I need help with trying to wean my son from the bottle he loves so much. I have tried to only give him his milk in a cup but he won't take it. He loves the cup if there's anything other than milk in it.
Thank you all for your help. I am still working on it with him. The most difficult part is that he has been really sick since I asked for help. But he is only getting the bottle once a day and that is at night before I put him down. Hopefully he will get more attached to the sippy cup and forget the bottle. Thanks again for the help!!!
I would try giving him nothing but water in the bottle. Give him the milk, juice, etc in his sippy cup and only water in the bottle. Soon he will realize that nothing exciting is in his bottle and he won't want it any more. It might take some patience to get him to drink his milk from a cup, but eventually he will get it.
My suggestion is to take the bottle away completely. I did this with both of my kids. Take all the bottles in the house and put them away where your little one can't see them or get to them. Make sure you do this while he is sleeping. You can get sippy cups with a soft top, they help the transition go more smoothly. Eventually (within a week or so) he'll forget about bottles. The younger he is when you do this the easier it will be for the both of you. The gradual method just doesn't work with some kids. I have some friends that have been gradually trying to get their son to give up the bottles, but everytime he cries and refuses to drink out of anything else they give in. He is now 4 and still running around with a bottle. Trust me, Just putting them away will be soo much easier for you both in the long run. I really hope this is helpful. Please let us know how things turn out. C.
If you can find a farmers almanac!! Any time you want to change and take away something bottle, binky, blanket... follow the alamanac and when the moon (sign)is anywhere from the waist down you can take it away. If the sign is above the waist it won't be a could time and will be extremely hard on you and the child. Sometimes if you have an older lady in the neighborhood or at church they can be a lot of help!!! I know this sounds rediculous but sometimes those old wives tales will do it.
I did what Christina did. I just took it away cold turkey and my kids were only allowed a sippy cup. My daughter did fine with the transistion but it was rough with my son. He didn't understand that a sippy cup works differently than a bottle, so I'd have to help him a lot. He didn't drink too much from the sippy cup (I did help him with a regular cup, too so he didn't become dehydrated.) But eventually he figured it out. It only took a week. A long week, but I was so glad when it was just over and done with. You could also try cups with straws. Nothing makes me cringe more than seeing a 2-year old (or older) with a bottle.
Cold turkey works best. It worked for my daughter and my two nieces. My sister had her kids throw the bottles in the trash or put them in a box and give them away. That way they are not surprised when they wake up from a nap and they are gone. This can work for binkies too. Good luck and stick with your decision.
Im sorry....WHAT!?!?!?!? Take it away according to the moon??? Was that a joke?
Anyway, I think you answered your own question...lol! Give the milk in a bottle only in the am (or whatever) and give water, juice, etc. in the cups during the day. Kids don't need cups and cups of milk everyday...they need more water than anything. Just stick to your guns and he'll drink it! Right now he just knows that he can outlast you! (or thinks he can!)
~L.
With two of my kids the gradual method worked and with the other 2 we had to do it cold turkey! Just make sure every bottle is out of the house so you wont give in when you feel bad for them because they love it so much. It really only takes a couple of days and you will be bottle free. He will eventually drink milk in the cup when he is not associating the milk to the bottle. Don't let him see that it bothers you just say oh you dont want your milk ok and just live the cup on the table or counter then you could ask again later. In the mean time make sure you are giving him his dairy in other parts of his diet. It does not have to be in liquid form, it could be yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese etc.
I'M also in the same boat as u my daughter is 18 months and trying to get her off the bottle but its very hard because id would give her a sippy cup with milk or chocolate milk so she could get used to drinking and using the sippy cup but she hasnt master it yet i know she will soon i am also seeking help ...
UPDATE:02-11-08
OK K. I JUST GOT MY DAUGHTER OFF THE BOTTLE IT WAS KINDA HARD BUT EASY AT THE SAME TIME WHEN I STARTED TRYING AT NIGHT FOR THE FIRST TIME SHE WOULD GET FUSSY AND CRY THEN AFTERWARDS SHE FELL ASLEEP IT WENT FINE AND THE THROUGH THE DAY TIME GIVE HER SIPPY CUP WITH JUICE OR CHOCOLATE MILK SHE IS READY AND SET TO GO NO BOTTLES WILL EVER BE USED.
My ? is how old is your son?
11-13 months do it cold turkey...it really won't be that bad.
