My daugher is 17 months old and still drinks her morning and nighttime milk out of a bottle. My pediatrician said I need to pull the bottle cold turkey right now, but she's carrying it around all day like a pacifier. And some women breastfeed until 2 years old. Don't they need the sucking motion still?
Should we pull the bottle, ease her off, or keep giving it?
2007-01-31 08:33:16 · 15 answers · asked by Jilli Bean 5 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Oops, I meant to say she is NOT carrying it around like a pacifier. She doesn't depend on it for comfort, it's just part of her morning and evening routine.
2007-01-31 08:36:46 · update #1
I'm with you, mind you I breastfeed. Also you *DO* see toddlers sucking on pacifiers at that age.
She is doing it twice a day, bottles are designed to have a minimal impact on tooth development. Now it is better to have the night bottle and then brush teeth. Or at least have a little water after the milk and before bed.
I don't see any problem with two bottles a day and your pediatrician isn't a dentist, maybe see what a dentist (or two) has to say. Also sippy cups are waaaay worse for tooth/jaw development. They are supposed to be a short term solution between bottles and cups and parent's use sippy cups forever. Bottle nipple makers usually consult with dentists, unlike sippy cups. So consider trying real cups during the day. Real cups and two bottles is way better than sippy cups 24/7 like a pacifier.
But, ultimately, you know your child best and you know what she needs. Do what your heart says is right, but every once in a while try something other than the bottle, that way when she is ready she will have the opportunity to find out.
2007-01-31 08:50:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I took away the bottle and pacifier at 12 months, cold turky. however they've been using the sippy since they were 6 months for water. The younger they are the less likely they'll be attatched to it. If you let her keep it too long she'll feel like you're taking away a security item and go crazy. If she's had a sippy cup then start giving her milk in that (i liked the avent ones) then i moved to the gerber trainer cups (which are like real cups with a more controlled flow, watch out they'll still spill) when he was ready to hold it and control it himself.
2007-01-31 09:14:30 · answer #2 · answered by Susie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can buy sippy cups that have a latex type spout that may help with the transition. But your pediatrician is right, time to give up the bottle. I started my son on a sippy at 6 months and we were done with bottles and breastfeeding by his 1st birthday. He still has a pacifier at naptime and bedtime and that will soon be eliminated as he will be 2 in March.
2007-01-31 08:42:18 · answer #3 · answered by his temptress 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well doing it cold turkey may not be a right thing to do yet. Don't let her have it during the day. Only at night. Try sippie cups with milk in them. If she cry for it tell her your a big girl, only babies drink from bottles. At frist the sippie cup may not work, but once she sees the sippie cup she will want that insted of the bottle.
2007-01-31 08:47:19 · answer #4 · answered by Dark_Oracle_Fan 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Personally, I'd yank it. My son's bottles all went in the trash can at 12 1/2 months. I assume she's learned how to drink from a sippy cup already, so getting rid of the bottle wouldn't leave her without a drink. While she may still get comfort out of the sucking, she's old enough now to self-comfort with other things. Good luck.
2007-01-31 08:41:08 · answer #5 · answered by Heather Y 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Take it away! She will live I promise. I worked at a daycare for 5 years and the sooner you do it the easier it will be on you and the child. I had parents bring in a bottle for their 3 year old child and the minute they came I would put the bottle in their cubby and I never once would hear that they wanted it. They would lay down for the naps just fine without it. It might be tough to hear her beg for it but in the long run it will be better for her.
2007-01-31 08:42:39 · answer #6 · answered by T 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pull the bottle and replace it with a sippy cup. That way, your child can still enjoy the sucking motion she's used to while transitioning on to a regular cup. First, find a sippy cup that she must suck on to get juice or milk(try nuby because they have a soft sippy top similar to a bottle-available at grocery stores or wal-mart), then gradually move on to one that just runs through the holes in the top(teaches how to tip the cup just right and not pour juice all over herself), then move on to regular cups!
My daughter is 2 and is on a regular cup. She has been "bottleless" since 11months, then I began exactly what I told you. They transition rather quickly, too!
Good Luck!
2007-01-31 08:48:10 · answer #7 · answered by dance4praise 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Doctors have to tell you that because the AAP tells them to. If you think the bottle is not a problem, then don't take it away. Just don't give her a bottle and put her to bed with it, because it will rot her teeth. If that's a problem then put water in it. Next time the doc askes if she is still on the bottle, just lie.
2007-01-31 08:46:13 · answer #8 · answered by RIVER 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like she's doing the hard work on her own. Praise her when she drinks from a sippy cup. Tell her it's a "big girl" thing. Be sure not to put her down for drinking from the bottle. Her need to please you will make the transition easy on her.
2007-01-31 08:44:39 · answer #9 · answered by mediahoney 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think I was lucky with my son. I took him off the bottle and gave hima sippy cup at 12 months. I had no problems with the adjustment.
2007-01-31 08:41:58 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