How do I get my child to fall asleep without the bottle?

Question

My son just turned one lastweek. My pediatrician told me it was time to remove the bottle, I have 3 months till he must stop using it all together. The past month or so i've been preparing him for this and removed all bottles expect for the nap time bottle and the goodnight bottle. He uses the sippy cup just fine but in order for him to sleep he MUST have his bottle. He doesn't use pacifiers, he never did. He thinks they are a toy and even when i tried to get him to take it he just pulls it out and throws it. My son just LOVES his bottle, its def his security blanket how can I take this away from him??

Answer 1

Try giving him some infant cereal just before bedtime he should sleep all night so you can too.

Answer 2

This is so frustrating....doctors advise is getting so lame! This bottle is how your child feels soothed and safe and secure....aside from you this bottle is the one thing he can count on. If you take his security away too soon just think of how his life will change...how will he be at 5 years old, at 15.....Your son will let you know in his way when he is ready to give it up. Trying to find something else that could sooth him, a special stuffed animal or something...Just look at all the troubled teens out there. You are his mother, you will know what is best for your son. Good luck!

Answer 3

My first question to you is: What are you putting in the bottle? Make it unpleasant for him to have - such as water. Try that for a while, then the wonderful "cry till he drops" method. I had the same problem with my first child. We had her trained, with consistency on everyone's part, in 3 days. A great book to read on the subject is "Solve your child's sleep problems" by Richard Ferber. The most important part of it all is being consistent. If you cave in after 45 minutes of screaming on this first night, he'll know that he can do the same thing the next night. Training my daughter the first night was 2 hours of torture. I knew she was ok, because I would check on her occasionally, but it was hard. The next night, the torture time was cut in half. Best of luck to you.

Answer 4

My youngest would not give up a bed time bottle. eventually I got her juice bottles with the cartoon heads (sesame street, winnie the pooh, bob the builder etc). It's like a water bottle top. After the juice is gone, I fill it with water and she sleeps with that. It worked great.

Now the only problem with this is she is now 3 and still cries for her water bottle. And she still needs pull ups to prevent accidents during the night.

Answer 5

Listen to those who told you to put water in the bottle and let him cry it out. I made the mistake of letting my niece keep her bottle too long because she was taken from her mother and given to me (she was almost 2). I felt she had already gone through a lot, but when I took her to the dentist and she had to have her teeth filled. I'd have to say this was much worse then a few nights of tears.

Answer 6

I have a 14Th month old daughter she still has a bedtime bottle, Ive tryed not to give her one but she just crys and crys and crys!
we have tryed to give her other security but she won't have it! we still give her the bedtime bottle,i don't think its hurting her in any way at least if she has that she feels safe enough to go sleep. we are hoping she will grow out of it!
I don't think it will hurt your son to keep giving the bottle to him

Answer 7

Just do it. It's ridiculous at his age. Let him cry till he falls asleep. It will take 3 nights, maybe 4, with the crying lasting less time each night, I bet. Regardless, you have to do it, no matter how long he cries or how many nights it takes. AT naptime too.
It's your responsibility to do what's right for your baby, to help him break this bad habit, even though it will be more painful for you then for him.

Answer 8

water in the bottle, let him cry it out. Yes its heartbreaking to listen to and yes is will take a while. He will learn to sooth himself to sleep.

A good set of earplugs helps.

Answer 9

You are prob. just gonna have to take it away and let him cry, my daughter got rid of hers by herself she just didnt want it anymore. Just give him the cup and tell him hes a big boy and needs to use the cup, it may take a while but its something you have to do.

Answer 10

Tell your pediatician to pound sand...1 is way too early!!!!! Or, don't tell him!!! He's still a baby!!! There is nothing wrong with the bottle especially at bedtime...it's easier for him and YOU!!