My 2.5yo insists on a bottle before bed and before his day sleep.

So i get this could be the result of habit from early day sleep cues (past the age of 1). And we took his MUCH loved dummy from him when he was about 20months as he loved them so much he would 'pop' brand new ones within 5mins of being given them. But the dummy ditching really suprised us as he was sucking on a popped one and we said - oh this is yukky, we put it in the bin? and he agreed and that was the end of it... no tears etc.

We have tried taking the same approaches with the bottle. Now that he is very communicative we express that he should drink milk from a cup like we do and so on... but nope, his love affair with his bottle remains.

When we have withheld we have endured 2 hr long tantrums, whining and non sleeping. Taking the CC approach and hoping it would get better in a few days - it didn't....

I want to know of any hints or tips to help end his love affair with his teat. OR - is this normal. Is it okay for my 2.5yo to still have 2 bottles of cows milk a day? Am i just being a meany???

You know what I reckon Schmendy? Sometimes it's just not worth the argument!!! E and K still have a bottle before their night sleep, but haven't had a day bottle since they were about 15 months old. There is NO WAY they're giving up their night bottle anytime soon. Initially I was thinking, "Oh, they're 2, they're *supposed* to stop having bottles", but, really, who cares? They brush their teeth after their bottle so there's not that issue of going to sleep with milk in their mouths. It really doesn't phase us, that way we know they're getting a solid 250ml of milk (cow's and EBM as you know! ) a day. They have a cup of milk at breakfast but it's hit and miss how much they drink. They do eat cheese, but K's not keen on yoghurt so it's important they get a big drink of milk, even if it does happen to be before bed, in a bottle. And really. A bottle is just another type of drinking vessel. Just as a cup is. I'm trying to convince myself here even PMP! We have considered convincing them to loose the bottles, and now and then we initiate conversation with E and K about having a cup instead which always receives responses along the lines of, "Oh! Don't be silly Mummy and Daddy, why would we stop having a bottle. TSK!". We just decided it's not worth the ensuing drama. I'm sure they'll loose it by the time they're..... 18 at least... won't they??

(PS, I have thought about maybe a way to loose it is to offer a cup of hot chocolate instead. This means having sugary milk though of course, which has it's own problems, but I have wondered if that would help the process of moving to a cup??....... Just an idea)

(PPS, I recall reading back when E and K were babies one idea to loose bottles is to gradually make the hole in the teat bigger till it's not like a bottle at all. Haven't tried it, not sure how safe it'd be, but perhaps another idea??)

mmm what a shame you got rid of the dummy, could have been very handy right now:)

let him have it. i reckon it will be gone by his third birthday. it's not like his walking around with it hanging out his mouth.

I agree with every word Butterscotch said. Bigger fish to fry.

I have a 2.5 year old who has two bottles. And get this, I still have to hold the bloody thing for her. She LOVES sitting in mummy's lap, being given a bottle before both sleeps. She is perfectly capable of doing it herself, but says "No, mummy hold it. Better."

She drinks from normal (plastic) cups for everything else. Just loves a bit of bottle before bed. Who cares. I guess I might reveiw things by the time she hits 3 years, but until then, Im not worrying about it.

I am also very happy that she is getting two full cups of milk every day. She doesnt eat enough dairy to provide her with her daily requirements yet.

I guess the only thing to weigh up is if its annoying you, having to give him bottles. If you've had enough, then I guess you could try some of the many theories on 'getting rid of the bottle' found in most Toddler type advice books.

Good luck with what ever you decide to do.

HI,
I don't think there is any drama with your LO still having a bottle unless you have an issue with it.

If you DO want to get rid of it (we did at eighteen months) try giving water instead of milk. When I weaned DS off the bottle I gradually watered down the formula over a coule of weeks. Say for example you are giving 200mls of milk give 175mls milk 25mls water for 3 - 4 days then 150 mls milk 50 mls water etc etc.

This is just what I did and it worked a treat for my DS.

Good luck with whatever you decide

Feel free to pm me if you want to talk further.

My boys had their bottles until quite late (Nick was just over 4 I think...mind going blank today). We packed his up for Santa a couple of months before christmas...although we forgot to put it out for Santa, so they just sat unused...

Daniel, I changed his from a bot bot to one with a straw in it instead, so that he couldn't lay down comfortably and go to sleep with it. I think the whole new bottle lasted all of 3 weeks...and deminished his thirst for the milk.

My suggestion is, if you still want to get rid of it now, then change bottles. He can still have the drink if he is thirsty, but can't use it as a 'cue' in the same way.

But he is only 2 1/2...and to be honest with you, I only took it away from Danny because I see him as being older than he really is because of having a baby around the house. Your son is still a toddler, and there is plenty of time for him to grow up a bit, and understand to give it up then...if that makes sense????


Is the fight over a bottle before 1 day sleep and bed time really worth it????


Best of luck with it all

Mechelle

Another one obsessed here! There are going away on her thrid birthday in June - it's going to be hard but it's time...

My boys still have milk before bed and will do so for the foreseable future. We have never used bottles though, sipper cups from tommee tippee and teeth brushed before sleep.

My DD insists on milk before bed and both her and my DS both insist on milk when they wake up.

We ditched the bottle when she turned two but give her milk in a sippy cup.

Maybe take him out and get him to choose a special cup and explain that bottles are for babies.

I was about to ask the same question. My daughter - nearly 3 - still insists on a warm bottle before bed... although after reading this thread.. I guess I should get her up to brush her teeth - atm she is brushing her teeth with her bath.. then has her bottle and falls asleep with it...

amandamaker, I could put the effort in either until now. DD1 will be 3 in June so we are talking about her bottles "going away" on her birthday. I have bought a different type for DD2 so we can differentiate between the baby having a bottle & DD1 stopping. I hope that makes sense! I don't know that it's going to work, it's going to be tough but it's time now....

I dont see the problem with it. Aside from the teeth brushing situation - I think it is great that your child is drinking plenty of milk! My bub still has at least 2 bottles a day. (and just quietly... my 7 year old would have one if I let him too!)

If they are still allowed boob then why not let them have a bottle.

My DS1 still have 2 bottles - one first thing in the morning and one before he goes to bed. He doesn't need the night one to go to sleep, but this is the only way he will drink milk, so I am happy.

It is also harder when his younger brother is having bottles too. I am sure it will go away when he is ready.