When to take the bottle away?

Stephanie - posted on 09/03/2009

Just a different point of view. We have had trouble dropping the nighttime bottle and due to major constipation problems, have maintained it since we need to get all fluid in to her possible (we're more concerned about . We just had a 15 month appointment and our doctor suggested we have a bottle-burning party around her two-year birthday. Go with your gut, but there is a doctor someone (me) trusts out there who offered that advice. If it helps, our daughter never took a pacifier and he has been involved in her care extensively. I'd discuss it with your doctor.

Rebecca - posted on 09/03/2009

We tried never to put anything but formula in bottles, so when our kids were ready for milk and watered-down juice, we would mainly put it in sippie cups. We cut out all formula by 1 year, and only had bottles of water for bed and nap time. My husband said (and was right) that they didn't really need it - it was just a crutch. So he took it away for 2 days, and they stopped using it. My son had a bottle of water at bedtime till about 16 months, but our daughter stopped by 13 months. Consistency is definitely the key. I found it best to put all but 2 bottles for bedtime water) away so they didn't see them and wouldn't want them. Then when they were done, they were done. Even seeing them they didn't want them. Good luck!

Renee - posted on 09/03/2009

We took the bottle away about 2 weeks ago now. The first day we just gave him a bottle at night time, the 2nd day the bottle was gone all together. He was not a happy little man for the first 3 days of the bottle being taken away, but now he doesn't even miss it. Wish I would have done it sooner!!

Racheal - posted on 08/29/2009

we took the bottle away at 12 months. she resisted it but she wasn't going to let herself go thirsty either. at the end of the day she pretty much had no choice and she caught on really fast.

Sarah - posted on 08/29/2009

We just now got our 15 month old daughter completely off the bottle. She's been doing great & loves her sippy cup. You can try cold turkey or whatever method works best for you & your LO.

Melonie - posted on 08/28/2009

Thank you so much for the advice ladies. I'm going to try starting Monday! I hope all goes well!!! Thanks again!

Cathralynn - posted on 08/28/2009

Quoting Cathralynn:

I agree. We dropped bottles at a year cold turkey. We worked hard from birth to never let my daughter fall asleep on bottles and introduced cups at 8mo. She asked for bottles we gave her cups, only milk or water. No juice no flavors no gimmicks. It took two days of just sips and then she switched over full time. It never caused her to stop eating or sleeping thru the night. Just offer more dairy foods for nutrition and go with it. They will not starve themselves. If you let it slide they know it and will complain til you give in. Don't. Its not harmful and easier sooner than later. Good luck!

I wanted to add that there was no crying or fits of any sort with us either doing it cold turkey.  My daughter simply used the word bottle to express she wanted something to drink.  We said no bottles only cups.  She had no trouble with it.  Only whole milk was new to her so it took a couple days to get her to drink large volumes.

Emily - posted on 08/28/2009

I dropped bottles other then nap and bedtime when mine were one, we nixed the bottle totally by 18 months. We didn't do it cold turkey; we simply "weaned" them off of it by putting less and less in the bottle each night until eventually there was no bottle to give. This was the best way for my family and there was no crying fits or difficulty of any sort.

Cathralynn - posted on 08/28/2009

I agree. We dropped bottles at a year cold turkey. We worked hard from birth to never let my daughter fall asleep on bottles and introduced cups at 8mo. She asked for bottles we gave her cups, only milk or water. No juice no flavors no gimmicks. It took two days of just sips and then she switched over full time. It never caused her to stop eating or sleeping thru the night. Just offer more dairy foods for nutrition and go with it. They will not starve themselves. If you let it slide they know it and will complain til you give in. Don't. Its not harmful and easier sooner than later. Good luck!

Ely - posted on 08/27/2009

My ped said the bottle should be taken away by 12 mos and the latest 15mos. I've always been told consistency is the key and as long as you keep giving it to him at the same time, that is what he expects. I cut my son off the bottle at 13 mos cold turkey and resort to only sippy cup only at bedtime if he did not consume enough milk during the day. My ped said they will drink when they are thirsty. It's not easy but my son caught on after 1 1/2 days. As long as they consume a minimum 8oz per day, he should be fine. Most of his nutrition should be from table food by this point and not milk. I hope that helps.