Bottle Breaking

It's definitely not too early to wean. At almost 2 I am assuming they are eating solid foods, so this has nothing to do with them being hungry. Also it is definitely not a good idea to put a child to bed with anything other than water or you risk baby bottle rot (tooth decay). So replacing the milk with water is a good idea and maybe adding a snack before bed time will help if they are really hungry.

If they wake up, just put them back down. Eventually they will grow out of that. You just need to be firm about bed time and they need to learn how to soothe themselves. So letting them fuss for a little while before going in to lay them down is good for them.

Other than nap time, do they use a sippy cup? If not start that as well. Just hang in there, they will eventually not need the bottles any longer! If there is anything else, blanket, stuffed animal etc that will help soothe them at night time that may help. Maybe letting them pick something out at the store, and then let them throw their own bottle away so they feel as if they have some control over the decision. You may still have to deal with the waking up for a short period of time but if you hang in there it will pass.

Good luck!

I definitely don't think it's too early to wean them since most pediatricians will recommend getting rid of the bottle at a year old. Personally, I would just do it cold turkey and get rid of all of the bottles in the house so that they don't accidentally find one and want it. I've heard of people with older kids who are weaning who let the kids pick out a cool new sippy cup and then they tell them that they are giving all of the bottles to a baby that doesn't have any. They put them all in a box and either pretend to mail them or give them to someone they know with a baby. That way, they are participating in getting rid of them and they know they are gone. Also, if you aren't already, make sure you are brushing their teeth after they have their milk at nighttime so that they don't have issues with their teeth. I think the sooner the better in getting rid of the bottles and moving to sippy cups. Let them be a part of the process. At this age, they like to have some control and choices in their lives, so if you involve them as much as possible, maybe the transition won't be so hard. Good luck to you.

Wow you are busy!! I have a lot of respect for you!! As for the dr. telling you before 18 months taking the bottle away is premature, sounds a little odd for a dr. to say, my dr. said no later than 15 months. Maybe it is different when you have quadruplets. Anywho, everytime I took a bottle away from my son I replaced it with a small snack, like cheese and cereal pieces or fruit etc. I just got rid of his morning bottle and instead I give him a sippy cup with milk. He is not drinking much of the milk in the sippy cup because he is associating milk with a bottle, but slowly each day he starts to drink a little more. You can give them a cup with a straw instead with juice or milk, whatever they like. and then put them for a nap and bed. Of course they will probably act out a little for this but gradually they should learn the routine.

I hope this helps :)

L.

Hi K., I have 2 daughter's now 14 and 11 but when I broke them of the bottle, I had to do it cold turkey. While they were busy playing, or out with daddy, I'd go through my cabinets and throw out all the bottles, throw them out somewhere you can't go back and get them. The first night is the hardest, but I just comforted them as much as possible and gave them a sippy cup with water in it at bed time. They of course didn't want the cup, but at least they had something. It will be tough, especially with twins, but you can do it. They will survive. Make sure you have support as well. I bottle broke my girls at 1 year, so I know 18 mo. is NOT too early. They are not scarred from the experience and are happy, fulfilled children. I hope this helps. You sound like an awsome mom too by the way.
E. G

If they're on a good schedule and sleep better when they have the bottles, let them keep the bottles. Mine--in their 20s--gave up bottles when they were 3, and they're all delightful, educated, and employed! (And they each have great teeth, too.) Good luck!

Hi K.,
I guess I am an old fashioned mom- but I would let my children have their nite time comfort what ever it was- if it is the bottle- what harm does it do- but, they would definitely need to stop taking the bottle by the time you start potty training- they will let you know when they are ready to let it go........if it makes them happy, and they sleep all nite- who cares????????
good luck and blessings

Wow, I'm surprised they've recommended you go this long. My ped was very insistent I wean by 1 year. At 6 months he recommended using sippy cups, at 9 months he was very insistent on it and he was appalled that at 1 my girls were still drinking from a bottle (nice, but clearly not happy.) My girls were all weaned by their 15 month apts.

S.

I think your Dr gave you bad advice. Kids are ready to wean when they are ready to wean. Doesn't matter what age they do it. Will they take milk from a cup before naptime? That would be my first step. Try giving their milk in a straw cup (or their favorite cup) instead of the bottle and see how they do. You could even take them to the store to pick out a special NAP cup that they only use at naptime.

Or, I have heard some parents have good luck with this: make a deal with the child on when they are going to give up their bottle. Ask your boys how long they want to be babies. They may be a little young to understand, but if they say 3 years old, then on their 3rd birthday, the bottle goes away. Have them pack up all the bottles and either donate them or throw them away. They have that age in their mind so it is not a surprise.

My boys were never on bottles, but I have been in the early childhood education business for a long time.

Good Luck!

I have to say 23 months is a bit old to still be on bottles, but at any rate, since they connect nap and bed with bottles, I think you need to devise a whole new routine for those times and stick to it no matter what! Stories after a 15 minute favorite video and a sippy cup of milk - they are old enough to understand that this is how the milk comes now so it's this in sippy cup or nothing. There may be tears, but they are old enough to start coping and should be able to get with a new routine in a week or two. You have to be the diligent one and not back down. Good Luck!

When my daughter was a year old her aunt and uncle came to town on their way to Germany with the Air Force. We showed my daughter a postcard of some homes in Germany and told her babies lived in the houses and they needed her bottles. We boxed everything up in front of her and put the box in the car when they left for the airport. After that everytime she asked for a bottle we showed her the postcard and told her about how much the babies there needed her bottles and that she was a big girl! She stopped asking after the second night.

There is no problem...whatever makes them feel good. Just let them drink water at night. No diluted milk or juice. Just tell them that one day no more bottle or tell them the bottle is for babies and they are little boys.
Good Luck

With my twins ( per our doctor) we had to give them rice cereal before bedtime. They needed the extra snack at night to help them stay asleep. It helped starting the first nght we did it. Then as they got alittle older we stopped doing it.