when is it best to take bottles away and strictly use sippy cups?

Emma - posted on 01/04/2010

Rebecca dont be embarressed, every kid is different so he wll prob make up his own mind as to when he wants to give it up. And i can see exactly where u come from in the easier stakes. My daughter who is still on the bottle will quite happily drink 9oz out of her bottle but not a drop out of a sippy cup. Also the mess and spillages on furniture, have u smelt milk on furniture???????? Can try for days to get it out, so all in all its a hell of a lot easier for both mum and baby with a bottle in my case

Rebecca - posted on 01/03/2010

I'm embarrassed to say my 2 yr old son (soon to be 3 in Feb) is still using a bottle. A few days ago my husband pressed to go to sippy, but it's b/c it's easier on me. He not only drinks more milk (9oz at break, lunch,dinner), but there's no spilling or leaking on my furniture b/c he doesn't always put on tables like he should, and so it leaks on the furniture be he'll lay it down. My daughter was never on bottles except if we left her w/ someone (rare)--I nursed for 15mo. She went straight to sippy. Had to do bottles w/ my son b/c I went back to work and lost my milk at 9mo. I think it depends on parent and each child is different. Whatever you decide, will be perfect for you and your baby. None of this is the "big picture", so just stay consistent w/ your decision. Good luck!!

Emma - posted on 01/03/2010

I can see where you are all coming from in saying that they should be onto sipp cups and off bottles but its each to there own! My oldest daughter ws off the bottle at 13 months my middle daughter who is now 28 months still has a bottle for her milk, yes its only maybe her bottle in the morning and bedtime but its comfort for her and i no she will drink the whole bottle. She is only little and still needs alot of milk for her growing bones and body - why worry about when to give up a bottle when soon enough they will no longer be babies. My youngest daughter is nearly 10 months is obviously still on the bottle and wil remain until she no longer wants to be. No point making a fuss over something that just makes baby upset

Christy - posted on 01/03/2010

it's definitely not too soon, my daughter was done with bottles by 9 months. just don't offer the bottles anymore and i agree with the others that said about changing the subject. you could also just either throw them away or pack them up for the next baby and tell him that you don't have bottles anymore, only sippys because he's a big boy now. i also think letting him pick out a special sippy at the store is a good idea and give him his milk in his new special cup. good luck!

Theresa - posted on 01/02/2010

No it isn't to soon, I took my daughters bottle away when she was 12 months and she dose fine with just the sippy cup.

Crystal - posted on 01/02/2010

I agree w Tina!!! Just get rid of it and when he ask for it, CHANGE THE SUBJECT!!! Also, you can let him pick out his new BIG BOY cups!! That works too!! Hope this helps!! God bless

Tina - posted on 01/02/2010

Just throw them away and never look back...And see if he'll take straw cups instead...

Claire - posted on 01/02/2010

Our kids are total opposites in this respect. Our 27 month old daughter is still getting 1-2 bottles each day, milk only, she does water and juice from cups and sippy cups. Our 14 month old son, however, just went off bottles completely last week and is doing great with it! We've found, through much trial and error, that Gerber makes the only completely leak-proof sippy. Playtex, Nuby, First Years, Avent, Munchkin, etc. all leaked too much for LITTLE kids. We'll probably use them again when it's easier for the kids to understand placing the cup upright when they're done drinking.

Tami - posted on 01/02/2010

We have a 3 yr old in our family who took a long time to go completely off the bottle so just be patient. Maybe just supplement one in the AM, and/or before bed, etc. and use the sippy's during the day. The closest sippys to a bottle are the ones with the straw.
Our Grandchildren loved that kind as it reminded them of their bottle:O)

Melissa - posted on 01/02/2010

nope. I took bottles away cold turkey at one year of age.

Christy - posted on 01/01/2010

my son was off by nine months. i took the bottle away and gave him a sippy with milk at first he didnt drink alot but then in a day or to he got used to it i would however keep the bed time bottle for a few week to help them get to sleep then slowly ween um off that to good luck

ps get a sippy that has there fav cartoon on it so theyll want to drink from it

Kimberly - posted on 12/31/2009

Well my daughter, who is 2 1/2 goes to bed without a bottle just fine and has for a long time but continues to use a bottle to drink her milk during the day, unless it's the occassional chocolate milk. When I've tried to give her milk in a sippy cup that's all she drinks, a sip. So I'd rather her drink lots of milk from a bottle than little milk from a cup. I'm sure because she's older and more stubborn it'll be an issue. I'm prepping her that once she's 3 no more bottles.

September - posted on 12/31/2009

Nope! Our son gave up the bottle on his own at 11 months :) Super easy on Momma :)

Lisa - posted on 12/30/2009

My third child was just completly weened from a bottle(at bedtime) about three days ago. IF you can try different types of sippy cups that your child is use to then ween him off now, Because I waited so long it was really hard. Finally I threw the bottle in the trash and told her now more. She is 22months old and she should have been off the bottle when she was a year. I dont even think she misses her bottle, to me I think now it was a comfort thing for me more than her. There are many varietes now that you can try. Good Luck

Allie - posted on 12/30/2009

I agree with Kim. As soon as I started giving my daughter a sippy cup at 6-7 months old I started weaning her off of a bottle. If your child is well enough nourished then there is nothing to worry about. If you are worried about him not getting enough milk replace a cup of juice or water with the milk! Hope it works out for you!

Kim - posted on 12/30/2009

No most doctors recommend at a year old unless their is a medical reason to keep them on the bottle longer.