My son is 13 months old and we're trying to wean him from the bottle:
- He only has them before bed and naps.
- He drinks water and juice from sippy cups, but refuses milk in a sippy cup. He loves water or juice out of a bottle, so switching liquids hasn't helped.
- He takes one to bed with him (thanks to my husband...) but doesn't fall asleep drinking it. It just relaxes him, so the doctor said it was fine, his teeth weren't at risk.
- He's never sucked on a pacifier
- I heard him wake up early this morning, and heard him dry sucking on the empty bottle. So now I'm worried- he seems dependent on it and is no longer able to self-soothe.
I've read that 13 months is too young for cold turkey. But since it's not a health or learning thing- he knows how to drink out of sippy cups- it seems like it's a sleep training thing. Should I just bite the bullet and let him CIO to get past the bottle? With another baby on the way, is it worth it, or will he just want it back later?
2006-08-23 00:35:15 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
It seems awful to think but I would let him CIO. I would be willing to bet it would be less than a week before that habit is broken. The longer you let it go the harder it would be. With my daughter I let her have the pacifier until she was one. Then I threw it away so I couldn't give into the temptation. After about three days she seemed to forget all about it. Does he have another source of security ( i.e stuffed animal, blanket)? Maybe try snuggling right before bed with his bottle and the security thing and then just put him to bed without the bottle. Over time he may associate the security thing with what he needs rather than the bottle. I am no expert but hope it helps!
2006-08-23 00:49:35 · answer #1 · answered by gibs1973 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
He will know when its time to fully give it up. He just wont want it anymore. Make sure that when he falls asleep with it and when he is definitely asleep you go in and take it away. that way he can learn to self soothe because it wont be there. I wouldn't go cold turkey give it time since he is only 13 months. Good luck!!
2006-08-23 09:32:42 · answer #2 · answered by fungirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it is not too young to go cold turkey!
But you will need many "strength" injections for your husband & yourself for about the first 10 days after taking it away!
Be strong & know that you are doing the best for him.
Baby bottle rot is not a nice thing for a young kid!
2006-08-23 07:42:52 · answer #3 · answered by lostintheclover 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
sleep training? ????? what a disgusting phrase.
It's about comfort. comfort. comfort. how do you self-soothe? laying there doing nothing? I doubt it.
let him soothe himself. evolutionarily, biologically, neurologically, he should still be sleeping in your bed getting mommy's milk. give him a break already.
2006-08-23 08:03:23 · answer #4 · answered by cassandra 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