Almost 2 and still on the bottle

Channy - posted on 02/14/2010

You just have to be FIRM about it :)) No ones like being the mean mommy but sometime you just have to. Just have to break the bad habit, it will take some time.

Carrie - posted on 02/13/2010

I wouldn't get so stressed over it. 2 years is a little old to be taking a bottle, but every baby is different. My son started sleeping through the night when I first brought him home from the hospital and he was bottle broke at 9 months. He started chewing on the nipple and I just threw the bottles away. It didnt bother him, but I never had to give him a cup at bedtime either. Maybe if you try some different methods of soothing him, he will forget about the bottle or just put water in the bottle like some of these other moms have said...Good Luck!

Michelle 'Schlichte' - posted on 02/13/2010

i had this problem with my one year old, i just let him wake up and then instead of a bottle a soft sippy cup instead. We just gave him the bottle to go to bed with. Within a week he would only wake up if he couldn't find his pacifer. After we got him to do that then we did the same thing with the before bed bottle. Now he just wants to hold on to to fall asleep.

Nicole - posted on 02/13/2010

My daughter was off the bottle at 14 months! I gave her a sippy cup with milk before bed instead of a bottle. It was only rough for the first day and she was fine after that. A friend of mine has a daughter who didnt give up the bottle until she was almost 3! Everytime she threw out the bottles "papa" went and bought another one because he didn't want her to throw a fit, i am very close with them and i would call her everynight before bed to make sure she didnt have a bottle and that actually helped because "auntie nicole said she's too big for a bottle" i also went over there a lot before naps and bed and would take the bottle and let her cry, it was hard for my friend and her dad to listen to her cry but it helped a lot. So if you have a friend or relative that is close to your son, maybe that will help too. good luck. and keep us updated on his progress

Alicia - posted on 02/13/2010

This is what happens when kids are given bottles to bed https://wizard.dds.com/Dentistsites/379/images/Patient_Info/baby-bottle-tooth-decay.jpg

Alicia - posted on 02/13/2010

Throw every bottle away. Don't buy new ones just because you don't want to deal with him asking for it. A lot of parents think they'll never rest if they don't get rid of it, and are surprised to find out that it wasn't that big of a deal. They tend to forget about the bottle within a day or two. They might ask for it a couple times, and you just tell them it's gone. When he cries at night, lay him back down without saying anything and keeping the lights off. You might have to repeatedly lay him down several times before he gets the idea. Putting a child to bed with a bottle is very very bad for them. Sugars deposited on their teeth can cause decay. He's not hungry when he wakes up, he just knows you are going to come with the bottle and he hasn't learned to self sooth yet. It's only normal for him because that's what he's used to. Sticking to the routine with the bath, a book, cuddling and then to his bed is good. He can cry it out for a while, just go back in in about 15 minutes and lay him back down and walk away.

Madonna - posted on 02/13/2010

My friend had the same problem, I told her to try replacing the bottle with a sipy cup. At first her son cried but after a few nights it was ok. I told her to just let him cry there is nothing wrong with him drying it out he will just go back to sleep. It was hard for her at first but he got over it. that is my suggestion I hope it works for u.

Carolyn - posted on 02/13/2010

My daughter was off the bottle at 12-13months. She is 18months old now and hasn't reverted back, she doesn't require anything to go to sleep with and is now starting to use regular cups (monitored for obvious reasons lol). Rice will not keep him full all night, think about what rice does with us. We eat it, and a couple hours later we're hungry again. Oat meal is a good choice, I would let him cio after explaining to him what Emilie Benghalem said. Like she also said, Its bad for their teeth! If nothing else do it for that reason alone! And while Cate said milk is good for healthy teeth, while this is true its the SUGAR in milk that decays teeth, and while her daughter's teeth are prefect, not every kids teeth are and like stated previously can ruin their/his teeth.



Good luck!

Cate - posted on 02/13/2010

Every child is different so I wouldnt stress. Ive known of people that have breast fed their child until age 5 which yes is wierd but hey each to their own. My daughter had a bottle at night until she was 3 and she has the most beautiful teeth, and has even seen a dentist and has no decay, so it did her no harm. Milk is good for healthy teeth and bones so I dont see a problem with them having it. Although he should be sleeping all night. I would have to agree with the others and try the controlled crying technique with that one. Just remember kids advance at their own pace and time. All the best. :-)

Summer - posted on 02/12/2010

i used the tough love thing i took my sons bottles away and threw them out gave him a sippy cup. he was not a happy camper he screamed and cried but i didnt give a bottle of he really wants a drink that bad he will take that cup.

