bedtime bottle

Shelia - posted on 07/30/2010

I know its hard, but just take it away. That's what we had to do and it was tough. But after a few days, he was fine.

Rebecca - posted on 07/30/2010

Well I have gone backwards somehow :(

Again like oona, I would but my girl down at the same time sans bottle every night, she would cry for 3-5 mins and then settle and sleep through the night.
Then about 15 months, she was taking up to 10 minutes, after which i would pat, settle and leave again, but then she would get so worked up that she would vomit all over the cot and the floor - I tried to be firm, clean it up and then put her down again - same thing would happen.
I have made diet changes, routine changes, but everytime I leave her to cry, she gets hysterical and is sick.
i stopped for a while and rocked her to sleep, everytime i try to go back the same thing happens - it's stressful and I can't maintain it because I have to work

Tonya - posted on 07/29/2010

My 19 month old has never had a bottle so thankfully I haven't run into this problem

Diane - posted on 07/23/2010

thanks Megan, they have never had any ear infections and do not take a bottle to bed, they have their milk then brush their teeth before bed. think i may try them having it from a cup instead but wont stress if they still want their bottle and a snuggle with mummy x

Megan - posted on 07/23/2010

Diane, using bottles can lead to unnecessary ear infections, but if your girls haven't had issues then they're fine. My doc said that letting them fall asleep with a bottle leads to tooth decay.

Diane - posted on 07/23/2010

my 19 month old girls have a bottle of milk when they wake and a bottle of milk an hour before bed, they drink it from a bottle while we snuggle on the sofa. they do not have bottles at all during the day. reading through these posts i wonder if i am missing something and they should not be using bottles for some reason, is it really an issue if they have a bottle ? does it cause problems with their teeth ?

Katrina - posted on 07/21/2010

My son uses snippy cups with a flexible nipple, it's enough like a bottle, but better for his teeth. Our doctor said it's fine. The brand we use is called Nuby.

Megan - posted on 07/20/2010

Gina, my comment wasn't supposed to be offensive!! The ONLY reason I said that was because I got A LOT of crap for giving my 13 month old son a bottle. He was having one (sometimes 2 a day) and my family members looked down on me. I finally gave in to their pressure and switched him to sippy cups. Although the biggest reason was actually to help prevent his ear infections. I was completely and genuinely surprised that 19 month olds used bottles! Please don't misunderstand my comment! :)

Natasha - posted on 07/19/2010

Give him a glass of milk with dinner if he doesnt drink it dont worry, at this age they can get all their nuterients from food. At bedtime do your usual routine minus a bottle of milk.

I am sure it is going to be hard to settle him and allow him some water in his cup but no bottle. He may kick and scream but he will get used to the new routine eventually. I did this some time ago as the older children get the more they know what is going on and the more they know their own mind and put up a fight.

Good luck ;-)

Karen - posted on 07/19/2010

Like Oona, we scheduled our baby from day one and have been living in glorious peace in our home for the most part. He's been putting himself to sleep since he was about 3 weeks old. Sure, he had sep. anxiety around 9 mos and it wasn't so peaceful but we did Tracey Hogg's "Pick Up/Put Down" strategy and it worked great. Took a few days but he was back to soothing himself. If you're expecting the next baby or want to know more about those strategies, check out her books along with Babywise by Gary Ezzo. I'm not in to crying it out so that combo of books makes for a nice, balanced viewpoint since they're opposites in a way.
I have found that if you really want your kid to change a habit at this age, the word "Big" is all they need to hear. e.g. "You're a big boy, right?" "Yeah" "So you can use self-control and not whine, right?" "Yeah" "Little babies can't use self-control so they cry, but you're big! I know you can do it!" I got this idea of saying "big" from the 3 day Potty Training e-book that was recommended to me. We have "big" plans to potty train mid-August! Yay! :)

Sarah - posted on 07/18/2010

My twins are 19 months. About a month ago they still were having a bottle to go to sleep. I switched them over to a soft nipple sippy cup. And they did fine with it. Now a month later, the take a few sips and throw the sippy down. They dont want it anymore. Not that this will work with every kid, but it worked with both my twins. And now they hardly ever have a sippy in bed with them unless it is a bad night.

