Breaking the Bottle

For us, we just listened to the crying, and eventually he gave it up. At one year we cut down bottles for a month until he was down to one or two, and within the next three months we just wouldn't give them to him anymore. Now that he is so old and can comprehend more, I imagine it must be harder for you than it was for me...

I had a similar problem with my 3 year old daughter. She wouldn't give up the bottle. She was about 2 1/2 when we broke her of it. We has her throw all of her bottles away because she was a big girl and big girls drink from sippy cups not bottles. The first couple of nights were hard because when bedtime came she wanted the bottle but we reminded her that she threw them away and then is seemed to be okay. We have a special sippy cup just for bedtime and that helps also.

I don't mean to offend you and if it comes off that way I'm sorry. But your a sucker. You'd rather give him what he wants then listen to him cry. And he knows that. If you don't give in eventually he'll give up and stop asking for it. It's a measure of wills and right now his is stronger then yours. Say no. When the whining and crying starts leave the room. And say until you can talk to me like a big boy I don't want to hear it. And just leave him there. My son doesn't bother with tantrums, they don't work on me.

For my son I would only put water in the bottle. If he wanted milk or juice, he would have to get it out of the sippy cup. After a day or so of complaining, he got over it.
It may be hard but after you start this you cant give in and give him juice/milk in the bottle. If you give in, he'll know that all he has to do is throw a tantrum to get what he wants. Good Luck!

Is there any particular reason why you want him to give it up? If there's nothing medical at stake, probably your best bet is to let it go. If he needs it for security, why not let him have it? He'll outgrow it on his own, either through losing interest or peer pressure. Every kid is different in terms of when they mature emotionally to the point that they don't need security objects anymore. At his age, it seems a bit early for that, no? But the more you make it an issue, the more it becomes his way of fighting for control, which what kids his age (and in one way another all kids of any age) do. And should do. Kids have to learn to fight to stick up for themselves and they learn that in the safety of their own homes best. I'm sure you've heard the adage about picking your battles and my feeling is that you if you have to have a show-down over who's the boss, it's best to make it over something that's less traumatic than kids' attachment to boob/binky/bottle. As kids struggle with the stresses of growing up, they need a little space where they can be a baby for a little while longer. Sounds like the bottle only at home/when tired scenario is actually a really great way to give him that space.

Good luck!

you said that your son doesnt have his bottle at daycare, so just throw out the bottles at home and offer him the sippy cup instead he will not be a very happy camper but he will get over it. If he starts to scream and holler just ignore him he will eventually know that you are the boss. You are his mother you set the rules and have to enforce them. Give him a blankie or stuffed animal if he is tired something to confort himself during the tuff time. I have a 14 month old and at 13 months of age i said that is it the bottle went bye - bye yes it was hell for a few days but he got over it and hasnt had a bottle sence. Its much better also for their teeth developement. So get rid of is ASAP...........

I introduced my daughter to a sippy cup when she was 5 months old. She would get water in it with every meal. For starters that would have helped, but since you are beyond that, I weaned my daughter from bottles with the NUBY sippy cup. If you don't have one already it has a soft rubber tip, almost like a nipple but shaped differently. It even looks a little like a bottle. She did great with it, and eventually when she got used to that, and the bottle was gone she began drinking from any sippy cup. You can find the NUBY in any baby store..or even in CVS or Eckerd's. He isn't getting it in daycare because he is not allowed, so you need to put your foot down and tell him he is a big boy now. Also... a lot of kids think it's great to drink out of a real cup. Try dixie cups. At 2 1/2 he should be able to hold the cup with a small amount of liquid and drink it like a grown up. That also worked for us. GL!!!

my son is almost 3, and when he was about 2 1/2 i too wanted to rid of the bottle, i just did it cold turkey, i told him that he was too big and it had to go in the garbage. he was so upset for a few days, but thats all it took was about 4 days, and now he doesnteven remember it exisited. good luck!!

well, you might have to listen to him scream and carry on - but just remember you are the mom and you make the rules - put the bottles away where he can not see them and break out the sippy cups - they have some with soft sucky parts which is kinda like a bottle. I myself prefer the cheap ones - I can't think of the name but they are usually red, green, purple, and orange cups and yellow, red, and green tops they are like $2.99 for a 5 pack. They hardly leak at all when they throw them or as my son likes to do - stand it on it's top. Or maybe you could have your lil one pick out his favorite color or charactor and tell him it's his special big boy cup. But as I started off, you are the mommy and make the rules not him!
Good Luck,
S. B

Don't give him the choice. Get rid of them in front of him and show him that the cups are the only thing available. If he cries for a bottle, tough luck. He's going to have to cry. The crying won't last forever, and when he realizes you're not giving in, he'll stop.

A child his age can't conceptualize "When you're 3 we're taking the bottle away." If you don't want him to have them now, then take them away now. If you're willing to let him manipulate you and keep using them until he's 3, then just let him have them. Warning him that you're going to take the bottle away without actually taking it away is stressful for him. He's got very limited concept on what the future means, because all he's interested in is the present.

Therefore YOU have to be consistent and you can't expect a 2 1/2 yr old to make the decision for you. Some children have no problem transitioning completely, but others, like your son, need to have the decision made for them.