Katherine - posted on 02/12/2010

Do not give him a bottle in the middle of the night. You will only reinforce the behavior. It is a really hard habit to break. It will be hard but it is so needed. Good luck!

Christina - posted on 02/12/2010

You know people can say just take it away, but if you take care of his teeth, and that means brushing 2 to 3 times a day, and just try to give him a bottle at least once a night for a little while, then start watering down his milk he will refuse to drink it eventually. It may take a week or two but you will be surprised at how fast they recognize watered down milk! My daughter has AWESOME teeth, no teeth decay. NO ROT NOTHING! SO the whole thing of kids teeth rotting away and being nasty occurs with some children NOT ALL! I felt the same way freaking out but when I realized how good her teeth are and put my foot down at how much milk she gets when she gets it, it does make a big difference. I hope this helps a bit!

Michelle - posted on 02/12/2010

Also don't worry about the whole sleeping thru the night thing my daughter is 3 and she still wakes up in the middle of the night. her doctor said that she just wants to be reassured that i am still there.

Michelle - posted on 02/12/2010

This is what I did. I bought the sippy cups with the rubber nipples (like bottles) and kept her on them until she started biting holes in them then i went to the hard nipples. There is nothing wrong with him on the bottle except the whole teeth problem. I know about that from experience. Throw all the bottles away except one that you hide in case he gets so upset that you have to give it to him. You don't want him so upset that he makes himself sick

La Tahja - posted on 02/12/2010

my son is 19mnths and he sleeps throughout the nite! but ocasionaly he will wake up for sumthn 2 drink. i jst put his sippy cup bside his pillow filled with water and wen he wakes up he immediatly grabs it and drifts bk off to sleep with no prblm. but as for the bottle situation my son was having a hard tym getting off the bottle i simply went to walmart and brought him a sippy cup but insteadf of a hard spout they have soft spout 1s. that way they rarely notice the difrnce. and you also have to b persistnt with the change if you try giving them a sippy cup n there not used to it they will jst throw it dwn n cry 4 the bottle DNT GIVE IN!!!!! i let my son go almost the whole day with out anythng to drink he thought i was goin to give in but i didnt eventually he got thirsty enough and walkd right over to the cup and began drinking out of it lk a pro. and since then ive had no problem ive even threw the bottle away! good luck mom

Casey - posted on 02/12/2010

I think he'll be stubborn about it because thats the way 2 yr olds are in general, especially if its something he's gotten his way with, but if you are firm and don't fold, he'll get it. It might seem like forever in the moment, but in the long run it will be good for him (and for you!) and you'll look back and it won't be that bad. Tough love! Give him a bottle BEFORE going to bed and then take it from him once he's had what he wants and let him cry it out if he gets upset. It won't hurt him! And he won't stop loving you, I promise! If he's gotten enough to eat in the day and has a full belly before bed then he is more than capable of going through the night without food. If he gets up in the night, let him have a bottle to drink what he wants from for a couple minutes and then put him back in bed without it. And also offer him something to comfort him like a lovie of sorts. He will adjust I promise! Once he gets used to having a bottle BEFORE going to bed, then start weaning him from that, by giving him less and less in the bottle and then eventually none at all. I hope this helps! You can do it! Your son knows you love him, so even if he has to cry it out in his bed he will survive and he will learn that you are in charge and you know what is best for him. :o) Also it will be good to stop this now, so that when you potty train him he won't have a tough time at night cause he's had a so much to drink. :o) I know its tough to say no to our kids, but when you know you are doing whats best for him it makes it easier. :o)

Chasity - posted on 02/12/2010

when i took my daughter off the bottle i tried cold turkey & that didn't work so what i do is give her a sippy cup with a little mlik in it at bed time! she is getting better & better about not needing anything at night. Good Luck!

Adrienne - posted on 02/12/2010

I'm not sure what to do about him wanting the bottle, as my daughter has never had a problem with it (it's the soother she wants), but I can tell you that if you are giving him anything but water at night, his teeth will suffer. "Bottle mouth" is a huge problem, it can get below the gum line and decay his adult teeth too, and mouth disease has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease. I'd switch to water only at night (after he brushes his teeth) until you get him weaned to save his teeth from more damage...

