Getting an almost 2.5 yo off using a baby bottle..

Yes, i am slack, and i feel really bad :(.. i have attempted this about 3 times in the last 12 months (i should have tried harder i know) DD is still using a baby bottle for her bottle in the morning and the one right before bed (and when daddies home, she gets one in the middle of the day too.. but we wont even GO there!!)
So not yesterday but the day before, i thought "Right! thats it.. no more bottles" so her bed time one was in one of the sipper cups we have at home (we have a few different types) she was not impressed only drank not even half and went to sleep.. the next monring, she drank less than the night before. Last night she would have one suck and put it down, and was dropping off to sleep, i couldnt let her go to sleep without her milk (she still has formula twice a day) so i caved :cry: and put it into one of her baby bottles, she did this little giggle (when shes really excited) and sucked it down! This morning i tried one of those 'take-n-toss' sipper cups.. again, a mouthful and puts it down, i try to prompt her but she just has another mouthful and puts it down..
i think the flow is too fast maybe? i know it would feel different, but what do i do???? Should i just continue and of she doesnt drink her milk oh well, its nearly that time anyway?

is there a brand of cup that works the best for this? anyway help would be amazing, i feel like such a weak mother for caving, as its not the first time ive caved.. i cant even stick this out :sigh:


tia xx

Shes old enough to not need any formula anymore, is there a reason shes still on it? Honestly dont stress about her getting her milk. She can get calcium from other foods and cows milk in her breaky etc.

Just throw the bottles out. She doesnt sound distressed by not having them, just you do. :hug:

We were really slack with bottles as well and only got rid of them in November last year, DD2 turned 2 at the end of September, I told her I was throwing them out, she said ok, she has her milk in a sipper cup now, she also doesn't drink as much as she would have in a bottle but doesn't seem upset at all about it.

Hang in there.

the formula is DH, "it says 3 on the tin" im happy to let her keeo having it, its not hurting her, and she s not a great eater (i know this has some to do with the formlua) so i feel what she lacks in her food she gets back in her milk.. my gf said the same PP. "throw them out" and i know i should.. i just cant until i KNOW she will be ok.. and i know shes fine i just .. i dont know.. gahh.. lol

She will be fine :) The toddlers formulas are packed full of sugar :/ Just a marketing scam, they dont really need it. Anything to make more money unfortunantly.

Chuck them out. Her eating will improve when she stops filling up on formula.

She will be fine.

If you can't bring yourself to throw them out, why don't you decide to get rid of them for a week? Put them in a box, seal it with tape and put the box in a really hard to get too spot.

At the end if the week if you think she is suffering, starving, any other concern you might be worried about then you could get them out again.

Once they are gone, pay close attention to how eating changes, you will likely be suprised!

My DF is exactly the same, gives DS milk at every opportunity, and I think it's because more often than not he is copping out. Preparing fresh food takes time and consideration, not to mention then an exhausting battle to get a fussy child to eat it! It's far easier to just make a bottle, but it's important to remember that at this age it's not appropriate that they get the majority of nutrition from milk and you could be setting yourselves up for harder battles down the track.

Good luck!!

:hug:

What appletree said!!!

Your DD will be fine :D good luck!!!


From Queens IPhonio

subbing for some ideas.

DD is nearly 4 (very embarrassed to admit it) but she's still on the bottle drinking cows milk. She is also a terrible eater and we've tried everything she just kicks and screams when she doesn't get her milk in a bottle, even though she knows bottles are for babies =(

ok.. thanks girls.. what you have all said has kin dof made me feel bad (which is GOOD) because now i feel like its a MUST that i get her off bottles. and if she drinks less milk because of this then thats a plus and if her eating improves because of this then AWESOME that is an even bigger bonus.
As far as formula goes, i know she doesnt need it, but in our house we both need to agree on something.. DH wants her to continue having formula. i think sometimes i feel because he is away alot i try to let him have as much say over somethings as he can because i want him to feel that he has input over our family, i know it seems silly but i think it makes him feel better because i know he feels he is missing way too much as it is. and if agreeing to somethings that otherwise i might do differently makes him feel better than thats what ill do :)

would your DH agree to something as an alternative? my DS didn't have formula but will often have a smoothie in the morning - i usually just use milk & a banana and i figure that is nice & filling & is good for him.

maybe even suggest to him that, as she's getting towards 3, that maybe he could help you look for an alternative? that you had heard x,y & z were good but weren't sure....maybe if it was 'his' idea (even if prompted by you :lol:) he might feel like he's having some input?

fwiw, a cup with a straw (those take & toss sort but with a straw rather than a sippy top) has always been popular with DS & with the spill proof lid, not too messy! or even a 'special' cup that your DD can help you choose for before her naps.

Good im glad i read some child still has a bottle at nearly 4 and kicks and screams until they do .... as i caved in to my 3 1/2 yr old last night with a bottle....

I dont have any suggestions - but I understand how hard it is to get them not to drink it from a bottle. My DD drinks NO milk whatsoever now as she just refuses or takes a sip when it is in a cup (and I have spent a fortune buying all different cups to drink from). I do worry about her calcium but she eats yogurt and cheese everyday so hoping she gets enough.

I'm going to agree with the other posters - I don't think she needs formula at 2.5 (or even past 1 for that matter). Formula is a very poor substitute for real food :( If you keep giving in to her you are setting her up for a life of poor nutrition and the bottles and teats really wouldn't be doing her teeth any favours at this point either, I know that sounds harsh but its true. I think you should just get rid of them, buy some pretty cups and some brightly coloured straws - kids LOVE drinking out of straws, heck so do I - its fun!! :)

Trust me she wont starve, kids will always eat when they are hungry :) You just need to make sure that good food choices are available. I kept putting out the same foods until DS would try them (he always did eventually). Also I found when we ditched the bottles after his 1st birthday, DS slept better, he no longer relied on a bottle as a cue for sleep.

Good Luck and be strong Stevie - you can do it Mumma!! x

If you want to compromise with your DH, perhaps formula in a cup or sippy cup with breakfast?

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subbing for some ideas.

DD is nearly 4 (very embarrassed to admit it) but she's still on the bottle drinking cows milk. She is also a terrible eater and we've tried everything she just kicks and screams when she doesn't get her milk in a bottle, even though she knows bottles are for babies =(

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Good im glad i read some child still has a bottle at nearly 4 and kicks and screams until they do .... as i caved in to my 3 1/2 yr old last night with a bottle....

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I have tried to convince my DS1 (3 1/2) to have his milk in non spill cup/with a straw/ with flavour on several occasions, spanning from before DS2 was born and several times after. He would kick and scream and carry on until I gave in. Milk fixed all ailments for DS1. DS2 not so interested in his milk, DS1 would finish off whatever his brother didn't. He would distract and charm DS2, then take off with his milk. When ever I suggested milk in a big boy cup, I would get DS1 whine, "I want my milk in a baby bottle".

Anyway they boys have made holes in all the teats, so I have been telling them I am not buying any replacement and when they are gone there will be no more bottles. I have bought them a tommy tippy sports bottle, I have put theirs names on it and put their bed time milk in it last night, not one complaint. DS1 finished his milk, DS2 drank half.

Kids grow out of things when they are ready to. I wouldn't stress too much.