3yo with bottle?

Question

We will start watching a 3yo in or daycare who still drinks a bottle of milk at nap. She drinks a sippy cup the rest of the day. She has it in the bed with her. We have cots for then to sleep in so if bottle leaks in it it will need to be replaced. We usually have a rule that bottle are not allowed here after the child turns two. What to tell the parents? I feel that a bottle at 3 is rediculous anyway. Just give her a sippy at nap or nothing at all? Don't know what to do?

Answer 1

tell the parents that this is a great opportunity to take the bottle away. at 3, she is able to reason a bit, so tell her that bottles aren't allowed at daycare. big girls drink from cups. her parents have to be on board with it. present it as a positive opportunity to graduate their child to the next level.

if they resist, just let them know that they can give her the bottle but will miss out on a prime opportunity to get rid of it.

as for ruining the mattress, a sippy cup can leak too

Answer 2

I would try giving the child a sippy cup at nap time. It may take a few tries, but if the child really insists on having a drink at nap time, they will accept the sippy cup. If all else fails and you can't lose the bottle then I would tell the parents about the no bottles after age two rule. If they absolutely object to it, then I would tell them that if their childs leaky bottle ruins one of the day cares cots, that they will be responsible for replacing it. I'm sure they won't like that very much, but rules are rules.

Answer 3

I work at a daycare in the 2 year old class. We do not allow bottles or sippy cups in our class. By age two children should be drinking out of a regular cup. When we have a child whose parents THINK they need a bottle or sippy cup, we simply explain that they are not allowed. Since the child is in a new environment, she will not have a prior expectation of a bottle. Do not offer it to her, and do not let her see the bottle. She will probably fuss the first day, but just be firm. Tell her there is no bottle at daycare. Show her the bag she brought, (make sure there isnt a bottle in it first), so she will believe there is no bottle.

Answer 4

Are all the parents told in advance that there will be no bottles after age 2? If they aren't then they should be. Wouldn't a sippy cup be just as likely to leak or do you guys have one of those spill-proof cups to prevent that from happening? Maybe you can try the sippy cup at naptime. I doubt the parents would care. They likely let her have the bottle because they think she won't nap any other way but kids have been known to act differently in daycare compared to when they're home. Try the sippy cup and see how that works.

Answer 5

I think you should definitely handle the situation with care since they could get offended very quickly over the issue. They probably do realize there is a problem with still needing a bottle at the age of 3 so that should definitely help. I would explain your situation with the cots. Tell them you understand it may take a bit of time to fix the problem (for the time being maybe just throw a blanket down over the cot). You could offer them a suggestion on how to stop. We were having the same problem with our daughter (only for naps and nightime) so we brought her down from the bottle in stages first we used a transition bottle which has a larger nipple simiar to a bottle, then a Nuby sippy cup which has a soft top, and then finally to a normal sippy cup. We said things to encourage her such as it was her "princess big girl cup" it took a lot of patience and some crying for a few days but it was well worth it!

Answer 6

Well a daycare should already have its rules set before the parents enroll their child. I work at a daycare and I enforce the rule myself. Usually some daycares cut a little slack for the parents but at 3 no way. My cut off is 1 whether they like it or not. Where is licensing in all this. Parents will sometimes get upset when I take the bottle away but in the long run the child will wean off of it easier. Some parents just give it to them when they get home.

Answer 7

The bottle needs to go and there should be no sippy cup at nap. It can cause severe dental decay! Telling the parents about the concern over "baby bottle decay" would be a good way to avoid them thinking it is a judgement issue....

http://www.ada.org/public/topics/decay_childhood.asp
Good luck!

Answer 8

My pediatrician said the bottle should go at about 1 year old. I know it is difficult, but at three it is an unhealthy habbit (psychologically and for her teeth, mouth and ability to soothe herself to sleep unaided.) You have to set some clear rules for all the families at your daycare and stick to them. Just like my 3 year old must be totally potty trained to attend summer camp, so too must this family get it together and get rid of the bottle! And I think that should go for pacifiers too - I can not believe some people allow their toddlers to walk around with a pacifier. Good luck!

Answer 9

then tell the parents you dont allow a bottle for a child that old and let that be that at 3 they dont need a cup at nap time either

Answer 10

Your rule is judgemental. Every child and every parent is different. If you don't embrace this belief, I don't think you sound like a very good caretaker. But it is your right to have the rule. So either enforce the rule and let the parents know, or drop your personal opinion on the issue, and find a way to deal with the leaking bottle. Get a plastic cover for the cot. If you must, charge the parents for it.