Bottle weaning...help

I think that it is pretty normal. My two year old went through that after I had my twin girls. She always wanted a bottle and she even started sucking on a binki for the first time. I would just not make a huge deal out of it. Keep giving her sippy cups on a regular basis...but just because she wants a bottle when the baby gets one, doesn't mean she is going to permanently revert back to drinking bottles. My two year old got over the binki and bottle thing after a couple of months. Good luck!!

A.,
As a mother with the seventh on the way...let's talk about reality. I KNOW that kids are supposed to be OFF the bottle by one but really...DO YOU CARE? Make the child her own and let her wallow in her self pity and babieness. It will probably give you more time to nurse the baby and cuddle with the 16 month old rather than doing all that parenting that you are SUPPOSED to do. Enjoy them both...they are both babies. I have two sets that are 13 months apart! ALthough the older in both sets probably dragged a bottle, paci or blanket around longer than they should have those kids orthodontist, dentist and doctor appointments are no more than the others that were off when they SHOULD have been! They are also VERY bonded with the immediate younger siblings and one of the youngers in those sets was potty trained (following older sibling) at 13 months!
Good luck and RELAX!

I also agree with most of the other moms, your 16 month old is still a baby. There is no reason she can't have her own bottle. Some babies need bottles longer than other babies and if you try and ween them off to soon then it causes a lot of stress on you and them. When me and my daughter weened my 1st granddaughter off the bottle she did great and but when we tried to ween the second one she was very attached to her bottle, her blanket. My daughter still forced her and now she is very attached to a binkie and her blanket. She is scared to death to leave the house without her binkey to the point she will scream until she has it. I say there is no reason to cause that kind of stress on you or your baby at one or two years old. You begin food and sippie cups and start incouraging them not to have it unless they are laying down and pretty soon they will let it go and you will know. I tell my daughter, "You never see a 6 year old walking into Kindergarten with a bottle or binkie hanging out of their mouth". Be patient with her, she still a baby.

My dd did this too and it took me to give her time outs when she grabbed the bottle away. I think by the 3rd time she realized I was done. My friend had the same issue and started treating the 16 month old as a baby tried making her eat the veggie purees and the meat mixture purees telling her shes a baby not a big girl. after that she never touched the bottle again. ( Personally I thought that was cruel but effective)

I would fix a separate bottle of juoice for your 16 month old. It is important that your 16 month old child bond with and love the baby. Cuddle both of them together and allow the older child feel close to both you and the baby. The bottle will take care of itself when there is no more need for it.

A.,

It sounds like your 16 month old just needs to regress for awhile. He may need some special attention. I would say at least for now...fix him a bottle of juice or plain milk for him when you give one to the baby. What can it hurt. He won't want it forever. I would say if it cuts out the chaos...then go with it.

Just keep the bottles where she cannot get it. Make a huge deal of her being a big girl and NO MORE BOTTLES. I would be concerned too about cross contamination of her putting her mouth on the bottles. Feed the infant then wash out the bottles right away. Don't leave them around where she can get them. Don't give in as that sends mixed signals to her!!! Be firm and consistent she is the big girl and the bottles are for babies.

While you have a tiny one needing a bottle, try getting a pack of two bottles just for the 16 mo. old and when you give the baby one give her one thats just hers. She can only have it when the baby gets one. When she chews the nipple off then thats the end of the bottle. When my kids were little thats what I did. My bro had 2 sets of kids (out of 5)15 months apart and we had to do that for them also. Each had their own bottles.
My mother said when they are that close you have to do something different, and wean different to.
Good luck it should help a little. And you not so frustrated.

Okay I like you have 7 and have had this exact issue with all of them, and we are a brady bunch also (have had his since itty-bitty's) and am currently in the same position with my just turned 4 year old DD and my 21 month old son, my DD loves to take it from my son (I don't break until about 2 year old) although she is fine having a cup and uses them all the time. I notive for my DD it is a comfort thing, if I am busy with the baby, or just don't have enough hours in the day, she wants one. I have just let her have it, she get's one and has learned to pick when she gets it...know. In the beginning I would give in also, just so the baby can get to sleep, but slowly cut it off, I did the same with her older brother who is 6 know (he hasn't wanted or asked in years) for me and my kids the more forbidden I made something the worse it got, so I would compromise. Watch your DD she has a trigger and then find the middle ground. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. And a little peace and harmony is not a bad thing. Your little girl is still a baby herself and she see's all the attention the baby gets, and how much comfort the new little one gets from it, so her reaction is normal. I don't know if this helped any but good luck!!!

I think you should make 2 bottles or lock the 16 month old out of the room with the baby. Set her up with a movie downstairs or have Dad occupy her. We have the same problem with a 3 month old and a 2 year old.

Giving in will keep it going. It's sending a message to her that if she keeps it up she will eventually get what she wants. You answered your own question when you said I know I shouldn't but I do.

BUT, you could try putting something really nasty tasting in the bottle and when she gets it she won't be so happy to have it anymore.