Mindy - posted on 02/11/2010

My daughter turned two on Dec 20th, I took milk out of her bottle and replaced it with water hoping she would become uninterested- she hates milk now and continues with the bottle. My next step is to just take it away from her, she has been sick lately so I haven't attempted yet, but I am going to do it. Your child isn't strange in this way, what I think would be worrisome is if he walked around with his bottle everywhere he goes, right now it's a comfort thing to get to sleep, he will grow out of like I KNOW my daughter will, because I am so tired of the bottle!

Tiffany - posted on 02/11/2010

My daughter had a bottle/cup with milk that I would put in a little cooler next to my side of the bed so when she would wake up she could come in and get it on her own without waking me up until after she turned 3. It's been about 6 months now that I stopped it. I stopped it when she wanted to wear panties to bed and not a pull-up, I told her that she couldnt have anything to drink and no milk at bedtime if she wore panties and that stopped her milk at bedtime and in the middle of the night...Hope this helps and maybe you can get your son off sooner than I could.

Emily - posted on 02/11/2010

My son is 16 mos and still requires a bottle at bed time. We only put water in the bottle, so no worries about tooth decay. Here's how I look at it...he is still a baby! We rush them to grow up. It's your decision and don't let anyone else make you feel bad about it...I have gone down that road of worrying what others think. At the end of the day, what does it really hurt if he needs a bottle as his security to sleep?! When he gets a little older we will take it away. It won't be long and your son will probably want a "big boy bed"...just tell him big boys don't use bottles and he has to trade them in for the bed. When he's ready you'll know!! Don't beat yourself up. If you really want him off the bottle...you just have to take it away and deal with possibly a few nights of screaming.

Stephanie - posted on 02/11/2010

I know every child is different. I have been told a number of times I got super lucky with my son. Ever since the day I brought him home he has ALWAYS slept through the night! So I'm not sure I can offer any help there. But about the bottle. My son turned 1 in November. Two days before his first birthday, (at the time, we lived out of state from my parents, and had flown back for his birthday) I was telling my mom my concerns about trying to take him off his bottle and when I should try and do it. That evening I tried just giving him regular whole milk in his sippy cup (he had only been taking a bottle before bed and had been doing that for a few months) and have him half of a graham cracker. He sucked down his milk and wanted the other half of the graham cracker. I took him to his room and laid him down. I think he tried to fuss for a mintue but then stopped. If it wasn't for my moms advice I probably would have paniced! But I would suggest trying just taking the bottle completely. Your child will probably be upset for a few days, but will be fine! Hope everything works out!

Leila - posted on 02/11/2010

my son wakes up alot in the middle of the night also for water but i broke him from the bottle at 1 by just taking it away throw them out after a few days they will forget and be happy with a sippy cup especially if you get one with the softer tips like a bottle

Ronni-monique - posted on 02/11/2010

I work at a day care and I have seen it all from diapers at 3 to bottles at 2-3 and I can't really give advice my daughter was potty trained by 13 mths, no bottle at 11 mths, but with the bottle thing see if there is some thing that he likes better than his bottle and make a trade. maybe a teddy bear or a turtle try some thing that YOU can tolerate and that is healthy and he should give it up. But go to wal mart and get him a cup with a straw in it and see how he does with that.

Carrie - posted on 02/11/2010

i got my kids off the bottle about one. i just put water i it so that they would lose intrest in it. yeah two is way to old for a bottle

Jessie - posted on 02/11/2010

Have you tried massage? My daughter is only 7 months and going thru the horrible process we know as teething, and was waking up all hours of the night and I just couldnt get her to relax. A friend of mine bought me an book on infant massage, it helps relax her and gets her through the night. Give it a try....it might distract him from the bottle or at least make the weaning process a little less painful.

