How should I know the right time to wean my 18 months old son from bottlefeeding?

Answer 1

Contrary to what others believe, I think they kinda wean themselves. This has been my experience. I don't see a problem with an 18 month old drinking a bottle as long as they are eating food & not supplementing a bottle of milk for food. My daughter is 16 months old and still has 2 -8 oz milk bottles a day, the rest of the time she drinks from a cup. My oldest drank a bottle til he was 2 and my other son was 14 months and wanted nothing to do with bottles. My boys quit on their own, and my daughter is already showing less interest except at sleepy time. My pediatrician, also has no problem with my daughter still drinking a bottle. It's not like she'll be taking it to kindergarten with her, they're only babies once.Byw their teeth are all perfect, no problems. Good luck to you, do what is right for you & your child and not what others think is best!

Answer 2

Its really up to you and if you enjoy this. You can nurse your child forever if you want to. She will get to be of a certain age where she won't need naps anymore, or she'll be going off to kindergarten school and will have to take naps there. Are you going to show up at school? When I weaned my son, I likened it to quitting smoking. At 18 months of age, she is getting (hopefully) all the nourishment she needs from her solid foods and other liquids. Its a habit and of course she is going to throw fits when her habit is denied. It does not mean you do not love her. Being strong and not giving in is the best thing you could do for her. She's not two or three or even six months old. She's walking, talking (I assume). Hand her a cup. If she doesn't want it, then she's not really thirsty or in need of nourishment. Its really up to you. You're not doing her any favors by allowing this behavior to continue. Be strong. Leave the room if you have to. I know it breaks your heart to hear her cry, but she'll get over it. At 18 months, she is more than capable of drinking from a cup. If all she wants is your milk, then get a breast pump and put the milk in a cup. The question I have for you is who enjoys this more, you or her?

Answer 3

At 18 months I'm not sure he should still be bottlefeeding. My daughter has been using a cup since she was one (usually a non-spill but she can use regular pretty good, too). The longer you wait the more attached he's going to be. I would say start now. Just replace the bottle with a sippy cup for every bottle except the morning and evening bottle (my daughter rejected the sippy cup when she was extremely tired.. either just waking up or trying to go to sleep). Eventually he'll come to learn how to use the cup and won't reject it anymore.
Oh... also we used bottles with handles like a sippy cup at first too. This got her used to the shape of sippy but it still acted (and felt) like a bottle to her.

Answer 4

First things first, dont listen to what anyone else has to say because he is yours and you WILL know when the time is right. I hate it when people say "oh its time" or "he/she should be off by now" kids are all diffrent an they do things at there own pace. introduce it gradually and make it a fun process as best you can or youll end up stressed and upset right along with your little one. I started with giving it only at naps and bed time and then went to bedtime only. after a short period of time he was done with the bottle and fine with it. Id say I started around 15 months and he was off completley by 22 to24 mos. most importantly it wasnt a stressful process. You know your baby best. Do whats best for you and him not what other people say!

Answer 5

NOW would be a good time!!! 18 months is too old to be on a bottle. Start to introduce him to a sippy cup and throw away the bottle! It will be difficult at first, he will probably throw a fit, but within a couple of days he will forget all about it. Bottles are terrible for his teeth!!

Answer 6

Hmm....my son is 2 years old and still on the bottle. According to all previous answers this is horrible. I respectfully disagree.

Its not like I expect him to be 3 and still taking a bottle, however, it is still a comfort to him and I do not see the harm. He drinks 2 bottles in the afternoon (winding down before naptime) and 2 bottles in the evening (winding down before bedtime). During the day he uses a sippy cup or a straw to drink from.

His teeth are perfect. I believe weening is a personal decision. People breastfeed this long, so why is the bottle so different?

To answer the question, how do you know when? I guess you are the only one who knows when your son is ready (showing less interest, excited about drinking from a big person cup). We are weening slowly, but I am not going to make him go cold turkey.

Answer 7

both of my kids took a bottle until they were 2 because it made them happy. i did offer them a sippy cup, as well, as often as i could instead and if they rejected it then i gave them the bottle, because it is more important for them to have fluid than what they drink it from. as long as you are brushing your childs teeth often enough and not letting him have milk or juice at night in bed his teeth should be ok. they have sippy cups now that have soft rubber spouts that might make transition easier.

Answer 8

He will go through a period of less interest..This, I have found, is the easiest time..It's still going to be hard, but it's better at this time...The older they get, the harder it's going to be! Congrats on nursing that long! I was usually preggo and my milk dried up by 18months...

Answer 9

18 months is too old for a bottle. It can do damage to his teeth. My niece took her bottle until she was two and they had to pull her two front teeth. Get him a sippy cup with a cartoon character he likes.

Answer 10

According to pediatricians and dentists, he should have been off 6 months ago. You will now have to more than likely have to deal with attachment issues that are avoided when you take them off at 12 months. Once they start holding it themselves, start with a cup!!