My son is 2 and he is still on the bottle. I want to break him of it badly. I understand that he's way to old. the big reason I haven't taken him off of it yet is because at 7 weeks old he lost is twin brother to SIDS. Then his dad couldn't look at him because he always was thinking of his brother so he walked out on him. My mom died when he was 10 months old. when he has the bottle he feels safe. the olny time he has it is at night, and naptimes. My family looks at me like I'm nuts should i let him keep it or take it from him?? Please help. also what is the best way to get him off
2006-12-11 08:13:36 · 16 answers · asked by Jenny Q 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
I'm so sorry for your losses. I think that the bottle is fine---although you do have to worry about teeth issues.
If he only has it on those occasions and he truly feels comfort from it I don't see any horrible harm here.
You could talk to him about it and offer him a sippy cup, maybe even a bit of bribery with a new toy, etc. I may get totally blasted here but he's still very young and you've both been through so much maybe leaving the word "should" off your menu for a while isn't such a bad thing.
Take care honey, good luck and all the best to you and your son for next year.
2006-12-11 08:18:23 · answer #1 · answered by Lori 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Is the bottle for you or for him? I'm not asking to be mean...
With all the loss you have had to go through it would be natural for you to hang on to those quiet times holding your son and giving him a bottle. Those are when it's all about just you and him and a snuggle. Start slow by droping one of the bottles ...like nap time. Wait a week or two then drop the next one. It won't take long and won't be hard if you don't cave into the demands that will come at first. You need to wean him if for no other reason that the proper growth & health of his teeth. If you let him keep having that bottle he could end up with real bite or teeth problems. Good luck...
2006-12-11 16:34:47 · answer #2 · answered by Barbiq 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's understandable, why you've put it off. I hope he's only having it with water, because giving him milk at bedtime is really bad for his teeth.
There are other ways to make him feel comforted, and gentler ways to break him of it than cold turkey. Give him a nearly empty bottle and a nice full sippy (maybe even use juice for just a few days). Some people cut the nipples and tell him his bottle is "broken". Toddlers seem to accept this logic pretty readily. You probably already have a good bedtime routine, and that helps.
Maybe get him a little CD player and play his favorite songs while he goes to sleep. Tell him that now that he is a big boy, he can listen to his favorite CD instead of having a bottle.
2006-12-11 16:24:36 · answer #3 · answered by eli_star 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I am sorry about the losses in yours and your child's life I can understand that you are afraid of taking away something of comfort from him. The reality of it is the longer you wait the harder it will be on him. Weaning him off the bottle at a younger age is just a milestone of growing up for him, but if you wait to long then it will be harder for him because he truly will become attached. It's like most health professionals will tell you with a pacifier .. until the child is 3 months the pacifier is for the child after 3 months of age the pacifier is for the parents. The child doesn't need it anymore it is more for the parents than anything. The bottle is probably helping you more than it is him.
Good luck and happy holidays!
2006-12-11 16:35:33 · answer #4 · answered by Courtney 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Try making a big deal about taking him to the store and letting HIM pick out lots of colorful sippie cups. Tell him these are his 'new big boy cups' and let him actually throw the bottles away in the trash and get really excited that he's a BIG BOY now, and doesn't need those "yucky bottles for babies". Let him have a cup beside his bed. Maybe buy him a new bedtime toy to cuddle.
Good Luck !!
Min :)
2006-12-11 16:48:20 · answer #5 · answered by Whateverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I am sorry that you have had to go through so much alone. When I took my sons bottle it was gradual; I used one of the sippy cups with milk and cookies after dinner and before bedtime where he would be full as he went to sleep and to my surprise it was only a few days before he quit asking for his bottle all I really did was supply the sippy cup as an option to begin with.
I was a single father.
2006-12-11 16:25:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I understand why you are concerned for him but he really should be on a cup honey. I would start by offering him juice or something he really likes in a cup (start with the ones that have silicone tops) than once he gets the hang of it switch to milk in a cup and throw his bottles away. Good luck and Take care.
2006-12-11 16:36:39 · answer #7 · answered by Kristin Pregnant with #4 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I'm sorry about your situation. That's gotta be tough to deal with. Maybe the baby is a little stressed and the bottle helps him relax. I wouldn't say it's a big deal but if you're concerned about the bottle issue maybe ask his pediatrician for ideas.
2006-12-11 16:18:39 · answer #8 · answered by Olga 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I'm sorry that you have had all of these terrible emotional things happen to you and your children. That is no excuse to not help your son develop the skills to mature emotionally. Also, you're not helping his teeth and mouth with that bottle. Wean him from the bottle. I can't tell you how because I breastfed my kids. It seems that he is using it to go to sleep. When I weaned my kids from the breast. I would get them ready for bed, give them lots of cuddles put them to bed, turn off the light and hold their hand until they went to sleep. It is easier to then get them used to you sitting further and further away from the bed. It will take awhile, but, ....
2006-12-11 16:20:14 · answer #9 · answered by yodeladyhoo 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You son does not do any more than you allow him to do!
If you do not like a certain behavior, don't do it.
If you want him off the bottle, do not give him one.
If he hollers, help him with a glass, if he refuse it, then let him holler. After a while, come back with the glass.
When he is hungry enough, he will drink from the glass,
If you reward him with the bottle, then that is what you have.
Are you suppose to be the parent or is the baby doing the raising?
2006-12-11 16:45:36 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