should I get rid of the nighttime bottle?

Question

hello all, Hope everyone is doing well. I may have asked this already but do you think because I am still giving dd a bottle before bed that she won't drink it out of a cup during the day. We have eliminated all bottles except the nighttime one. She does not drink any milk all day besides that. We are on day 8 of no bottles and trying a sippy of milk everyday, at every meal and snack..no go. She takes a swig and throws it. I have tried chocolate milk, juice, etc... no...only water out of a sippy cup. She eats yogurt and cheese during the day but she went from 24 oz. of milk a day to 7. Will she ever take it out of a cup. I have friends who kept the night bottle and their dc were also drinking milk out of a sippy during the day, but needed the comfort from a bottle at night. Should I get rid of the night bottle and she will realize she only gets milk from a cup? advice...she is so stubborn. thanks Debbie

Answer 1

At 15 months old you should definitely not have to get up and feed her in the night.
Also it is not essential for her to drink milk at all, maybe she would prefer to have cheese, yoghurt or milk in her breakfast cereal?
Remember a small amount of cheese contains a large amount of calcium.

Answer 2

Congratulate her on drinking from a cup and tell her what a big girl she is getting to be! Water is perfect for her. So many children actually get too much milk! If she is eating yogurt and cheese she is getting the nutrients she would get from milk.

As with most toddlers, the more you push, the more they push back. It's their way of learning independence (unfortunately for us). Just give her water in the sippy cup and if she wants something else give her a choice of milk or juice (diluted). I'd bet then when you no longer show you 'don't care' if she drinks milk, she'll feel freer to 'choose' for herself.

She probably does not need the bottle at night, but if it makes both of you happy, keep it until she's done or she's 2-21/2. But since she has her teeth it would be best to switch the milk for water. Don't want to get cavities in those new pearly whites. So it's not such a shock start diluting the milk, like 7oz milk, 1 oz water, go 2-3 days, 6 oz milk 2 oz water and so on.

If you want to get rid of the bottle, slowly reduce what you are giving her at night. Start with 8 oz, 2-3 days later 7 oz, and so on.

Take care!

Answer 3

I had the same problem but i had to take her bottle because her teeth got really bad and now she won't drink milk at all. She just drinks juice and tea. She hasn't had milk in a while which i know is not good. But she does eat alot of yougurt and cheese. So if that is the only way to get her to drink milk than no don't take it just yet. Milk is good for her. Just keep trying the sippy cup. Try the ones with the soft spouts that are just like bottles only they are cuppies.

Answer 4

Definitely toss the bottle....You don't give her one during the day, why at night. It may give her comfort, but so does a favorite blankie or bear, doll, etc. If anything, say it's broken in front of her and throw it in the trash. She'll cry & whine, but suck it up daddy, and let her be. Keep the sippie cups and straw sippies a comin.
She will get over it.
I remember with my son, who is 6, was tough to break from the bottle, so one day we were on are way home & he was having a fit about his bottle so, I took it and tossed it out the window. No problems since then.
P.S. I did go & pick it up later, because it was at the neighbor's house we were going by when I tossed it.

Answer 5

You should not be giving your daughter a bottle at night. If she falls asleep with the bottle at night, it increases her chances of her tooth decay. My daughter stopped taking her bottles at night when she was 9 months. In order for your daughter to stop with the bottle, you need to get rid of all of them. Don't keep a night time bottle. Doing so only lets her know that she will get it at night. You're the parent, you need to show her that you are. Throw all the bottles away. If she still refuses to drink milk out of the cup, you are going to have substitute other dairy products for the lack of consumption. How old is she?

Answer 6

Bottles are bad for the teeth and should be stopped, a few night of crying and upset will pass and she will have nicer teeth. she will learn to drink more from a cup before bed time. If she does want milk during night pass her some in a cup she will soon learn its not worth waking up for it.

Answer 7

Let her do what she wants in this area. The bottle isn't hurting her in any way, unless she's six years old.

The less manipulation with these small people, the better. Be happy that she's healthy, confident, and responding to you.

Your first big test is toilet training, not leaving the bottle. Get the book 'Toilet Training in Less Than One Day' and get ready to work on that at age 2 1/2 or 3 and just enjoy your time until then.

Answer 8

I can tell you what worked for my friend. One day, they had a bottle fairy party. The bottle fairy came and took away the bottle and all the big boys ( she has a boy) got a big treat for drinking from the cup.

How old is your daughter ? If she is older than 2, maybe a fun approach would work.

Answer 9

make the bottle disappear. out of sight out of mind. if shes eating regular food she doesnt really need milk. stop the bottle. when shes thirsty she will take the cup

Answer 10

that's a tough question. depends on age of child. my son went about 1.5 years on the bottle and he transitioned to a cup with a straw. it was difficult because he would always sleep on the bottle so he had 2 things to get used to.