Brittany - posted on 02/11/2010

i had the same problem with with my son... he loved his bottle... i got my son broke from his bottle by only putting water in it.. he realized that all the good stuff was in his sippy cup and after about a week or two didnt even want his bottle anymore. breaking him was very hard for me but i had to do it or he would still be on his bottle. He cried for a while and then kinda forgot about it.. it wont be easy but its worth it in the end

Trisha - posted on 02/11/2010

My opinion ... hes 2 yrs old hes to big to be drinking out of a bottle during the day/nap time anytime.. your going to have a few restless nights until he adjusts to not having the bottle but it is for the best. Also @ 2 with him waking up @ night that just might be a security thing .. something for him to be aware that you are still there .. I suggest you just place him back in bed it may take more then one time but he will adjust to his new routine.

Michelle Maire - posted on 02/11/2010

try the sippy bottles they have the same texture teat asa normal teat but its a sippy teat you can get them in boots there clear also the bottle has a handle on it that you can remove if you want so he can have that for all his drinking need threw out the day and night it may help him also try giving him some cereal before bed to fill him up but i dont think his hungry just wants to feel secure maybe put a item of your clothing in his bed when his going to sleep your scent will keep him calm and keep his bottle close so he can help him self good luck

Dem - posted on 02/11/2010

My daughter used to wake up wanting her bottle so i replaced it with a cup of water. She moaned a bit at first but I stuck to it and it worked. Put the bottle of water next to the bed so when hes thirsty he can just grab it himself. Hope it helps xxx

Jennifer - posted on 02/10/2010

My son used to do this to, and what really helped to get him to sleep through the night was a security object. Does he have one? My son uses one of those carter's blanket/bears and it made a world of difference. I know this is hard time!

Dale Ann (Bankston) - posted on 02/10/2010

oh girl! stop it as soon as possible b/c if not u are looking at all kind of dental problems to come. Bedtime is the worde time to give a child the bottle. My suggestion is just take it, and replace it with a leak-proof sippy cup. That is what I had to do to all 3 of mine. It will be a couple of sleepless nights for you but in the long run your child will benifit. Also when u do give the cup at bedtime...your water with maybe a slight flavor in it. You could also try getting him to pack them all up in a little bag or something and tieing in the tree outside for the "bottle fairy" to take them away and he gets a "big boy treat" in place of them. Good luck and I hope this helps you!
~Dale Ann

Brandis - posted on 02/10/2010

The only way is to just not give it to him. He will cry. And then he will be fine. It's the only way. He's not waking up because he's hungry. Everyone wakes up in the night, we usually just don't remember it because we put ourselves back to sleep quickly. Your son isn't able to do this because he was taught to suck on a bottle to go to sleep. It sucks (which is why I discourage other moms from allowing this to become a habit- don't let your baby fall asleep with the bottle and take the bottle away at the first birthday!).

Since he's two, however, you have an advantage- he understands a lot more than if he were younger. Tell him he's a big boy and it's time to send all the bottles off to babies who need them, and have him put the bottles in a box (and take the box out of the house). If you want you could say the bottle fairy is going to take it and leave him a gift if he can sleep without it. Then stand firm. And (and I am saying this in the nicest way possible) if you have another child, don't let him/her develop this habit! You have no idea how simple it is to stop giving a 1 year old a bottle, especially if they don't use it to go to sleep. SOOOO simple! I did it with both of my kids, and neither of them cried AT ALL. Much easier on everyone involved.

Amy - posted on 02/10/2010

I am not sure what you have already been told, but my suggestion to you is to just stop giving it to him. That may sound harsh but he will cry for maybe 2-3 nights then he will be done. My ped told us that kids get to a point where it is just habit to wake up in the middle of the night for a feeding. Besides, he will have an extremely hard time potty training at night if he is getting liquids before and during bedtime!!!! Just stop giving it to him! I would also like to add that a bottle is just as bad for his teeth as a paci is at night.

Kelley - posted on 02/10/2010

Try getting a sippy cup that has a straw attachment, and try to get rid of the bottle all together.

Sarah - posted on 02/10/2010

its normal, but a habit..for u! don't give in if possible! my son did the same thing! they won't starve and almost two means he's big enough and knows how to sleep through the night...my son tried that one on me...it took 2 or 3 nights of tears but in the long run you will be SO happy!

Amanda - posted on 02/10/2010

My daughter I transfered her to the sippy cup at 13 months and than she got where she did not even use the cup at nite. It could be a comfort thing. My daughter takes her baby doll to bed with her every night. Since he is almost 2 years old u might keep doing the bath, giving him stuff to eat before he goes to bed, and go cold turkey. Maybe find a special blanket or stuff animal he likes, so he can hold to it at night to replace the bottle. Definately go cold turkey, he is out of the stage where he can do the transition phase.

