Advice for Eliminating the Bottle

My second son was VERY attached to the bottle, like it was his security blanket for drinking milk. Drank water from a sippy, but milk had to be in a bottle...like your daughter. I didn't feel comfortable just taking the bottle away, as our pediatician also said it should be gone by 15 months. What worked REALLY well for us was making the bottle smaller and smaller (less and less ounces) and having a sippy cup of milk available at each meal. By 16 months, he was no longer attached to the bottle at all and stopped using them. Hope this helps!

I would agree with the last post about making the bottle smaller. If that doesn't work, honestly, even though it sounds mean, take away the bottle and only offer a sippy. She will get thirsty and take it. Also, if there are any bottles in sight, it will make the transition harder, so when giving a sippy, make sure any bottle stuff is put away. Good luck.
E.

Cold Turkey worked best for us, my daughter had her last bottle at exactly 12 months, but she is addicted to a binky. All kids have there "attachments".

We went cold turkey for my daughter at 13 months...only a sippy cup for drinks, or a cup that I held. She REFUSED to drink milk for 2 weeks. Because she was so small already I was freaked out and emailed this group of mamas. Lots of suggestions including using the sippy cups that have soft rubber instead of hard plastic. Viola, she drank and drank milk from that sippy - exactly once. Then she went back to her regular sippy cups and wouldn't touch that one again. So, try different cups, but we found that she adjusted just fine - it was harder on us not to give in.

That means no bottle at night either - it's unlikely she's hungry, it's just a time to cuddle with mom and dad.

Good luck.

Hi M.,
My advice is out of sight out of mind. Toss the bottles and don't look back. Easier said then done, I know, but it really is that easy. I made a decision to do this well after I should've and regreted not doing it earlier, the older they get the more attached they become to the bottle. I believe it is harder for the parents to give it up then the babies. I think you'll be shocked how easy it really is, it's just a matter of doing it, once the bottles are gone..they're gone and you won't be tempted to give in.

Hi, I am actually getting ready to experience the same thing, But my friend Jenny has two boys and she told me to throw it away and don't look back. It will take them a couple of days to get used to it and and it will be rough but you have to stick to it. she said that over a weekend should do it, if you can stick to over the weekend then everything should get better after the weekend. Also my daughter doesn't like water in a sippy cup, but she will drink almost anything out of a straw, so we bought her one of those plastic cups that have the built in straw and that is what she uses.

I hope this helps you. Good Luck!!