Does anyone else have a "lazy" toddler?

[Arimeh]

Not that I'm too worried, but I'm sure I will start copping the comments soon...

DD still has 2 bottles a day - one in the morning, one at night - and she STILL won't hold the bottle herself. I know DS started holding his own bottle at around 1 year, but she's now 14.5 months - and still refuses (and I mean - flat out refuses) to take the bottle herself.

The only reason it worries me, is because I'm the person that feeds her (whilst DH is getting ready for work in the morning, and he puts DS to bed of a night time while I feed her) and I'm going to have another bubba soon that I'll also have to feed - so I'm worried that if she doesn't start taking her own bottle soon, I'll be feeding two kids at once.. LOL

Can someone give me hope that to not be holding her own bottle at this age is reasonably normal? Or is she *gasp* lazy?

[CrazyLady]

maybe try put the bottle in front of her to sort of forxe her to take it if she's hungry. My friend's little boy was doing that too and she basically said "do it yourself or no bottle". he picked it up after 20 mins. seems harsh but it was becoming ridiculous with her because she returned to work and had another at school who need h/work help.

Also tried a cup?

[Vixstar]

I had a 3 yr old on Tuesday night who wanted me to feed him!

Yep, take the hard line approach - hold it or go without OR see it as a nice time to cuddle and snuggle. I sometimes still hold DS#2's bottle esp when he is tired and there are other times he hold it himself and he is nearly 18 months old. I know you feel abit edgy thinking you will be feeding two kids soon but she is only 14 mths old - still a baby herself. Does she have a bbay doll with a bottle???? Maybe feeding her baby will help her *think* about holding her own bottle.......

xxxx

[Jennifer13]

She may be after the undivided attention and cuddles she gets from you when you're feeding her, rather than the actual feeding, if that makes sense. You're a busy Mummy and she sounds like she's smart enough to have figured out that this is the one time she can expect you to sit down and focus solely on her. I would doubt that's going to change with a new bubba as well.

I don't have any great advice, other than that if you'd like her to transition, perhaps spend the time still cuddling her but encourage her to hold it herself. Don't put her down as soon as she does hold it herself. Even prop the bottle against your chest or something, instead of using your hands.

How does she go with a sippy cup? It might be a good time to ditch the bottle altogether (let her choose a new sipply cup that appeals), rather than trying to fight this battle over the bottle.

GL hun!

[Doing my best]

DD refused to hold her bottle till we were in NZ in April (17 months).. She could, but was lazy.. I ended up telling her, she was only getting a bottle if she held it, and it worked.

[Arimeh]

Thanks guys, nice to know I'm not alone.

I don't feel right forcing her to hold it herself or no food, I dunno just doesn't sit well with me - I know she is still really young after all. And for another month, she's still my widdle bubba.. hehe

I might think about the sippy cup...

[Jennifer13]

Sounds good, Mel. I'd also be reluctant to make any changes she's unhappy with too close to the new baby arriving. While it might be a challenge to juggle feeding a new baby and still having to hold DD1 and her bottle, it's a lot less stressful than dealing with toddler meltdowns when she feels she's not getting your attention. Maybe try to shift when DD1 gets a bottle with when the new baby needs to be fed as best as you can. If the sippy cup doesn't work!

[Doing my best]

Thanks guys, nice to know I'm not alone.

I don't feel right forcing her to hold it herself or no food, I dunno just doesn't sit well with me - I know she is still really young after all. And for another month, she's still my widdle bubba.. hehe

I might think about the sippy cup...

I didn't have to cross the bridge of not giving it to her if she didn't hold it, cause it worked. I would never have denied her the milk, but she might have had to wait another 5-10 mins till it suited me. We still occasionaly snuggle on the couch at night and I feed her, but I don't seem to hold it right now

[MummyDuck]

We started getting DD to hold her bottle by holding her.... So she was still in a feeding position being cuddled but she was holding the bottle, then she moved to a bouncer right next to us and now she just sits on her beanbag while I have a shower and drinks it. Maybe try and meet in the middle.... tell her she needs to hold her own bottle but you can still hold her at the same time, she might play for a little while but gently guide it back to her mouth and eventually she will get the idea.

Good Luck

[sirenz]

my ds was the same at your dd age. He wouldn't hold his own bottle. We have since replaced bottle time with story time,so he still gets the cuddles and love, but then he takes his milk in bed with him and he holds it himself

[Liz]

Nawww.. I think it's lovely and completely normal. i don't think it's lazy at all.. a breastfed toddler still needs to be held and fed There is definitely more to feeding than just guzzling milk... they love the cuddles and the bonding. I think it's lovely that you still have this with bottle feeding I'd treasure it personally it wont go on forever.

[Arimeh]

Liz - I do like doing it, and I'm glad she likes it, but I'm just worried about introducing a new baby into the mix while she's still my little baby!

Probably just mummy guilt coming out now cos I know she's going to miss out on a lot because of a new baby brother or sister soon

[Liz]

Mel - read up on tandem feeding.. lots of mums feed more than 1 bub at a time I'm sure the ideas can well be applied to bottle feeding as well There are suggestions for co-ordinating feeds and generally managing the 2 bubs.

Don't feel guilty.. if anything you will be including her more... she won't miss out on a thing! and if she feeds at the same time as bub, it's a wonderful bonding experience for all involved. I think weaning her off the feeding cuddles would be more guilt-inducing.

[Arimeh]

Thanks Liz I am hoping that BFing will be successful with this one (fingers crossed!!) so that'll be weird enough - BFing one and bottle feeding the other.... lol

[Liz]

I'm sure you'll find a way. Us mums always do FWIW I rarely fed my two at the same time, only on a few occasions.. so you might find there's not much juggling to be done after all. I found it was one of those things that I couldn't get my head around the logistics of... but in reality it all just kinda fell into place.