I am a first time mom, and grew up an only child, my husband comes from a family of 5 and was always raised around younger and older kids, but his brain is a little fuzzy on some things....when should you wean your child off a bottle, he is 17 months now. Another question I had was how soon before he can start potty training if he is already walking and starting to repeat words as you say them to him on a more consistent basis? Thank you all in advance :)
They should be off a bottle by a year. After that there is high risk to damaging teeth if bottle use continues.
I think now is a good time to start weaning your child off the bottle. Bottle feeding too long causes deformities of the teeth. Even though they are baby teeth, they do impact the adult teeth that will form. Don't be scared to wean, your child is probably already ready and is just waiting on you to take action. Introduce to sippy cups, straw cups, and regular cups. It takes some getting used to for some kids, but they definitely get over it. Don't rush potty training. I don't think walking and talking are the only skills they need to show to potty train. Does your child show signs that they are ready? Taking off their diaper, holding their bowels, telling you their diaper is wet, less wet diapers during the day or after naps, toilet interests...kids let you know when they are ready, you can't force them. My youngest pretty much trained herself. I never had to bribe her to go and all that jazz nor did she have a potty chair. Good luck!
If he needs the bottle, needs that sucking action, then it may not bet time yet. If he's okay with it and ready to be done it will be so easy. Our little guy took a bottle until he was the same age, actually older, he brought my the bottle one day and said "Cup". He never looked back. I missed the bottle time, the rocking and snuggling.
My grandson just turned 11 months and pretty much weaned himself. My children were 8 months and 13 months. We pretty much just started offering the sippy cup as much as possible, which they started using about 8 or 9 months, then slowly quit giving them the bottle. Course, we never used the bottle to hush them up either, it was strickly for feedings. They also never liked a pacifier, so guess we got lucky! Your little one should be more than ready to be off the bottle now. Let him pick out his favorite cup and explain to him he is a big boy and does not need a bottle anymore. As for potty training anywhere from now to age 3. Each child is soo different. Some pick it up quickly and others not so fast (due to trying to start too soon, I think). Usually about age 2.5 is a good age to start. Good luck!!
My thought is that children should be off the bottle by the age of 1 because of the potential harm to thier teeth. As far as potty training, my daughters started showing interest at 18months and were completely trainned by 1 year. My son was almost 2 1/2 by the time he was interested and he was trainned in 3 days.
I weaned all my kids from the bottle at 12mths. It just basically disappeared and a sippy cup appeared. Out of site out of mind works. COld turkey worked best for us.
Potty training usually starts around 2 1/2 to 3. All mine were potty trained within a few months after they were 3. but I didnt push it either. My friend had her son done by 2. Try it and see what type of response you get. If hes not intrested set it aside for a few months and then try again.
I have three children and I found that 12-13 months is usually a good time to wean from the bottle. As for potty training, unless he's showing an interest in it, I would hold off for now. Generally speaking, most kids aren't ready for potty-training until they are about 2 1/2 to 3 years old . . . that doesn't mean there aren't early birds and late birds out there. All three of my children potty trained very successfully at 3 years old . . . didn't take much time at all. If he's not ready yet and you start to push it, you'll just being doing it for months and months.
I think the "official" American Academy of Pediatrics answer is at a year - but of course we all have seen 2 year olds walking around with bottles. I just cut off the bottle cold turkey with all 3 of my girls at 1. The oldest didn't phase her b/c she was a daycare and using sippy cups already anyway - and was nursing at home. My twins were grumpy the first day - we stopped formula and bottles at the same time and straight to sippy cups and milk or water- and then the next day forgot all about it.
As for potty training - somewhere (on-line, books) you can find a list of skills the child should have mastered before beginning potty training, but I don't know anyone who's been able to do it before 2.5.
These are great answers but for future reference in the middle of the night and to be sure you are up to speed when those milestones come around be sure and pick up one of the great books out there. Or better yet check your local library for books like "what to expect, the toddler years". I didn't have family around either so I feel your pain. The bonus with the library is that you can pick up new children's books to share with your child!
Weaning off the bottle is generally at 12 months, but there are plenty of kids that take longer. Potty training is anywhere from where you are now, until 3. My little one was very vernal and interested in the potty. He was completely out of diapers during the day by 18 months. Most of his friends were between 2 and 2 1/2 though. Good luck!!!
