Is it better to force a 2-year old to give up the bottle?

Question

My grandson, now 2 years and 3 months, has recently experienced significant changes such as moving with mother away from home and Daddy, starting daycare while Mom's at work then coming down with a respiratory virus in the midst of all this. He has become more attached to his bottle when he should be weaned from it. He stresses out and cries for his bottle the minute he gets home from daycare where he cannot have a bottle. I say not to pressure him until things settle down and let him have a bottle in the evening. My daughter says just take it away and let him tough it out. That seems too cruel to me.

Answer 1

I agree with you in this case. He has gone through so much emotionally! And even though it doesn't seem like a big deal to his mother, he needs something stable (obviously his bottle & Grandma) to help calm his nerves until he's gotten used to the changes.

We all have things that we use to comfort us when things change. Whether it be the daily trip to Starbucks, reading a special book, watching a certian movie...ect. If someone decided to take that from us, especially in our times of need, we'd probably have an even bigger emotional problem on our hands! And just because he's 2, doesn't mean his hard times are any less important!

But to help wean him off, take him to Wal-Mart and let him pick out a couple different "Big Boy" sipper cups! He'll feel special and will be excited to use them. During the day give him only those sippers. But during naps and bed time, give him the bottle.

My daughter is 22 months and that's what I do for her. She only associates bottles with sleep time. Maybe this will help but definitely don't take away his bottle right now! Wait a month or two, then try! It's not like having a bottle is going to hurt him!

Oh and to comment everyone's "He shouldn't be on bottles anymore"...that's crazy! He's still technically a baby! I've seen 3 year olds with bottles (when they sleep) and I definitely don't think there is anything wrong. It's sad that we try to force our children to grow up so fast! They have the next 90 years to be adults, let them enjoy this time while they can. And what's funny, America is the only country with these beliefs, so many other countries focus on letting the babies be babies!

Answer 2

I have two girls ages 9 and 3, and I have never used a bottle. At his age he should be drinking from a cup as far as I know. There is no reason other than comfort for him to have a bottle. With all of the changes I agree that waiting a few weeks or so would be better. Or maybe give him a cup during the day and the bottle only at night. Do it slowly, forcing him is only going to make things worse.

Answer 3

I understand that you are just wanting to makw him happy since he has been through so much recently, but you need to get him off of the bottle. My suggestion is tell him that he is a big boy and that there are other babies that need his bottles now, and have him throw them into a bag and put them outside. Then take him to the store and let him choose his own sippy cups, tell him constantly how proud you are of him that he is now a big boy and no longer a baby. When he comes home allow him to talk to someone special on the phone (if he likes that, maybe Santa) telling them that he gave all of his baby bottles to other babies. (when you return from the store the bag needs to be gone, let him know that santa or someone of your choice got them to take to other babies) It will be a rough night when he cries for the bottle give him his sippy. He will eventually let it go. Good luck.

Answer 4

Get him some sippy cups!! Just let him use the big boy cups a few times and then slowly ease him onto the sippies until he is off the bottle. He should not have a bottle at his age. I would start to only give the bottle at nap and bedtime and then start giving him his sippy at nap time etc. Go slow there isnt a huge hurry.

Answer 5

It is not cruel, children test boundaries at all ages , The day care will not give in to him with a bottle ,BUT mommy or someone else does, You have to teach them young , that they do not always get their way ,and to show them who is boss, Too many parents,and grandparents try to be the child's friend instead of the adult parent .. If he pitches a fit when he does not get his way ..tan his hide you have to teach him it is NOT his way, and showing out is not tolerated...Child rearing is a tough job it is not meant to be soft,and fun Children have to be "trained" how to act civilized,and how to react when they are told "NO" Why do you think children today have a higher rate of mis-behaving and other social development abnormalities, they are not properly trained. Parents are responsible for how their children turn out as adults,either successful , or a crackhead or killer it is all in how they were brought up . even if you are scared to whip , you have to be FIRM and CONSISTENT , other wise you are waisting time ,and the future of the child.. When you tell a child "NO" you should not be hearing anything from his mouth except "yes ma'am "

Answer 6

If he's 2 years old, he should have been off the bottle for a while now. I can cause major mouth problems for him. For my 3 nieces and 2 nephews, the doctor made us take them away when they started getting teeth.

Answer 7

I wouldn't presure him right now because of all the changes going on give it a few weeks and gradually try and get him off of it. If he is still stressed out after a few weeks just give it time.

Answer 8

let him have his bottle give him a little longer he will slowly come off it alone. dont do that to him he is only two. Yeah alot of babies get off sooner then that but why compare him to other kids? let him be him! he will grow out of it its not like he will be on the bottle forever. just make sure when he sleeps he has water instead of milk so his teeth dont rot. like they say sucking your thumb makes teeth crooked thats a lie my aunt is 30 still sucks her thumb and has perfect teeth. my son is four and he been sucking on his blankie since he was born. I dont see the big deal. It makes him happy. enjoy your baby and follow your heart.

Answer 9

Yes, take it away. A 2 year old should not have a bottle. He'll get over it, I promise!

Answer 10

i took my son off the bottle when he was a year old. the best way to take them is to hide them or trash them all at once and DO NOT slip up and give him one. encourage him to drink from sippy cups or even regular cups like a big boy.