My first was a breeze. She just no longer had a bottle. She also never gave herself a bottle, we would snuggle with her and feed it to her so when it came time to wean her from the bottle, we kept the routine the same and just replaced the bottle with a cup. It was as simple as that.
My second, however, is a terror. She is very particular - for example, she wouldn't breast feed and bottle feed, it was one or the other and when she realized she could give herself the bottle at 7 months, she stopped breastfeeding. She has been self feeding table food from around 6 months as well. Very independent, no babyfood - only self feeding. So now it comes time to wean from the bottle...she takes a sippy cup of water with no problems. I tried giving her some milk in the sippy cup and she freaked. Also, I tried her "bedtime" routine with milk in a sippy and she freaked - she threw the cup across the room and tantrumed until she fell asleep.
So, does anyone have suggestions on the best way to transition from bottle to cup with a stubborn child? She's just about 14 months old. Thanks so much!
My son is only 7 months old, but responded better to a sippy cup that is a "transition" sippy. As in, the top is soft and squishy like the nipple of a bottle. He loves it and transitioned very well! Maybe try one of those for a few months then slowly slip in the harder-top sippy cups. We use Nuby brand. Best of luck!
I switched cold turkey from bottle to training cup before my son turned 1. Born Free makes some great cups, I started with the training cup and there is also a drinking cup. The nipples/spouts are softer and great for transition. My son had no problem with the switch. Good luck!
Since she is so independent, maybe she would appreciate the opportunity to drink from a small regular cup for starters and be like her big sister? Then maybe over time she would be amendable to milk in a sippy cup.
My daughter did not like cows milk for the longest time and evetually I gave up making it an issue. At some point after that it became gradually better, to where she will take it now, but will still choose water over milk at times.
Good luck!
D.
My son was pretty attached to his bottles and when the time came to get rid of them I just packed them up and gave all of them to a friend who had just had a baby. Then his only option was a sippy cup. My mom watched our son a lot at the time and I think it was harder for her than it was for my son because she really liked to hold him and feed him. He forgot about the bottles right away.
Often times it is more of an emotional thing for parents than it is for the kids. Don't make a big deal out of it and your daughter will forget about them in no time.
Maybe if she had a "new" sippy cup, she would try it. Take her to the store and let her pick it out, all the time talking about what you are going to put in it. Also, it might go over better if she had something "special" to put in her new cup, maybe a "special drink" (whatever you wanted to try that she hasn't had in a bottle) to start out with until she gets used to it. Remember that it can take some time to adjust, and not all kids handle transitions the same. My 3 were each very different! Good luck!
Hi A.-
Bedtime is the time children most need and appreciate routine. I would allow the bottle at that time for at least 4 more months. S.
I had the same issue. My kids were exclusively breast fed and if I ever tried to put milk in a sippy cup instead of water, they freaked out and wouldn't drink it. I would stick with water only in the sippy cup and try to give her milk in a regular cup for b-fast and dinner. My kids never did drink milk from a sippy cup. It was like it tasted funny to them since they were used to having it a different way. Anyway, hope that helps. Good luck.
First of all I wouldn't be giving her anything but water at bedtime for the mere fact that the milk will destroy her teeth. Secondly if she won't take it don't give it to her. If she has to ask for it she will be more likely to use it. Also do not let her get away with that behavior with out some form of discipline. Now is the time to set healthy boundaries for behavior or you will have a serious nightmare on your hands at two and three yrs old.
