Weining my child off the bottle

Chrissy - posted on 02/04/2009

Thank you so much for understanding.  I am going to try and take this advice seriously.  I think that I will continue to try and switch off with different cups and stuff like you said.  One thing my dad did say before he died was "she does everything in her own time"  he was talking to my daughter when he said that and it about broke my heart with tears.  Funny how time passes and the little things a person takes for granted.  I will definately let you know about this after the weekend passes.  Wish me luck !!!!  :)

Jacqueline - posted on 02/03/2009

I've tried weaning Mackenzie so many times. She's 18 months now, but she only takes the bottle for naptime and bedtime. The Dr has her on PediaSure right now, but she refuses to eat 3/4 of the time so she drinks between 2-4 bottles all day. Her Grandpa calls her Minnie the Mucher (not sure if I spelled that right). And I know I get frustrated some days. Right now my husband, daughter and I all live with my mom and step-dad and little sister. It's a little crowded, and lately our daughter kicks my husband out of bed. She's suppose to share a room with my sister, but usually the tv's on in there till who knows when. But now my husband started working again 55+ hrs a week, i'm in school full time and i work part-time so i know I don't have all the patience I should. I've been thinking of taking a weekend off of work and spending the time having the "battle" with her. I figure that way if she refuses to sleep i wont have to give in as easily LOL.

Elizabeth - posted on 02/03/2009

Oh Wow...I would never criticize you for any of that...Seriously....It sounds like a crazy situation, and I cannot even imagine finding myself in that situation. I get not being able to afford to live on your own, or even more wanting to be near your Mom and your sister right now. And I cannot imagine the over the road husband, my husband works an overnight shift at work and its miserable. However, we at least have the evenings, where the girls and I get to see him, so I feel for you on taking nights on by yourself.



Honestly, it sounds like there's a lot going on in your daughter's life right now, kid's may not understand everything, but they are SO sensitive! They feel everything around them! The bottle may be a comfort issue for your daughter, personally, I say if its just a bedtime comfort thing let her have it. Children, need sleep and I don't think you can put all children on the same schedule of being done with things. Be patient with her, try switching some things up and offering a cup constantly (even maybe a different kind of cup).

Chrissy - posted on 02/03/2009

Omgosh, she may do that ie, take the water in the bottle, but I tried that too and she was iffy about it.  I am just so frustrated constantly changing the sheets, her diapers at night and it is always always at 3 am or so in the morning.  SO you can imagine that that takes a huge tole on our morning and this has been going on for quite some time, not to mention, I am a single / husband is an over the road truck driver, and we live with my sister & my mother whom is dying of leukemia and we just buried my father a year from friday 1/31/09 so we have only 3 rooms in the house and my daughter, husband & I live in one,  my sister lives in another and my mother lives in the other but I would not trade this time with her for nothing but it is very hard cuz my daughter sleeps with me half the time .... she is a goood girl and I love her so dearly, she just learned to say Bampa tonight but I am sure there will be a whole lot of critisism for this from the outside.  One thing I will say is that we don't make enough money to live on our own right now and I love my sister she is my soulmate and has given me more than anyone will ever know.  Also, she said we could redo her basement when we can so that will be GREAT have our own space.  My mother is dying so I will not leave and get myself in a jam especially with the economy.  Please all of you do not critisize me for any of this, I already have a low self esteem as it is and we are happy for the first time in my life. 

Elizabeth - posted on 02/03/2009

My daughter made a seemless no tears transition from bottle to sippy cup with no problem at twelve months; however, I have a friend who's daughter is nineteen months old who is still on the bottle. Her pediatrician says its more of a comfort issue for her than a nurishment issue. If it were me, I'd probably let her have a bedtime bottle, but is she still taking multiple bottles in the middle of the night? Have you tried switching the contents of her bottle? I started giving Bella milk only in her sippy and water in her bottle the last week and a half, so it got to the point where she wanted the cup instead of the bottle. I hope that helps...

Sade - posted on 02/03/2009

My lil girl was 13 months when I took the bottle away. One night I was having a mood swing LOL and was very fraustrated with cleaning them so i called her over to the trash can and we had a funeral for the bottles. Her dad thought i had completely lost my mind (probably). Ne way i simply explained to her she was a big girl and she no longer needed her bottle. From that night on we have not used a bottle. The only down side is she won't drink milk from her sippy and she is more dependent on her binki(pacifier). good thing is I don't have to clean bottles ne more. R.I.P bottles