How can i wean my 15 and a half month old off his "bed time bottle" ?

Christa - posted on 01/18/2010

oh...and I normally try to get her to take her sippie cup, but about a month and a half ago she got an ear infection and decided she wanted her bubby's bottle to drink out of. (We're havina boy in just a few weeks) She wasn't drinking fluids very well or eating so i went ahead and let her have the bottle. That's what she wants at night now. And since I just put water in it, I don't see the point in taking the bottle away at this very moment. So even if you just change the liquid in his bottle, you don't have to necessarily change the bottle itself yet. And just give him the milk during the day, so he still gets it. My little girl loves her milk first thing in the morning and i'll usually give her about 3 cups full during the day and also water/juice mix. But if you try to change too much at once it will probably throw him off and cause a lot of stress for you both. And cuddle for him as long as you possibly can. I wish i could still cuddle with my little one but she started kicking and rolling around and being a very movey sleeper around 5 months old and doesn't cuddle very well, so definatly enjoy it while you can!!! :o)

Christa - posted on 01/18/2010

My daughter still refuses to go to bed without a cup. But I refuse to let it be anything other than water. She usually only holds it throughout the night and maybe drinks an ounce of water from it, but she still feels like she needs it. When i talked to my doctor she said that was ok since it was just water. It did take about a week or some pretty sleepless nights to break her from milk or juice at night to water only, but it was worth it. Less pee and I don't have to worry about water decaying her teeth. She's very content now just to grab her cup for a drink when she's thirsty. Hope you find what works for you.

Hayley - posted on 01/17/2010

Giving your child anything but water for bed is terrible. It eats away at their enamel. I have a 16 month old. I have her on a schedule and it works well. The time for lunch, nap, dinner and bedtime. If she seems hungry right before bed I will give her something to eat, brush her teeth and put her in bed. She sleeps through the night, has since she was very little. Another really bad thing is letting your kids sleep with you. People I know who have done that never ever get their beds back and their kids seem to be a lot less independant. Now is the time to break bad habits...make a set schedule and stick to it, even if there is a lot of crying and temper tantrums in the beginning. It's not mean to let them cry for a few minutes! Take control, you are the parent, you set the schedule.

Michelle - posted on 01/16/2010

Just dont give it to him it may take a few days of crying ut it works all my babies were broke from the bottle by a year old. That is what the pedatricians recomend. Because it is bad for their teeth (the bottle).

Louise - posted on 01/16/2010

My son still has a bottle and hes 16 months old, He still likes it and it seems to work at bedtime, he is getting his back teeth at the moment so I dont want to to take it away at the moment. There is a cup you can get its by nuby and it has a really squashy bit to drink out of its like a teat but is not. I would maybe suggest you try one of those. I would not worry about leaving it too long though as I also see 4 year olds with bottles.

Chelskii - posted on 01/15/2010

Thankyou so much.. yeah bailey is a faddy eater .. fits and starts.. one day he will eat loads the next day he wont eat a thing.. your words are very very kind so thankyou.. he loves his night time bottle. my mum says if hes happy with it why take it away yet? which ive seen is true. he has 9oz milk before bed which is a full bottle.. just wanted advice cos im only 19 live on my own.. were both very happy i just didnt know when would be best to try weaning him off the bottle? x

Wendy - posted on 01/14/2010

He needs at least 2 cups of milk at this age from what i've read. I reckon therefore that the night bottle/sippy cup is a good way to get that milk in, also a sign that's its bedtime. That's what I do for my 2nd daughter at 16 months - especially as she's a terrible dinner eater - dirt yes, sand yes, snails yes, healthy dinner no-way - sigh! If your son is anything like my first daughter now 4 they'll start taking less and less milk at this bottle, untill it becomes a fait accompli. If you want to do it yourself simply start cutting down the amount of milk in the bottle night by night. On the night you don't give him a bottle at all replace it with a new element - like a new bedtime story or toothbrush (distraction!) As for having him in your bed. I personally hate having kids in my bed once they're bigger than newborns as i get worst nights sleep ever...but they are only little for such a short precious time if it works for you go for it! We have a camper bed in our room so if Miss 15months wakes up her sister, she comes and sleeps in our room on the cot and we shut the door on Miss 15months. Hope this helps. Sounds like you're doing a great job - the best advice my mum (of 6) ever gave me is every family is different so things will work for you that won't work for others, if kids are happy and mum is happy then whatever you're doing is working and you can pat yourself on the back.

Chelskii - posted on 01/12/2010

Thanks.. yes its the only bottle he has. hes not very well at the moment.. and he does love his bottle.. i think its like his security blanket.. he never had a dummy or anything and he just loves milk in a bottle.. i havent tried the milk in a beaker thing.. and its frustrating because my mum is like " he loves his bot bots you cant take it away" n im like ughh he needs to be weaned off it sooner rather then later.. because the older he gets i feel the harder it will be. im only 19 and im looking for advice from lots of people because i dont wana upset him or ruin his routine x