My 1 year old thinks its funny to watch his milk drip out of his bottle onto everything, he does it all the time. How can I make this behavior go away.
Water. No milk, except at the table with meals. We were not meant to walk around drinking milk all day long anyway.
Take away the bottle when he is done "eating" and is just "playing" (but it is fascinating to watch the drips, so let him have water).
hello M....
what your son is doing is very normal and very important for development, it's not so much a behavior as it is a sort of rudimentary science experiment, and he is only trying to make sense of the world he is a part of...a sort of questioning the universe, much like the great philosopical minds have done throughout our history. how else would we know our world was in fact round, or that we circled the sun, could fly a plane or land on the moon? test, test, test. a single visionary and lots and lots of experimenting and hello lightbulb, nice to meet you cumbustable engine, and yes even a, the pleasures all mine curling iron. think theory of relitivity, the milk from his bottle is always going down, he wants to be sure that just this once it doesn't go up, and he wants to be sure again and again. you should foster his experimenting, ok milk is not exactly what we want our precious young ones dripping everywhere, a special hand picked by him (just show him the cheapies) bottle with water in it and a low flow (0-6mos) nipple on it couldn't really hurt, and since you'll be encouraging him and allowing him this freedom, you can place some restrictions on it, for example: not on mommies beautiful wooden coffee table, or her damask curtains, but right here, set up an appropriate place for him to "drip", you could even give him a plastic bowl to drip into. he will be much more apt to follow your directions and stop when you issue a no or not here, if you give him the opportunity to carry out his wishes. `children around this age need to play with water it is essential to there developement. chances are he'll curtail this dripping experiment once he is fully allowed to carry it out, ie. a week or two, and move onto bigger wetter messier experiments, but given the proper space to fulfill these playful experiments will ignite his curiosity for the world around him, don't be afraid to introduce some experiments of your own, making sure he understands proper time and place (as best as a 1 year old can) and he'll adore you for it. just be happy it's moving into summer, and great weather, you can move these experiments to the front stoop, back porch, patio, or lawn, no clean up hours of entertainment, and best of all fun with your child. and he won't drip where you'd rather he didn't at leasst not all the time and you will no longer be the other experiment he is currently undertaking... where will mommy let me drip, how long till she tells me no, what will her reaction be if i drip here? etc. you get my point, keep him from directing this unwanted experimental play, and instead take charge by directing a grander more elaborate experimental play that keeps the both of you happy.
Everytime that he does it, I would take it away for at least half an hour and hand him a non-spilling sippy cup.
he will eventually get the idea, OR he might decide he likes the sippy cup better anyway and than you would't have to wean him from teh bottle.
good luck
K.
Children give us cues as to what it is they need. If for a l yr old the bottle has become a toy instead of a means of nurishment then he most likely "telling" you he is ready to be weaned from the bottle.
Both my boys did this & thought it was great fun. We referred to it as painting cuz they'd always move the nipple aroudn like a paint brush. As others have said, you coudldswitch to a sippy cup. I'm sure he's doing it fo rcause & effect....he likes to see your reaction when he makes a mess, especially if you're getting mad. You could distract him w/another acitivity & take the bottle away when he's not noticing or amke some stattement along the lines of' oh, I guess you're done so let's out the bottle away.' It's really just a phase so I woudln't make a huge deal out of it. Best of luck!
Hi M.,
I just had to laugh at your question because all 4 of my children have done the same thing. I think every child does it. It's just something to play with and the only way to stop it is to take it away. I have always weaned my kids to a straw cup at 1 yr. They can still drip so it doesn't really solve that problem, but the straw cups are better for their dental development than sippy cups are. By the way (and this is unpopular mom talking now), 1 yr is not too young to give a little swat or spat their hands and say no-no, and then take it away. That is what I've always done. However, in the grand scheme of things, a few drips of milk here and there, well, not such a big deal. Choose your battles wisely. There will be many more important battles to come! God bless.
Hi! Have you tried giving him a sippy cup instead? I didn't have this problem because my son had his last bottle on the night of his first birthday. =) Also, make sure he sits and drinks his milk at the table or a favorite spot. Well just MHO I hope this helps! Good luck!!!
Hi M.,
At 12 months it's time to take the bottle away and start using sippy cups. Use the cups with the stopper to avoid dripping and problem solved. :)
Hope this helps,
D.
My daughter was the same way!!! The only thing that worked for me was taking it away! She finally got it.Hope that helps!
I'd put water in the bottle and let him carry on with his science experience. Who knows what he's learning from it, but the experience of being fascinated by something deserves encouragement. The deeper he can go into what interests him, the better.
Put the milk in a sippy or even in a regular glass if you are available to hold it for him.
Stop allowing him to carry the bottle around with him. I have to say that this is a huge pet peeve of mine with my grandchildren. their parents don't think twice about letting them carry those darn bottles around dripping milk on everything. I have a rule at my house, kids do not walk around eating and drinking, babies included. If they want to drink they sit down. When they get up, they're done. It's very simple and it cures the problem 100% right now!
Easy solution...he is a year old, so take the bottle away and switch to a sippy with a valve (if the valve is seated correctly they will not leak). He may not like it at first, but it is better than having milk all over everything!
My daughter stopped using a bottle at a year.
M.,
Take the bottle away when he stops drinking.
Blessings....
Get rid of the bottle, and go for a cup. He's old enough for no more bottles.
It's great that he's curious and exploring. Only give him the milk when you are supervising and at the table. When he does the behavior, take it away and say "we don't pour out our milk, it's for drinking". Give it back and repeat if he doesn't it again. Then have a time when he can pour out and drip all over the place, maybe with water, in the bath. I try not to use the word "no" to much. I try to say things like, "that's not for babies," or "that's not what we do." He's probably not very thirsty if he's just pouring the milk out.
My 2yo is still doing that. Even with water, I have caught him watching it drip (onto his pants in the car seat). I think they'll just grow out of it. I take the cup away as soon as I see the behavior.
