my daughter will be 1 tomorrow and she still takes a bottle 1 or 2 times a day and at nap time and bedtime. starting off i really want to try to put her to bed tonight without a bottle. but i know she will scream for hours and i hate to let her scream especially if there is something i can do to keep her from screaming (give her a bottle). any tips on weaning and such? i need all the help i can get!!!
2007-09-24 14:44:17 · 9 answers · asked by Mary C 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
I know its hard to hear your baby cry,but the best way is just to take it away!Tell her "the other babys"need it!The first day or 2 will be hard"mostly for you"but she'll forget about it!Honestly I would just go to a big girl cup!Sippy cups are just like bottles and are harder to take away!I wish I would have listen to my mom when she told me that!You should get her a special toy too!Tell her its a big girl toy for giving her baby bottles to another baby!Good Luck!
2007-09-24 15:46:44 · answer #1 · answered by Sweetheart 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honestly, I didn't pull my boys off the bottle until they were about 18 months old. But, if you'd really like to start now, I have some ideas for you on weaning your daughter from the bottle.
To ensure best success, I would NOT start off with either her nap time or bedtime bottles for the weaning process. This is part of her routine and she counts on them to soothe her to sleep. You can bet that she'll scream bloody murder if you try to take either of them away. Additionally, any other time you try to take her bottle away and give her a cup, it'll be as though you're punishing her.
So, the best way to go is to start with one of the daytime bottles. For example, if you give her one with breakfast and perhaps one with dinner...pick the time of day that she's generally in the best mood and start with that bottle. Use one of those great sippy cups with a lid that's small enough for her to hold comfortably. Fill it only about half way full of her favorite juice or milk drink. Take a sip from the cup yourself...then hand it to her to try. At the beginning, explain to her that she's such a big girl and praise her each time she takes a drink.
After a day or two of success, switch out another bottle and see how she responds. Lastly, I'd switch out first the nap bottle and then the bedtime bottle.
Make sure to keep acknowledging her for being a big girl and make a big deal out of her success. At first, it'll be like a game for her...then, after a while she won't even remember the bottle.
Good Luck!
The Coach
2007-09-24 15:04:31 · answer #2 · answered by Kimberly 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Has she used a sippy cup at all? If not switch to one that has a soft spout on it so it is similar to the bottle. From there you can move to a regular sippy cup. Let her pick out one that she likes and she'll be more likely to use it. Also if she likes the straws from fast food places you might consider getting a sippy cup that has the flip straw top...My son absolutely loved that one at that age.
Also just throw out the bottles and let her help you do it. Have her put them all in a box or bag and let her put them in the trash. Then when she asks for one remind her that she threw them away and maybe she'd like to try her new sippy cup?
Unfortunately there will be a few tears over it but at that age out of sight out of mind works really well on issues like this.
2007-09-24 14:49:57 · answer #3 · answered by starfire978 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would start with changing the falling asleep routine. She doesn't need to be getting calories or comfort from milk before sleep. Add in a special story or new tradition....something calming to celebrate that she is a big girl. Once you make that switch...and don't back down once you are ready..that will be 2 bottles gone already. after that, only put milk in the sippy cup and water in the bottle...or have a going away party for the bottle...mail it to cousins, burn them, trash them, float them down the river...anything to get her excited.
I wouldn't worry about rushing it, although I remember trying to make the switch early...it seems like there are so many habits to either instill, break, or begin during the first three years...who really wants to battle the bottle for very long? and really...at one year old...she may cry for a couple of days...but she really will forget quickly..especially if you have faithfully gotten rid of them.
2007-09-24 15:49:53 · answer #4 · answered by anslows mom 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Let her scream.....if you give her a bottle when she screams, your teaching her SCREAMING='s THINGS I WANT which is not a good road to go down. It'll be a tuff week or so but she'll get over it. There is no easy way to do it, but the soon the better. Good Luck :)
2007-09-25 08:02:59 · answer #5 · answered by Lew A 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
put nothing but water in the bottle - switch her to a sippy cup - theres no need to completely ween her off a bottle yet - unless someone knows something i dont -
2007-09-24 14:48:02 · answer #6 · answered by imissmahboo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try the NUBY brand sippy cups. They have a nipple like feeling so they seem to adjust to it easier than a regular sippy cup. My daughter weaned very easily using them.
2007-09-24 17:06:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are giving her milk in it, switch to water only, and give her milk ONLY IN A SIPPY. once you make the switch, make sure you hold your ground, because if you give in once, they will learn that by screaming longer than you can handle it, they will get their way. Good Luck.....it worked for me
2007-09-24 14:47:18 · answer #8 · answered by ejc0782 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
she will do just fine without the bottle box them away or throw them away if she cant see it she wont want it. at this age it wont affect her at all it wont matter just give her a sippy cup and be done with it
2007-09-24 14:56:26 · answer #9 · answered by kleighs mommy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