when did you stop giving bottles?

Question

my son is 18 months and still on a morning and night bottle. He is a very picky eater and has only sips of milk from a cup during the day., he would never consume the recommended 600ml per day if i stop bottles and i wory about his protein intake. I always clean his teeth after a bottle, should i just carry on?

Answer 1

Hi! It really is time for him to be off the bottle, but don't worry. All kids do different things at different times. You could try a soft nipple sippy cup like the "Nuby" brand. You can even get them in a bottle shape and maybe he'll like them better than the bottle! You should try it! Good Luck!

Answer 2

I took my son off the bottle at 1 yr. I taught him to use a straw as well so he would be running around with a sippy cup, which to me is just another version of a bottle. I gave him drinks at meal times and never let him carry a cup around the house. The bottle is more of a comfort thing for him now. If his belly wasn't full with milk he'd eat more. Start introducing all types of food and drinks. Perhaps even try giving him something that he really likes to drink...like juice..but only in a big boy cup. He may abandon his bottle on his own. As far as his protein intake...again..he doesn't need milk for that. Lots of foods and drinks contain protein. If he isn't under weight and is growing properly...just take it away. You will have a day of screaming and crying...but after that he wont even notice. Stick to your guns and suck it up...the longer you wait the worse it will be. If you don't think you can handle a day and night screaming episode. Take away the morning bottle or night bottle first...once you have conquered that..then take away the other.

Answer 3

I even have heard 2 pediatricians say that this is alright to end at 18 months. i ended whilst my daughter became 19 months. She became utilising the two a Sippy and a bottle so the substitute wasn't annoying. The Sippy cup became presented to her whilst she became seven months previous. opposite to what some human beings could have you ever think of, this is not some race. as long as your new child isn't 2 (after awhile nevertheless utilising the bottle interferes with mouth and the tooth progression because of the fact a woman's nipple shape is distinctive than a bottle nipple shape) and nevertheless sucking down a bottle -- what difference does it make? Letting the youngster have the convenience of a bottle somewhat longer than 365 days does not advise your new child is going to have a low IQ, dollar-tooth, no acquaintances or undesirable hair. It purely ability that your new child is a individual and so are you!

Answer 4

My question back to you first is-what is his intake of solid foods? Is he only taking in the liquid as his primary source of nutrition? Did he have any problems when you tried solid foods, like gagging on foods, turning his head away, gagging on a spoon? If you can get more solids into him, that would help to decrease his bottle, but if you have tried everything you can think of and can't get him to take more solid foods in, he may have an oral sensitivity to either taste or textures of foods. I work with children like this all the time as an Occupational Therapist. There are a lot of different strategies that you may hear, but the most important thing is that you need to have consistency when trying to make changes. If you decide to try something new, just like new foods, try it for at least 8-10 days in a row before you decide it will not work. If you try something new every day, your child will not have enough time to become used to the sight, smell or taste of a new food. Patience and persistence is a big key! If what you are doing isn't helping, then a pediatric Occupational Therapist could help you, particularly in early intervention which is a service that is available to anyone in the US under age three, with problems in any area of development. Treatment can help both your child and you in an improved eating process and provide the support that you as a parent needs.

Answer 5

When my niece was 9 months old, we took all her bottles and hid them. She never really cared. She had been drinking out of sippy cups since she 4 months though. At 1 1/2 we took her sippy cups away also. She only got them if we were going out somewhere. She was using an open cup all the time. If he drinks out of a cup during the day then I would say he is more then capable of giving up the bottle. If it was me, I would just hide all the bottles and tell him that they are all gone. He will learn to realise that when he is thirsty he will get a cup to drink out of. It may take a couple days but he will catch on and everything will be fine with it.

Answer 6

No - like anything else, the longer you keep it up, the harder it will be to give it up later. My daughter was completely off bottles at 16 months, but she used a cup during the day cuz she was around older kids who did and she wanted to. I always worried that my girl wouldn't drink nearly enough as she needed getting off the bottle, and they don't at first. But gradually they get used to it and start drinking more regularly from the cup. There are also foods with plenty of protein and dairy in them if he isn't drinking so much at first. Like yogurt or scrambled eggs, if he likes either of those. The yogurt tubes maybe more tempting and fun. Even pudding has milk in it! I would try to get him off of it soon, don't put it off. It'll be easier now, and try not to worry so much. Easier said than done, I know, but I've already been there so I know exactly how you feel. It'll all work out, it just takes a little time for everyone to adjust!

Answer 7

Every child is different, and the 'rules' they give you for stopping bottles cant possibly be the same for each child. The fact that he only has 2 bottles a day, and you clean his teeth after each bottle is a good thing. (You are obviously aware of his hygene needs.) It is milk, and not juice which would be much worse because of the sugar content rotting his teeth.

I wouldnt worry for now. My eldest daughter was 2 and a half before she stopped having bottles but my middle child was 8 months - like i said each childs needs are different.

Dont beat yourself up about it, just try to ween him off when YOU think he is ready.

Answer 8

YOu should stop giving bottles at 12 months. There are sippy cups that have a soft tip that might make the transition easier for the both of you. Trust me, you might feel bad at first, but it will get easier. I have heard some suggest to only put water in the bottle and milk in the cup, that way he will choose the cup. Also, at that age they need to not drink too much milk, because it could be why he doesn't feel it necessary to eat. He'll start eating more once he starts to be weened off the bottle. My little girl is 16 months and I only give her the cup when it's time to eat and when she goes to bed. She was still waking in the middle of the night 2 months ago, but my Dr. told me she shouldn't be. She claimed she was doing it out of habit. One night was really rough because I had to ignore her cries. I wanted to cry myself because I knew all she wanted was her cup. Now she does not wake at night. She knows she has to get what her body needs when we are awake. Kids learn fast. We just have to train them on how it's supposed to be done.

Answer 9

NO don't carry on. Take the bottles away during the day and only give him sippy cups. He can eat enough protein, he doesn't need it from the milk! Lots of kids are picky eaters and they are fine. You can also give him vitamins! It's past time for the bottles to go!

Answer 10

No I would get rid of the bottles. He is old enough that he needs to be taking a cup. Offer only milk and other drinks in the cup and only water in the bottle at night. Take it away slowly and then have him throw all of his bottles away and make a big deal of him being a big boy now. He will take cups he won't be on a bottle forever, but you do need to be the parent and take it away. Good luck