Breaking Habits!

Updated on December 09, 2006
A.J. asks from Milwaukee, WI
9 answers

My 2 year old wont give up the bottle at night or at nap time. I tried just taking it away from her and she just cries, throws a tantrum or steals her little sisters bottle. How can I get her off the bottle???? I have tried just giving her water in it and not even putting anything in the bottle but she still wants it. I think it is just the nipple that she wants and that the liquid in it is and added bonus. She stopped taking her NUK at 6 months she just lost all interest in it, but that is when she started wanting her bottle all the time... Any ideas...

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So What Happened?

Well lets see it have been 2 weeks since we took the bottle away cold turkey. It was very rough the first week but she still asks for it. We just say ok and leave it at that. We do offer her a cup of water at night and she refuses to take it. oh well. She stopped taking naps during the day so at night she just passes out from being so tired. she still cries for the bottle at times but we dont give in. Thanks for all the advise.
A.

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M.F.

answers from Minneapolis on

While it still is like a bottle, my 11 month old uses a NUBY sippy cup. We just completely eliminated the bottle and went right to the sippy cup. The nuby has two different tops...One that is actually like a real nnipple from a bottle and one that is shaped like a regular sippy cup. Try both with and without handles, my little guy takes both. Also, I do agree with the other mothers about taking the bottle away from both of the kids and doing sippy cups only. We have not yet been able to completely eliminate the milk before naps and bedtime but at least he isnt on the bottle anymore.

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J.M.

answers from Madison on

I would have to say as much as you don't want to listen to your child cry or throw a tantrum I found the best way to break a habit like that is to just take it away. It's the same thing as getting your child to sleep in bed by themselves. It will take her awhile to get used to it, she probably uses the sucking motion to soothe herself since that is what she has been used to doing since she was born. The longer you let her keep taking the bottle the harder the habit is going to be. Once you take it away if she gets upset try to give her something to distract her or play with her to take her mind off of it. Good luck hope this helps!

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A.S.

answers from Milwaukee on

just take it away its a bad habit andher teeth will get rotten.trust me my kids got cavities cuz i let them have their way.i also work in a center.she might drive you nuts but itll stop after awhile.its also not gonna help with potty training either.shell have to use the bathroom all the time from all the fluid.plus she might be leaking her diapers?!i remember those days!takecare

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L.R.

answers from Duluth on

If she insists on it so much put water in it, tell her if she wants it she can only have it with water. Maybe after while she wont like it anymore. Try the sippy cup also.

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L.B.

answers from Minneapolis on

I would suggest using the nyuby sippy cup. It's awesome. My daughter is a year old and she only gets the nyuby sippy cup before bed. It's a sippy cup but it's kind of like a bottle too at least your child won't be on the bottle anymore.

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J.R.

answers from Minneapolis on

Try giving her an empty bottle and a sippy cup with milk and see what she will choose.
Otherwise, I agree with the other ladies to wait until the other one is 1 and get rid of them for both. At 2 1/2 their old enough to understand.
Good luck,
J.

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B.H.

answers from Minneapolis on

You could take the bottle away from the both of them in a month or two for good. That might be the easiest and go through "hell" for a few days rather than now and again later for the other one. At one they are not as attached to a bottle as when they are 2 and older. I would throw them all away at once so there are no temptations or giving in. After a few days of screaming and whining the issue should be done.

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M.S.

answers from St. Cloud on

I agree. I think you should throw the bottles away, and make Tippy Cup at the table only. It is so hard and you might go thru a few sleepless nights, but it will be worth it in the end, and better for thier teeth as well. If your children get alot of ear infections this might be why as well.

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D.

answers from Minneapolis on

I would wait a little bit longer and then just get rid of the bottle from both of your daughters. Your youngest is old enough for a sippy cup so you could just totally get rid of all bottles, then the 2 year old wouldn't try to steal the baby's. Have you tried sippy cups? There are some that look less kid-ish, maybe your daughter would like that one? Good luck!

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