cup vs. bottle at 10 months

Glenda - posted on 07/18/2011 ( 5 moms have responded )

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I have 2 boys. My youngest is 10 months old. Last month, I decided to introduce the youngest to a transitional cup with a soft top-kind of like a bottle. I still hold him when he drinks from the cup, unless we are in the car when he's drinking. I also hold the cup for him quite a bit, even though he is capable of holding it himself. I did the same for my 6-year-old when he was 10 months old with no problems. My MIL told me that I am taking away my youngest child's time to be a baby by taking his bottle too soon and insists that I must put him back on a bottle at least twice a day. I calmly explained that I don't see a reason to do that because he's still drinking just as much as he did when he was drinking a bottle, he appears to be just as happy with the cup, I am still holding him, and to go back to the bottle would be going backwards. She keeps ranting that I am taking away his "nurture time." This became so bad that she got my husband to start urging me to put our son back on the bottle because he might drink more. (His weight was in a lower percentile at his 9 month appointment-when he had been on the cup for only a week.) I became so frustrated that I tried to put him back on the bottle one evening. He drank just as much as he does on the cup, and it didn't seem to make a difference at all. Even after I tried it, and it didn't make a difference, my MIL continues to say something about it every time we see her, and my husband continues to argue with me over whether or not the baby should be on a bottle. I really don't think it's right to put him back on a bottle when he's doing fine on the cup. It's also more expensive because of the liners, and he's supposed to be off of the bottle when he's a year old-just two months away. I'm just really frustrated. I've talked to my mom and my SIL about it, and they both think I should stick to my guns. Is there any reason for me to put my son back on a bottle?

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5 Comments

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Mhairi - posted on 07/26/2011

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Both my boys have/had and issue with cups, my oldest is 6 and i got him off the bottle at 1 1/2 yrs and my 10 mnth is still going strong. Every baby will let you know in their own way when they're ready to move on and since your baby is taking the same amount regardless of how it comes it doesn't matter how he takes it. A cup (of any kind) will be much better the the teeth but other than that it's whatever your baby is happiest with. You can either ignore everyone if they have an opinion or you can put your foot and tell them straight. Good luck :)

Aimee - posted on 07/25/2011

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I dont think you should. My daughter was 10 months when I started giving her a cup and she does not have any problems. I would stick to what you are doing.

Katie - posted on 07/24/2011

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It sounds like your hubby doesn't really care either way he just doesn't want to be stuck in the middle, and he just chose the wrong side. You need to tell your MIL, while you respect her opinion, he's your son and you'll make the decisions. That you did the same thing with your oldest and he's just fine. And this may sound weird, but if your husband doesn't really have an opinion either way then he needs to either not choose sides or choose your side. You are his partner not his mother. You're the one with the baby everyday and it's your decision. It'd be one thing if he brought it up in the first place, but from the way you described, it sounds like his mom just bugged him about and he's just trying to end the conflict. But again, he shouldn't be putting himself between you and his mom. It's not like the baby's only 4 months old or something. Like you said, he'd be off the bottle in 2 months anyway and if he's content then it makes it that much easier. Besides, sippys flow faster than bottle nipples so there's no way he could be getting less food from them. Good luck! I'm sorry you have to deal with this situation.

Elfrieda - posted on 07/19/2011

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Wow, that's stressful. I don't think there's any reason to put your son back on a bottle except that your husband and mother-in-law are bugging you. I don't think it matters to your son, but I'm sure it wouldn't hurt him to go back to a bottle if it would make Mom and Dad get along better. On the other hand, I totally see your point about bottles being gone in just two months anyway.

I guess I'm saying I don't think it matters either way from a developmental standpoint, it's just that there are a few relational problems to work out. Good luck!

(Why on earth do your husband and his mom care so much about this trivial thing? What about bigger decisions? Yikes.)

Amy - posted on 07/19/2011

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My son NEVER would take a bottle. just nursed. I introduced a cup at 10 months just so i wasn't so attached. No reason to go to bottle. Most moms have trouble DITCHING the bottle. If he loves the cup, run with it!! lol.
I would get every bottle in the house and either store it or pitch it or give them away. cups are great and i thought better for mouth/teeth development. when kids are hungry they eat. when they aren't they don't. has nothing to do with what the food comes in. I think your gut is right and use the cup instead of bottle all the time. bye bye bottles! :)