Weaning off of the Bottle

Michaela - posted on 04/08/2009

Tbh I think it depends on your lifestyle.

I got to the 2 bottles a day a 1 year old. Morning for breaky & bedtime bottle. I chose to cut out the morning bottle , but its easier for me to do that because she is a lazy bum so gets up at a nice time between 7-8am so breakfast is right on time for her. She then has a 5-6oz bottle before bed , sometimes though she doesnt have it & we give her either rice pudding or warm weetabix for like a supper. I will be cutting out her nightime bottle soon because she doesnt seem to be that struck on it anymore so I think shes ready for it to go :)

Good look with the weaning hun x

Desiree - posted on 03/12/2009

Ohhhhhhh and one other thing... when you take your son off the bottle, still keep maybe 2 and put them in the back of the cupboard, just in case.  I was told to do this with my first and was very grateful.  Even though she gave up her bottle, a couple months later she got sick and wouldn't drink for me.  The doc told me to try using a bottle again, sometimes it's a comfort thing. 

I gave her back the bottle and she did drink from it... I would rather have her using her bottle and re-weaning than dehydrating - but once she was better she just threw the bottle away again and that was the last time she took one.  I was glad I had them though.  I was also told this would be needed in case she regressed - but she never did!

I kept 2 bottles pushed to the back of my cupboard and once we had gone a while not having any regression or need for them I threw them out.  I think it was like 4 or 5 months I left them there.

Just an idea. :-)

Desiree - posted on 03/12/2009

Even though I have an older one - Lilly is my first that I will be weaning.  My oldest just after she turned 1 decided she didn't like bottles anymore.  I didn't have to do anything, she just wouldn't drink from them....

I have Lilly getting a bottle in the morning and at night too.  During the day she gets sippy cups with milk, juice or water... she does just great with them. I am thinking of picking up a couple more of the sippy cups and just cutting the bottle out altogether soon... she doesn't seem to care if her milk comes in a bottle or sippy cup.  Honestly I use bottles right now mostly because of the convenience for me, I have more bottles and it's easier to throw something in it when leaving home...

My question is... I know your worried about cutting out his morning... wouldn't it be the same if you put whatever you give him in his morning bottle in a sippy cup?  As long as he drinks it???  Same thing, different containeer... would still keep the schedule you are used to going.... LOL, or maybe I am thinking wrong...

Whatever you decide, good luck.  I am sure it will work out to what is best for both of you!

Nicki - posted on 03/11/2009

You know your lifestyle and your baby.  I would cut out whatever bottle you feel would be the easiest transition for your baby and you.  A suggestion on food for breakfast because I don't have time to make hot ceral every morning either.  Breakfast bars work well.  Gerber makes some in the toddler food but you can use natural ones or nutrigrain bars.  Break them up in small bites at first with a sippy cup of milk.  Now my little girl can just eat it whole and take bites of it.  It seems to fill her up well and is healthy.  For night routine, we feed our little girl a snack/small dinner when she gets up from her afternoon nap around 4:00 pm or 5:00pm.  Then around 7:00pm, we feed her another small meal with a cup of milk.  After that she plays for a short while and then it is bath then bed time.  That seems to work well and she sleeps throught the night.  We did that for my son who is now 3.5 and it worked great for him as well.  Every baby is different, do what you think is right for your child.  I will let you know though that I have spoken to several pediatricians and leaving a child on a bottle too long can hinder their speech development. It has something to do with the way their muscles develop in their mouth.  I do not want to alarm you.  I think they were referring to people who took that to extremes.  You are doing the right thing and taking it one bottle at a time.  Keep up the great work.