Help with the switch...from Bottle to Sippy.

Updated on December 23, 2009
W.B. asks from Palmerton, PA
10 answers

Okay, my first born was easy compared to my second little one. Although they were both premature and premature babies are known to have allergies and asthma and what not. My first born doesn't have any however my second one is allergic to dogs, soy, & peaches. My problem is that my first born was off a bottle at 8 months no problem and on a cup at all times. However, I can't seem to get my second one onto a cup. She will drink juice from a cup and only a cup however no milk. Because her birthday is coming up, I want her to be off a cup at a year old. Oh and I should also tell you that when she was born she was a fussy baby and would only drink out of brown nipples (the hospital brand small - similac ones) and then switched to the platex drop ins with only brown nipples. I have tried the same cups I used with my first born which was the Gerber transtion cups (they don't make them anymore) I did keep hers and tried them and no luck. I have tried gerber cups, I have tried the cheap ones from walmart/kmart. Ones with straws, ones with out, spill proof ones, not spill proof ones, expensive ones from babies r us that are 10.99 a piece, I don't know what to do I want to get her off the bottle. Any advice is much appreciated and please don't be mean if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything as I know she will move onto a cup when ready however because she is getting constant ear infections we have to get her on a cup.

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J.W.

answers from Reading on

We had the same issue as what you're experiencing. Honestly, it took time. We started with slowly eliminating the daytime bottles. What really helped was getting her a Sesame Street sippy -she loves Elmo, so she wanted to use it. We didn't get rid of the nighttime bottle until she was a year old. I know this can be frustrating - hang in there!

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J.H.

answers from Philadelphia on

I don't know how preemie your kids were, but kids are recommended to start using cups after their 1st b-day, and if you adjust for their prematurity 8mos is awfully early!

It sounds like you're slowly transitioning the correct way. Give it some more time. I'd try to make sure she's off the bottle by 18mos adjusted. By then I'd just give her no other choice, she'll have to drink eventually!

Good Luck!

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M.U.

answers from Philadelphia on

I too am having this problem!! I have triplets almost 2!!!
I have tried chocolate milk and also someone told me to put jelly or something sweet on the nipple of the sippy cup and still NOTHING!!
I have held out for 3 hours and they whine-fuss-and scream and finally I just gave up. My pediatrician told me to keep trying and I do but I'm at my witts end. They literally make a face when they taste milk in it but ALL the rest of the day THEY USE THE SIPPY CUPS- its diluted juice and water and they guzzle like theyv'e been in a desert!! Its ONLY milk that is the problem!! Morning and evening is when I try to give milk and they won't do it-worried about the calcium I keep trying but 3hrs and crying times 3 is hard!!

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Maybe you could try only offering a sippy throughout the day and allow her a bottle last thing at night? I know when I ditched the bottles, the bedtime O. was the last to go. Just a thought. Have you tried a regular cup and a straw? Try enticing her to use a straw when having some thin soup or broth--gross I know, but seems kids love to slurp soup with a straw!
You may have to ditch the bottles all at once and if they are gone, she'll have to drink something out of something, right? You could set a day ahead of time and let her know the bottles are going.
Good luck.

A.J.

answers from Williamsport on

This is pretty young for her to voluntarily drop the bottle. Since you need to enforce it, you'll have to just make her. My son had no interest in cups, so when we made the choice he needed to give up the bottle, we just took it away. Actually I was at my parent's on bed rest while pregnant, and THEY (old farmers that they are) decided he was too old for the bottle (which was OK with me, I just hadn't thought of it yet) and they took it away saying, "He won't go thirsty for long". Sure enough, he was drinking out of the cup we gave him all the time 3 days later. On the days in between, he drank a little less often and fussed, but would drink a little. He didn't drink much on the first day. I wouldn't knock yourself out on trying a million cups-she just wants the bottle. Choose a cup, and follow through! Good luck!

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L.B.

answers from Philadelphia on

Hi W.,
Our son didn't want a cup either. We tried the nubby cups. I think we got them at walmart. We also would not give him a bottle. At 11 months, he was eating enough solids that we gave him extra cheese and yogurt for the calcium. Within a week, he wanted the milk, so he took the cup. I hope this helps.
Good Luck!
L.

D.S.

answers from Allentown on

Hi, W.:

It is not time for the baby to switch.

Kick back and relax. The baby has her own time schedule.
I know it is difficult for you to want her to do things on your time schedule, but it is on her time schedule.

What is your issue about wanting her off the bottle? You are a good mother, don't worry. Good luck. D.

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B.R.

answers from York on

I totally understand your search for the cup that she'll finally take to! Here's one I tried (no success for my son), but maybe it will work for you! Nuby has a cup with handles and a (clear) nipple to start with. Then you can transition up to their real sippy cups. Good luck!

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J.B.

answers from Philadelphia on

It was hard for me too. We listened to the doctor and went cold turkey with a sippy cup. We said goodbye to bottles and since he wouldn't frink from the sippy cup we told him he had to drink from a little plastic cup. He was fine with the little cups we got from ikea. We never went back to bottles. A few weeks later he saw a friend drinking from a sippy cup and from that point on he was hooked. We did find that he wouldn't drink as much at first but the dr said not to worry abouthis nutrition b/c they look at it over a span of a week or so not days. Hope this helps. Good luck!

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M.B.

answers from Philadelphia on

I agree with the other posters who said you basically just have to get rid of the bottles and only offer whatever cup you choose. A few days without milk/formula should not be a problem unless there are underlying health/nutrition issue - you can check with your ped to be sure this is OK for your baby. With my oldest, she also didn't want to make the switch, but within 2-3 days of taking the bottles she gave in and made the switch. Since your daughter will take juice, just give her that to keep her hydrated. I'm not sure the type of cup will matter, but we used the Playtex brand. Initially we removed the valves to make it easier for our daughters to get the liquid out, but then we were able to replace them after a bit to keep things neater.

Good luck!

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