I have a 2 year old son, and I can't seem to break him from his bottle, any suggestions would be helpful.?

Question

He won't drink milk out of anything except a bottle, have tried sipper cups but he gives them back to me and asks for a bottle.

I have been trying to get him off the bottle actually before he turned 2, he just had a birthday at the end of May, and I was trying to prepare him for sippy cups about 3 months before his birthday. I even bought one of those expensive sippy cups from gerber that light up when u push a button on the side, didn't seem to phase him at all.

Answer 1

The only thing that I can tell you is just give it time. I know that it is frustrating especially when he pitches a fit to have a bottle. Try not to give in every time that he wants the bottle. During the day try to bribe him to drink out of the cup and then offer him something that he likes when he drinks from the cup. Tell him that you will let him watch his favorite cartoon or take him outside or even for a walk. Just don't give up and give in all the time.

Answer 2

If you know anyone with a little baby, you could solicit their help. Tell your son that the baby doesn't have any bottles and is so sad because s/he can't drink from a sipper cup yet because s/he is too little. Then tell him you wish there was some way the two of you could help them out. . .leading him (hopefully) to give the bottles to the baby. He will feel so proud that he helped the baby, and you don't have to feel like the big meanie! If that doesn't work, tell him that in 2 days the bottles will be gone, then in 1 day, then FOLLOW THROUGH! It will be tough at first, but be strong!
My thoughts are if he can ASK for a bottle, he is TOO OLD for a bottle! It might be tougher for YOU than for him--he isn't your baby anymore! That's how I felt when moving my 2 year old from her crib to the toddler bed. Luckily, we didn't go through the bottle thing. When she was 1 year old, she had no interest in the bottle anymore and we went to sipper cups and those with the straw.

Answer 3

Get rid of all the bottles except one. Then find something that he really wants and tell him if he wants it he will have to trade his bottle for it. This gives him the power and the decision. Do not be disheartened if he does not go for it right away. It will be a very hard decision for him. If he decides that he would rather hacve the bottle then you need to lay off untill he wants something new. Do not give in and give him what he wanted even though he did not give up the bottle.You must stay strong. This is very important for him to give up and he must choose to do so. Since you have waited untill he is two it would be very hard on him if you just take it away and would be kinda mean.

Also you can try letting him pick out a very cool sippy cup just for his milk. Tell him what it is for. You talk to him and tell him that this will be his milk cup and he needs to think about which one he would like to drink his milk out of. This is also a way to give him the power and the decision.

Be supportive and stick to whatever decision you make mom. You are ultimately the one who has to make the bottle go away but you can give him a little help. Good luck!!!

Answer 4

Throw away all of the bottles that you have - - that way when he asks you for one you can't give him one. Let him know that he is a "big boy" now and it is time to drink out of a "big boy" cup. Give him the sippy cups with the milk in it and once he sees that he is not getting a bottle, he will start drinking out of the sippy cup. But you have to get rid of all the bottles first so you are not tempted to give in to him. Good Luck!

Answer 5

I have a two year old son and I just went through this myself. I understand your frustration completely.
After numerous attempts of trial and error, I have found one method that was successful for me.
Skip the sippy cup and buy him a toddler straw cup. He will refuse it at first but will eventually learn to accept the straw cup. It took my son about 3 weeks to actually want the straw cup rather than the bottle. Thereafter, he started to drink from both regular cup and straw cup. Also, encourage your child by drinking from a cup yourself. By that I mean, YOU should not drink out of a can or bottle. I drank my coffee, soda, juice, etc., from the same glass/plastic cup whenever my son was awake or with me. I think that this reinforces him to drink like daddy or mommy from similar cups. After all, children at this age like to mimic what we do.
I know that everyone has their own methods, but this method worked for me. And by the way, no one method will give you immediate results. It takes time and effort on your part not to get disappointed or angry. Give your son some time to get used to the change and you'll be rewarded with satisfaction. As a matter of fact, you just may miss the days when he did drink from the bottle! :)
Good luck

Answer 6

I would let him shop for a new sipper cup or maybe even a "big boy" regular cup....than when u get home from the store have him help u collect all the bottles and through them on your back porch or deck....Tell him the "bottle fairy" is coming since he can drink out of his "big boy" cup now and while he might fuss..just keep reminding him of his big boy cup...the bottles disapear overnight(with the help of you of course lol) and maybe a new toy, or even better a few more big boy cups are in it's place for him to check out the next morning. I hope u find some sort of solution to it! Good Luck!!

Answer 7

throw the bottles away. Show him that there are no more bottles. Give him his milk in a big person cup. You would be amazed at how fast he will enjoy drinking from it. Becasue mommy and daddy drink from cups. I teach toddlers and at 15 months they were drinking out of cups. Yes there will be some accidents but those things happen. Also he may not like the taste of the milk. Put a little chocolate or strawberry flavoring in it...... dont put alot in there due to the sugar but it wont hurt to put alittle bit...................

If you cant give up the bottle then only put alittle bit in the bottle and then decrease it everytime alittle more. And only putting water in it is a great idea..... or if he likes that then try some water with lemon, or vinger..... then he will not like the taste of it anymore............good luck

Answer 8

it may seem harsh but i'd take his bottle away n give him nothing but a sippy cup, dont take it back. when he gets thirsty enuf he'll take the sippy cup. you could make him a big boy out of it. start talking to him about the difference between babies n big boys, and set a day with him to get rid of all of his bottles, you could give them away to a baby, so he feels like he is helping, maybe he wont give you ne problems that way n even if he does then it is too late cuz all you will have r sippy cups. mostly he does this because he knows you will give into him.

Answer 9

The first week our so will be hard but you have no other option but to just not give him one. Put all your bottles up so he can't see them and only offer a sippy cup he will eventually take it he will scream and through a fit but it will get better and it has to be done. Good luck.

Answer 10

get sippy cups with a straws and only let him have water in his bottle nothing else,when he wants milk or juice , put it in the cup
it is hard at first ,but he will get the idea.my son was the same way when he was little.it took him about 2 weeks to not want the bottle.he would pick it up take a drink and throw it down.when he wants a drink offer both. let him make the choice water bottle or cup with milk.........