NICOLE - posted on 02/09/2010

OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND I WOULD JUST THROW THEM ALL AWAY.

Natalia - posted on 02/09/2010

My daughter is two and a half and she still takes a bottle in bed although she only has water in it now.

She used to take milk in her bottle but in order to convince her she no longer wanted milk in there I started to water her milk down a little more each day until it was just water and she is satisfied with that.

It's summer where we live and incredibly hot so I don't see a problem with her taking a bottle of water to bed.

I don't think water is a danger to teeth and it keeps her happy and hydrated on hot nights.

Jenny - posted on 02/09/2010

Pick a day when you know you will have other people to help you and then take the bottle away. Do it cold turkey. Let him help you throw them in the garbage. Tell him that he is too big for bottles anymore and that he won't be having them. He is actually old enough to understand this. He will cry, and that's ok. You are not hurting him by doing this. You are helping him. When he wakes up in the middle of the night, you can go in and soothe him with hugs and your voice, but no bottle. He doesn't need it, that's just what he's used to getting. You need to break that habit. It will take a few days, maybe even a week or 2, but after that, he will sleep through the night without a problem, and will go to sleep without a problem. Read stories to him, play soft music in his room and hug him, tell him it's time to sleep and put him in his bed. He will learn to go to sleep on his own, without a bottle. You can do it! Stay strong and good luck!

Laura - posted on 02/09/2010

I'm on the same boat chica...... Except my son is still on the boob. He wakes up in the middle of the night too. I think all it means is that we have to be strong and do the sleep training. It sux cuz I hate hearing my baby boy cry, but it seems to be the only thing to do. But I'm open to suggestions. :0)

Tasha - posted on 02/09/2010

did u try sippy cups with the soft tops on them?

Shannon - posted on 02/09/2010

my twins r 2 they have to b on bottles for weight gain cant wait til they can b off then its straight to an open cup

Anne-Marie - posted on 02/09/2010

i have a friend who has a little girl who will be 4 in july and she still has a bottle to go to bed. hope this doesnt make u feel as worried

Angela - posted on 02/09/2010

It sounds almost like a pacifier type situation. It is probably not that he is hungry, more that it is a comfort. I would prepare for a couple of rough nights, and be firm. It will be harder on you, remember by 2 they are testing the waters, seeing what they can get away with. Good Luck!

Leila - posted on 02/09/2010

thank u so much to everyone for your responses. It looks like the bottle is gonna go away and I will just have to replace it with a sippy cup. It may be rough but we are going to have to do it for sure I dont want my baby having rotten teeth at 2 years old. Thanks again

Dashanda - posted on 02/09/2010

OMG get rid of the bottle ASAP throw it away you are the parent make him drank from a sippy cup my son is 1 and he has been off the bottle sense he was 9months old walking also.His teeth are going be ROTTEN at a young age do you take him to the dentist?Let him cry it out my son had to learn that Mommy or Daddy was not going to give him a bottle.Good Luck you can do it!

Christina - posted on 02/09/2010

I switched my daughter to sippy cups when she was one. I just did it cold turkey. I started it during the day and she fussed because it wasn't her bottle but after two days she realized if she wanted milk or juice she would have to drink it from her sippy cup. I started with cups that had a soft spout and then worked her into the hard spout ones. She is almost two now and still gets milk for breakfast in her sippy, watered down juice all day, and milk before bed although she isn't drinking much before bed any more. She sleeps around 12 hours a night. You just have to stand your ground and remember you are the boss!

Amy - posted on 02/09/2010

1ST Throw ALL bottles away and I used a Dr. Brown tippy cup first because of the spout on it hope this helps a little.

Jennifer - posted on 02/09/2010

commit 2 it & b strong....the nuby sippy cup is a good one....or u cld tell him it was against the law 2 drink out of the bottle at 2 yrs old....i kno it sounds weird but my daughter refused 2 potty train. she cldve bn potty trained @ 2 but refused & i had tried everything but she flatout refused. so i told her that it was against the law to wear diapers when u turned three & after her bday party she had 2 wear big girl panties. so u cld set a day or specific date or occasion & try it... my daugher was pottry trained n 9 days. ;)