My twins turned 1 in Feb and I finally got them switched over to milk, however, I have to warm it up and give it to them in a bottle. They scream and refuse to drink it, which in turn, they won't take their naps and are crabby all day. So a. How do I get them off the bottle, and b. How do I get them to drink it cold?

Christine - posted on 02/23/2009

hi i have a 14 month old little girl she still has a bottle but only when she is going down for a sleep she didnt like cows mild that much i just watered it down to half milk half water then she would drink it she is only just drinking milk cold now she still dont like it that much but when she is wants it she will drink it

Susan - posted on 02/23/2009

Try sippy cups, both my grands got off bottles at 7 months because my daughter tried them with the cups and they preferred them - the youngest is 16 months and he used his cup in place of bottle and now he does not even take it before bed

My children however were on the bottle until about 1 and i just weened them off by using only a cup during the day. ( but that was 20+ years ago)

Katie - posted on 02/23/2009

I nursed for 9mo, then switched them to formula, so no more breast milk. Then when I switched them to formula, I never warmed it and gave it to them cold, out of the faucet. I don't know, it's 2x the everything and all the advice is helpful so thanks everyone.

Stacy - posted on 02/23/2009

am little girl is just turn 8months and i found a handle cup with a soft tip and she will drink her milk out it really well. but i only did this as she been really lazy and will not hold a bottol anymore

so i use sofe cups 3 drink out of 5

Lara - posted on 02/23/2009

Quoting Katie:

They love their sippy cups with water, and love to drink from a straw but no go with milk. How long can you leave milk sit out before it goes bad cause that's a good idea but I'm afraid after even 1/2 hour that it will spoil.

My daughter is the same. Now 2 yrs, she loves her sippy cup and loves straws, but will NOT drink cold milk from a cup, no matter what kind of cut i put it in...and i've tried a lot of them. I've recently discovered the ONLY way she'll drink it----in a bowl. LOL. Too funny. I gave her cereal with milk and she drank all the milk and asked for more milk with cereal still in her bowl. She even waits for me to finish my cereal and she will drink MY milk. But, if they get calcium in other ways, i wouldn't be too concerned about it. Do they eat cheese and yogurt? My daughter LOVES the Sponge Bob Go-Gurt. Good luck.

Paulette - posted on 02/23/2009

Hi Katie, I would say you're on your way if they'll drink water and juice from a sippy cup. I would wean them by removing it from one meal and so on. My daughter is almost 17 months and I am weaning her now. She only gets it before bed and in the morning. Very soon it will only be at night before bed. Some say to just stop and give them a sippy cup or straw cup. But I think it depends on the child and parent. If you can take crying then cold turkey is it after you find the sippy cup they'll use. But for you it would be 2x's the crying....Yikes!  For them to drink it cold I would gradually decrease the heating time, if you don't I can only imagine the 'brain freeze' I call it when one drinks/eat something really cold. After all the warm milk/formula is all they've known in their short little lives. The refrigerator keeps things pretty cold to prevent spoil and may be too cold at first. At first you mentioned that they won't drink the milk, did you nurse them or was it formula? If formula, Enfamil has a 9-24 month formula and you could mix half formula and milk. Then decrease till it is all milk. If you were nursing do you still have a milk supply? If so, I would do the same thing. Another reason they could be cranky and refusing is...did they get their first molars yet?

Tiffany - posted on 02/23/2009

Don't worry, it's not a big deal!  They are only one and really there's nothing wrong with preferring warm milk.  Some kids just do!  My four year old still prefers warm milk over cold, we were able to get rid of the bottle though by putting her milk in a sippy cup for meals, then we slowly transitioned to water in the bottle for nap time and bed time.  It wasn't so much the milk she wanted at bedtime as it was the bottle, it seemed to be a comfort issue.

The safest way to warm milk is in the microwave for a few seconds.  Be sure to shake well and test the temp before giving it to your little ones.  But in general it's not safe to leave milk out.  Depending on the temperature in your home, it can become harmful rather quickly.

A supportive mom and EMT.

Cathy - posted on 02/23/2009

well my daughter just turned 3 in december and i have two older boys she is my odd ball she will only drink warm white milk in a sippy cup..does not like cold or any other flavor,however the boys were not like that..so in the morning and at night she gets a warm milk cup and loves it..ewww..i personally gave them warm milk in the sippy cup and then just all together cut out the bottles just check out the spout on the sippy cups can get one that is kinda long like a nipple,,even if they throw a fit sooner or later they will adjust..just hang in there!!

Katie - posted on 02/23/2009

They love their sippy cups with water, and love to drink from a straw but no go with milk. How long can you leave milk sit out before it goes bad cause that's a good idea but I'm afraid after even 1/2 hour that it will spoil.

Lucy - posted on 02/23/2009

Hi there, You may not find this helpful but my son is 2 1/2 and he still has his milk warm and in a bottle. In my opinion it is calcium and if warm and in a bottle means he drinks it i would much rather do it for him so he has a good calcium level to start life with.

Rachel - posted on 02/23/2009

I am having the same problem with my daughter. She just turned 1 at the end of January. We have had success by taking it out of the fridge for 45min before we offer it. and trying sippy after sippy until we found one she likes. Maybe they would like a straw. Hope that helps