Hi G.
My son is now 5 but when he was 2 I had a hard time with the bottle as well. At the time I had a friend who was days from delivery and told my son we should give the bottles to the new baby since it won't have any yet. I told him his bottles were a gift from a 2 year old when he was born and it would be a nice thing to do. It worked and he loved getting a gift bag and ribbon to wrap them in, and making a card!
Good luck!
S.
Single mom of one 5 year old boy.

I took the bottle away from my son at 1 1/2, but he was so attached. I tried many times to do it but I would give in. And when my husband was home we gave in even faster. But to me it was more of a commitment thing. I made my mind up and I just had to take it away and throw them away. It sounds cruel but I think it is harder on us by the end of it then them. I just kept telling myself everytime he would cry for a long time, that I could not give in now because it would not be far to him. He was learning how to deal with feels he did not like very much. And by day two it was over with. But I made sure I did not plan anything for myslef for two days so I was all his and we had a lot of mommy and him time. Take him out to the park or somewhere where you can keep him distracted. And sadly letting them cry it out is all we can do sometimes.

good luck
H. C

My mother-in-law swears by having them get rid of it themselves. Make a big deal of having them throw it in the trash and saying goodbye and taking the garbage out the the garbage can (preferrably right before the garbage man comes!) Then doing something with him that "only big boys do" (It would be playing on the computer in my house since the little ones aren't allowed to touch, but it might be different in your house). I didn't have to face this issue myself, but I have heard this works. Hope it helps!

Why does he "have" to give up his bottle? Is there a health reason? I just think kids grow up too quickly nowdays. I see his bottle as a source of comfort for him. Why not just let him keep it? When he's ready he'll stop wanting it.

Does he know how to drink from a straw? If so, maybe you could try the sippy cups with the straws instead of the hard spout. All the toddlers do is tend to chew on them. My friend suggested to me yesterday that you could also look for the sippy cups with the spouts made of soft rubber material. I have four children. The youngest two are 11 mos apart, ages 1 and 2 1/2. The doctor wants me to put them on sippy cups with the straws as soon as possible because prolonged use of the bottle can lead to milk cavities in babies. I plan on getting them their cups tomorrow. I even offer my babies the boxed juices (Motts for tots) and they love it. Also try offering the Kool aid bursts. Though that might be a bigger mess than the other suggestions, you could supervise him while he drinks. I hope I have been helpful. God bless you. Peace, love and happiness.
E.--mom soon to be 30 in may to 3 boys ages 8, 5 soon to be 6 on Feb.7, 2 1/2 and 1 girl who is 1 and a half.

Have the bottle fairy come. Put all the bottles in a bag on his doorknob and the next morning there will be a small gift. I know people who ave used this for the binky and the bottle and were successful.

M.

Simple, just throw them out and if it might help, have him watch/help you do it. Yeah, you might have a couple of rough days but if you refuse to give in to him he will come to accept he won't be getting the bottle back. Growing up (for both kids and parents) can cause some growing pains but it will be worth it in the end. Kids should not dictate to parents what will or will not be going on. I think they should be heard and have a say but as parents we should do our jobs and make those decisions that really shouldn't be left to kids.

I had it pretty easy with this - my daughter is 2 now and was off the bottle at 14 months. She didn't really freak out too bad when we stopped giving it to her. BUT I saw this on Nanny 911 last night. They said you have to let him scream and cry and just leave the cup within his reach so he can get it when he's done. They said to remember he's not hurt he's just angry and having a battle of wills with you. I wish you the best of luck. I think it will ultimately be more difficult for you than for your son.

Hi, The answer is simple. You no longer have a bottle in your home. I didn't say the doing of this is easy. He'll cry and beg and make you crazy for about three days. Then he'll realize that it's just happening. I went through this with pampers. All day in day care without a problem and then home - big problem. A therapist said that I should just say there were none. It was a horrible few days but at the end it was great. I know you are feeling that feeling we feel. Mothers hate when their kids are crying and fussing and we can stop it. But this is ultimately for his own good. His teeth will suffer if he keeps using the bottle. He's your baby. But you know what you have to do.

Be strong. Buy earplugs.

Good luck.

It will not be a pleasant task but you NEED TO GET HIM OFF NOW
Bottles are really bad for their teeth. Just take it away - he'll stop screaming eventually. It might be a day or two of hell but worth it in the long run.

Jenn Smith
http://jennsmith.stayinhomeandlovinit.com

Ok Mommie, who's in Charge? First the Bottle, what next? Sounds alittle Harsh, right? I don't mean to be. THROW the bottles out. You have to start while they're young showing them who's in control. Your son does ok in Daycare without the bottle, right? So he'll do ok without it at home. The only reason he goes bonkers for the bottle when he gets home, is because you still have bottles in the house for him to go bonkers for... Buy him the cutest cup you can find, and inform him that this is his new cup. Make a big deal about it, encourage him to drink out of that BIG boy cup. What I'm trying to get you to see is we can re-direct our Children's behavior. The only way their behaviors will change, is if we as Parents change ours... I wish you a Peace of Mind, soon. It will happen, you'll see...