Stacey - posted on 07/18/2010

i just put my 19 month baby down to sleep without a bottle for the first time. I would gladly let her have it for as long as she wanted but i know her teeth are more important than a piece of plastic. No one want to see their child upset but when it's for their own good it's worth it. Now the dummy on the other hand thats a different story...:)

Gina - posted on 07/17/2010

I don't think it's fair to tell her "stop giving it to him." I'm pretty sure the woman who posted this wanted to hear experiences and the feelings behind it. In response to the the other woman who "can't believe 19 month olds still drink bottles": That's not right to say, you can't judge someone for this. It's not unheard of and no one is the perfect parent, or has the perfect child. My son drinks a sippy cup all day long (50% water, 50% fruit juice). He does drink milk from a bottle before naptime and bedtime. He will ONLY drink milk this way. I'm sure I won't have to force him to stop drinking from a bottle. What I can do is stop the bottle routine less and less but I work full-time. My mom takes care of my son during the day. She is going to help me with everything (like taking away his binky and potty-training) and I'm thankful for that! Eden is my first born and I'm 35. I'm definitely not perfect... but I'm trying my best. According my pediatrician, she thought her own sons (she has 5 of them, 2 of which are twins) stopped drinking from a bottle before 2. Then she watched an old video of her sons at Christmas and she said to herself, "Wait a minute, the twins had to be 3 years old and still drinking from a bottle!" So she told me not to worry. She said just start diluting the milk in the bottle little by little w/ water. Then eventually he won't want the bottle anymore because he's not getting what he wants from it. Sounds like a good plan ... but I think say, 2 1/2 years old is WAY too long to still be on a bottle. To the mom who posted: Good luck on your routine! It sounds like it's working for you. ;)

Oona - posted on 07/17/2010

my husband and i put my daughter down, eyes open, same exact time every night, from 3 days old. lights out. if she cried, we went and got her, soothed her and put her back down, because we didnt believe in a newborn crying it out. we fed her only every 3 hours, and by 6 months old she was sleeping 12 hour stretches. our philosophy differs from most - but it worked for us. She never fell asleep on boob/bottle, cause we put her to bed one hour after she finished her last bottle. our philosophy seemed radical to some, but since we went into it in total agreement and planned it ahead of time, it made it a little easier. at about 8-10 months, she went through her seperaton anxiety phase, and woudl cry when we put her down, but it lasted 3 minutes. the good thing about allowing htem to self soothe, is it shows them you have confidence in them. but, everyone is different in what works for them. none of is is the perfect parent.

Jessica - posted on 07/17/2010

I am usually a gradual approach to getting my 19 month old off her bottle. She drinks from the playtex sippy cups all day long, but at night we use the Nuby soft spouts. It is similar to her bottle and she knows that it is for milk and milk only. We cuddle while she drinks her milk. Most of the time now she is falling asleep drinking and going to bed awake is another topic I need help with.

Oona - posted on 07/16/2010

stop giving it to him

Carrie - posted on 07/16/2010

my problem is my husband. He insists on giving my son a bottle for naptime and bedtime. he wont let him cry, he always says "i don't want him to hate us" which i know isn't true. I've been trying to take the bottle away but dad just wont stop. Its so annoying. i work nights so its hard for me to stop it, but naptime i HAVE stopped the bottle, since i'm in charge of it.

Alicia - posted on 07/15/2010

We went straight from the bottle to the sippy cup without looking back. I was afraid because he stopped drinking for about an entire day. The biggest problem is you giving in. My son refused his night time sippy cup of milk and also his morning milk for about 1 1/2 weeks. He has since begin drinking it....I just refused to give in to him.

Sheron - posted on 07/15/2010

My pediatrician was not pleased that my almost 19 month old is still on a bottle, but he finds it comforting and I try to keep an eye on his teeth. He is only a baby once and personally don't see a need to rush his ba ba away from him.

