teeth.

If you determine that he is just not emotionally ready to give up the bottle yet, just continue, but slowly start talking to him about trying the sippy and that he's getting big (and only babies use bottles - but be prepared that he might say he likes being a baby) and will need to give up the bottle soon. You might want to wait until the pacifier is a thing of the past. Maybe doing both at the same time is overload for him emotionally, because these are emotional issues. Good luck and remember to trust your yourself and don't let others (and the pressure you might perceive) make your decisions. Do what's best for your child.

One Last Important Note: If you continue the bottle, you should try to brush his teeth afterward. My little one would fall asleep nursing, but I usually brushed his teeth anyway. If you're really concerned about the milk and teeth issues, see if he'll take water in the bottle at bedtime.

Blessings.

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R.G.

answers from Atlanta on

This worked for my two children and now has worked for my grandson.........you can pick the "time" but it has to be their decision - so, each time that it was "time", we were fortunate to have baby animals around (once bunnies and then puppies). Just simply tell him that he is a big boy and not a baby; only babies need bottles. Tell him that the baby animals now need his bottle because THEY are babies and he is NOT. Have HIM put one or all of his bottles in with the animals. Spend some time there to discuss what you're/he are doing. When he feels comfortable, leave. When he asks about it, remind him of what a kind/big boy he was when he left his bottle for the other "babies". This was so simple for me....I hope this works as well for you. :)

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T.G.

answers from Augusta on

I don't have a weaning suggestion but just wanted to say that I don't think there is anything wrong with him still being on a bottle so don't feel guilty about that. Why do you want to wean him? I just started giving my 13 month old DD a bottle of milk before naps and bed (just stopped breastfeeding) and will continue for as long as she wants. I would wait to wean if you are currently also weaning from the paci, both a source of comforting and calming. I equate a bottle before bed to me doing some reading before turning off the light. Calms me down, relaxes me and sooths me. Same for baby and bottle.

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J.P.

answers from Atlanta on

When I was taking my oldest son off of the bottle, I just started putting water in it at night, and in a couple of nights he didn't want it any more. That was really all it took. Hope it helps.

J.

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D.S.

answers from St. Louis on

Just a thought, but if he won't drink from a sippy cup why not try a different cup, they make so many different kinds, it can't be like the same cup to them. Or he's old enough to try a regular cup with a straw in it, if you are sitting with him. My kids will drink anything if you put a straw in it. Or just try swapping them out for a few days, put milk in a sippy and put juice or water or whatever you normally put in a cup in a bottle, let him choose until he tries the milk in the cup. Our kids are sometimes just like little adults, creatures of total habit, they just need time to try something new. one other thing you could try is putting syrup in his sippy cup with milk so that he can shake it and make chocolate milk, but you may never go back to white milk. Good luck.

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J.S.

answers from Atlanta on

My daughter was over two when I finally was successful. She would pitch the sippy like a football if it had milk in it :). I finally took a razor blade and cut a small X at first in every nipple I had. After a week or so, I made the X bigger. Finally, the milk flowed pretty easily and really made her a little mad, but she started taking the sippy. I kind of wished I could have gone straight to a tupperware type cup so she could stop the intense sucking. I think that effected her speech a little, but not sure. Try the X....best of luck. J

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V.E.

answers from Atlanta on

If you are off on weekends the Friday night would be the first night without a bottle and Saturday morning there would be no bottle. Going to sleep with a bottle will make his teeth decay which I learned from allowing my youngest to continue with her bottle until about the same age. All bottles were disposed of so I could not "give in" when she screamed. She actually would stand at the fridge and beat it and scream. Within 2 to 3 days it was over but then I would up having to have caps put on her jaw teeth because I had allowed her to go to sleep with milk or juice on her teeth. V.

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C.H.

answers from Augusta on

I say the pcis are ok, my son had his until 3 1/2 and his doctor advised I keep it b/c it help with his teeth.As far as the bottle it is def doing harm as you know and the best and most quickest way is to take them all away and throw them in the trash.It's not like he will roll over and die without the bottle.At most he will whine and eventually he willget thirsty and he will want something to drink,just put the sippy out where he can get it and evenutally he will take to it.He is no long dependant on te bottle to get nutrients so taking it away will on help him.The reason he picks the bottle over the cup is b/c you have given him that option.If he only has a sippy cup to drink from then he will take what he has and eventually the bottle will be a distant memory.So go right now,throw them all in the garbage,fill the cup with juice or water and sit it in front of him.

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