So when is the "right" time to banish the bottle ....?

Question

I know that my son should be using a sippy cup more...but my daycare lady asked me if we'd be banishing the bottle any time soon...and actually..I hadn't thought about it...he only gets them at daycare, he only nurses at home...

We've used sippy cups in the past but all he has ever managed to do with it is make a mess and bonk himself in the head...so we kinda don't really use them...

I know he has to "grow up" and progress and all that...but the bottle is closer to nursing than a sippy cup, and if it offers him comfort at daycare while mommy's at work...whats the harm in it?

My son is about to be one , by the way.

So in your experience...when do we banish the bottle and only allow the sippy cups?

Please no negative comments about how he should be weaned or he should have been on a sippy cup at two weeks or anything ridiculous like that...I'm just looking for some "ballpark" guidelines and some feedback about your experiences.

Thanks.

***
Ok...this is pretty much how I felt about it...I don't see anything wrong with him keeping his bottle.

So I'll just have to break it to the daycare lady that we won't be banishing bottles just yet...

I just wanted to guage what the norm was.....

Answer 1

I don't have an exact answer for you. We are dealing with this issue right now. My daughter just turned 13 months and we have been trying to get her to drink milk out of a sippy cup without much success. She will drink watered down juice just fine out of one, but milk is a different story. My daughter has always used the bottle as a source of comfort. I had to exclusively pump for her for the first 12 months because I had a great delay in my milk coming in.

So I have decided that I am going to keep trying the sippy cup (I just bought a few more different ones today) but I am not going to force the issue until she is at least 18 months.

So my advice is continue trying them but if it doesn't work out right now then that is O.K. Everytime I feel bad about her drinking out of the bottle I see a child that is about 3 years old or older sucking on their pacifier and I feel much better about my choice.

Good luck with whatever you choose!

Answer 2

Well with my son he winged himself from the bottle at age 13 months... he only got a bottle at bedtime and used a sippy cup at other times.... But I think you should introduce the sippy cup to him... maybe try it at daycare and if he refuses it then go back to the bottle, You said you think it comforts him at daycare maybe try something else like a blanket or stuffed animal to help comfort him. But I think you will know when to banish the bottle. I have seen kids at age 15 months still on a bottle. I think it is up to you and your child when you give up the bottle. Don't let them pressure you at daycare. Remember you are the mom and you know your child the best.
Mom of 2

Answer 3

Banish the bottle at 15 months - after that they should be using only the sippy cup.

Answer 4

I find that most people who push the potty training and giving up on bottles always have kids in daycare. Its because the daycare providers want their job easier. I say let the child gradually give this up. My son had a bottle when he was almost three, but gave up the pacifier when he was six months old. Some kids still drink from a bottle at age 3.
Each child is different. I wish people would stop forcing their kids to grow up so darn fast.

Answer 5

if you are still nursing then there is no need to rush the "bottle ban". Does the daycare know that he still nurses? They may have an issue if other kids in his age group are being weaned off the bottle, but its your choice when to stop. Its obviously a comfort as well as a source of food. My son nursed and used bottles until around 2, it was not that hard to get him weaned at that age.