Kristie - posted on 07/15/2010

hi my first born is 19 months too. i got her off the bottle when she was 14 months. an this is what i. did was put half in a sippy cup 30 min before bed an the fest in the bottle.

Savanah - posted on 07/15/2010

My daughter has had one since she turned 1. We just stopped giving them to her. She adjusted very well after a couple days. We just would do the same by giving a later dinner let her play and wear herself out then a bath and bed.

Simanti - posted on 07/15/2010

My son is 18 and half months and still drinks his nighttime milk from a bottle, however I don't let him take the bottle to bed, he sits on the couch with me and drinks it, its his wind down bottle :)

Megan - posted on 07/15/2010

I didn't even know people stil gave 19 month old babies bottles! lol My oldest is 18 months and he kept getting ear infections at 12 months old. so we only gave him one at night (before bed), then took it away 2 months later. I don't think he even noticed!

Lauren - posted on 07/14/2010

OMG! My little girl LOVES her ba ba before her nap, and before night night time! She is going on 19 months too. I don't even know where to begin for taking that bottle away! I guess I will start taking the nap time one away first.

Juliet - posted on 07/14/2010

I give my 19 month old a cup all day long but she gets a water bottle at nap time and at bed time I give her a milk bottle that she drinks while I snuggle with her. By the time she is ready to go to sleep the bottle is empty so she doesn't have any milk sitting in her mouth rotting her teeth. She is not a very cuddly child so I cherish that half hour at the end of the day that she will sit with me. I dont think its that big a deal that she still drinks a bottle.

Patty - posted on 07/13/2010

My son is my 3rd child, and has kept his bottle for the longest time. I'm not concerned. It is a comfort that I am willing to give for my sanity!! All kidding aside, we have begun to dilute the milk, and will hopefully be moving past the bedtime bottle after the summer. I seem to recall seeing pics of Suri Cruise with her bottle around the age of two... hee hee hee. Yes, of course, the routine must be eliminated, but ultimately, as parents, we do what is best for our situation, our kids. Don't stress! It's only a bottle!

Jennifer - posted on 07/11/2010

I'm actually a hipocrite in giving this advice. I am a dental assistant, and know better than to let my little one go to bed sucking on a sippy full of milk! Ohhhh....it's so hard to even break my bad habbit of giving it to him. Darn it. I'm doing better. Really though, milk at bed time is soooo not good for these little guys teeth. Sure, their only baby teeth, but the sugars in the milk just eat away at their teeth. I have been giving my little guy water at bed time. Occationally milk, if he is wound up and obviously not ready to settle down. I feel it is ok for them to have the comfort of the sippy at bed time. We wouldn't take away their blankie, or stuffed animal at this age. Just, try not to give any drink with sugar in it at bed time. : )

Ashley - posted on 07/10/2010

my daughter is the same way she is 19 months old and i still cant get her away from the bottle when she is ready for bed

Naomi - posted on 07/10/2010

My 18th month old has a straw cup during the day. A bottle of water for her day sleep and a bottle of milk before her night sleep. I hadn't actually thought of taking her off it until I had read this. Maybe it is time. Just like you Julie Cox, I have a husband who won't listen, just does what it easiest to get some peace. I think I will wait until she is ready to give it up herself

Jenny - posted on 07/10/2010

for the sake of his teeth just dont give it to him in bed. as has been said children love routine so make his the same as yours dinner,drink,brush teeth then bed .

Remy - posted on 07/09/2010

I am giving up on it honestly. There will come a time when she won't want a bottle, will be too babyish you know. Right now, I give her a bottle for breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime and sippy cups throughout the day. I have a water baby and since she was little, all she does with a sippy cup is shake it until all the water comes out. At bedtime she needs to sleep. My doctor said she could have bad teeth. But my husband and I were both breast fed entirely and had horrible teeth anyway that required braces. So I'm expecting that for her regardless of if she drinks from a bottle or a sippy cup. What's important now is that she sleeps and is rested. If I give her a sippy cup at bedtime, she would drench herself through four changes of clothes before she fell asleep. With a bottle, she's out in five minutes. So for now, that's where it stands.

