Any one have any ideas on breaking a one year old from the bottle. She was a preemie, should I wait a little longer to try again. She is really being a handful. She knows how to drink from a straw and has been using a sippy cup since like 6 or 7 months. I am new to this site, so if I should do something differently let me know. Thanks

By Eve on Thursday, January 9, 2003 - 01:23 pm:

Hi Angie, Welcome!

It sounds like you are on the right track. I would do it when you are ready and don't let anyone talk you into doing it before you are ready. Sydney was 15 months and VERY attached to her bottle! My Dh went away on business and I just tried one night to give her a sippy of milk and see how it went. She got upset and I thought "Well, I'll just try to make it tonight and give her the bottle in the morning." She cried and cried, but eventually fell asleep and then in the morning we started our routine and she didn't miss the bottle. I just went cold turkey and it worked! I packed up all the bottles except for one and I eventually packed that one up too! I just tried to distract her everytime she wanted her bottle and eventually she stopped asking. She even started referring to her sippy as a "baa" LOL!

Sydney adapted to life with a sippy cup and she was happy to still be able to lay on the floor with her pillow and drink. (I had only been using cups with straws before, no sippy's. I thought I would be ahead of the game. LOL!)

My ped. also never made a big fuss about it. I was SO worried I wasn't doing the right thing and he said "Nah! She won't have it forever. Do it when you both are ready!" So, if you feel since she was a preemie and isn't quite ready, you may be right. Do it when you are ready! I hope it goes smooth for you!

You could also try just cutting out a bottle a week or a day. Gradually getting rid of it. GOod luck!

By Emine on Thursday, January 9, 2003 - 01:57 pm:

How many bottles does she take a day? Emily is now 13 months and she is taking 2 bottles a day.....although yesterday it was 3! What I mean is that I cut one of them out today, she doesn't realize it yet! Now she only has the naptime and bedtime bottles. I would suggest what Eve said. Cut one bottle out, one that isn't so much associated with cuddling or bedtime. Then in a week or even longer if you think she isn't ready cut another one out. With Heather who is almost 4 now, she had her bedtime bottle until about 15 or 16 months. By then I would only give it to her if she asked and one night she forgot and than that was it. One other thing that I could suggest is use a blankie or stuffed baby or something while you are giving the bottle at nap or bedtime. Then when you get rid of the bottle she will still have that other item. Good luck, and I posted at the general discussion board for you...go look!

By Feona on Thursday, January 9, 2003 - 05:59 pm:

Don't babies need to suck? When do they stop needing to suck?

By Sandie on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 01:38 pm:

Dd was 9 months old when she had her last bottle. Though, I must admit, it was nothing I did. Ds had asippy cup, and Dd kept drinking out of them. She would toss her bottle away when given to her.

By Twotwentysix on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 08:19 am:

Thanks for the good suggestions, I will just keep trying. She is only taking two or three a day. I am working on cutting the morning bottle, she naps once in the morning, once (sometimes twice) in the afternoon, and goes to bed anywhere between 7:30 and 10:00 (here lately she has been sleeping 10-12 hours at night) She does have a blanket I give her when she is sleepy. Thanks again.

By Emine on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 11:08 pm:

I think it sounds like you are on the right track. Listen to what your daughter is telling you, you may need to nudge her, but you know your baby the best!

By Beth on Monday, January 20, 2003 - 08:55 am:

Maybe try giving her a cup during the day and a bottle only at night or nap times. Wean her down slowly. Of course this is a double edge sword. My kids 2 and 4 still think they need a cup when they go to bed. I able to reason with my four year old about it now. Both my kids were about 15 months.

By Eve on Monday, January 20, 2003 - 11:41 am:

Beth, will your kids take water in the cup at night?? I can't get Sydney to drink water to save my life! I have to get creative and let her squirt water all over in order for her to have a few drops. LOL! She loves "Meeelk! Meeelk!"

By Jeanieb506 on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 - 09:47 pm:

My grandson was a preemie, and hes now 14 months, and still drinks from a bottle a few times a day. He drinks from a sippy cup no problem. I'm not worried about it. Sometimes he wants that bottle. Do it when you both feel comfortable to do it.
I know parents that at the age of one, they pulled the bottle. You do what you feel comfortable with.
Jean