Candyce - posted on 07/09/2010

we moved from bubba at bed to a sippy at bed and now our daughter takes an open faced cup half full to bed

Julie - posted on 07/09/2010

what do you do with a husband who won't give up giving the bottle to a 19 month old? He won't listen to me, even though I've had two kids before!

Brandi - posted on 07/08/2010

Everyone has been lecturing me for two months because my son still takes a bottle at nap and bedtime. He has never been a good sleeper I'm lucky if he sleeps 8 hrs and 2 1 hr naps a day. I have attempted the cold turkey scenario with no luck. I'm not stressing ittoo much because he doesn't take a bottle at any other time. Also I feel that if he could hand me back his hunky at 9 months and never look back chances are he will give it up when he's ready. We have however cut them down to 4 oz and brush his teeth 3 times a day.

Rebecca - posted on 07/08/2010

I am going thru the same thing with my 19 mo old son. I just took his binky away and am doing really well with it now I am going to try to take the bottle away from him next week. I think I am going to try the trick with him having a full cup of milk at dinner and then straight to bed! thanks for the advice you ladies have given to her, which in turn has helped me to get motivated to get the bottle away!

Nicole - posted on 07/08/2010

i put the bottles in the cupboard and just stopped giving them, they quickly forget about the bottle - my daughter hasnt had on for two weeks. just be strong! we swapped the bottle for a cup of milk and biscuit and storytime - it worked really well! good luck!

Wahss - posted on 07/05/2010

just dont give it to him! My son was 2 years and 1 month when I realized he was much too old for a bottle. He only had a bottle before bed, but still... so we just took it away. We hid them on him and told him that we forgot them all at Grandma's house. The first 2 nights were HELL trying to get him to sleep, all he did was cry!! By the 3rd night, he gave up and that was the end of it!! Be consistent and don't give in. Don't feel like you're being "mean" because then you'll end up giving in. Stick to your decision and don't look back! ....my daughter was also off her bottle 2 months later when she was 11 1/2 months!, she just turned 20 months a few days ago! Bottles are history in this house :)

Robin - posted on 07/05/2010

Well, kids love routines and that is one he is not ready to give up...it could leave him feeling insecure if you try before he is ready. We have to remember what their little world consists of and the bedtime bottle is obviously an important part of his small world. The cup might have been a big change for him and he's not ready to give up that last bottle just yet. I think some things are easier if we wait until their communication skills are honed enough for us to discuss it with them on their level. So, I personally wouldn't press it right now if he is insistent.

Shelley - posted on 07/04/2010

I say dont' worry about it. Let him have the confort of the bottle or sippy at bed. If he's doing it during the day, he's able. He'll give it up eventually. Hang on it the snuggle times. Just remember not the have him go to bed w/ it. He finishes first, then goes to bed.

Tracy - posted on 07/04/2010

i would nt worry too much especially as he does nt have one all day he ll probably start to want it less as time goes on like all mine did if not once they are old enough to understand use bribery, lol

Jenna - posted on 07/04/2010

PS: It is obviously different with a 3yr old than a 19 month old...I was just saying what I had to do.

Jenna - posted on 07/04/2010

Stop giving it to him! My son was 3 and still wanting a sippy cup of milk before bed. What I had to do was just make sure he had a full cup of milk at the table before bed and just go cold turkey with the bottle. It is definitely a hard battle but like I said he was 3. It was by far past time to stop the nonsense.

Alana - posted on 07/04/2010

thank you we have pushed his dinner back to 600 and the bath at 700 then at 730 bottle but with in a month change to his sch. he went from a 8oz bottle before bed to a 3oz bottle before bed now.... and we cuddle on the couch with it due to we dont let him lay by himself with a bottle we dont want him to rack his teeth, and when he is done that 3oz we go into is bed and lay together just mama and him cuddling till he passes out!

Serene - posted on 07/04/2010

I find that giving my 19mth old son his dinner, bath and bottle before bed. When he is finished his bottle i put him to bed. I had to sit there for quite awhile at first to make him understand that he's not going to get one. I know having to sit there with him seems to drag and you'd rather be doing other things but the end result is what is worth it