Weaning from Bottle-Best Method

[km7896]

My lo just turned 1 and I am ready to cut out the middle of three bottles per day. What have you found is the best method, reducing the amount in each bottle or watering it down?

Kate

[Kate A]

You could try switching to a sippy cup mid-day.  It would cut down on intake (if that is what you want) and help her transition to sippy's if she hasn't already.  We never eliminated this one, just replaced it with cow's milk upon waking.  We have just done away with a 3rd sippy and she is almost 2.  Why do you want to eliminate it?

[km7896]

Sorry, may be been a little misleading, I want to drop this bottle and convert it to a sippy. This the first bottle I am trying to convert then I move on to the morning. I was thinking of watering down the bottle or decreasing the amounts so its less appealing then maybe the sippy will become more appealing.

Kate

[Critter]

We just replaced that mid-day bottle with yogurt.  One thing that I found was that it was harder for ME to give it up than it was for Luke.  Once I got over "losing my baby" it all happened very quickly.  He did great.

I wouldn't water anything down or decrease any amts.  I think if you're ready to drop it, just replace it completely.  I don't believe in putting formula in sippy cups.  I think if you're gonna make the switch, go for it.  Your LO will do great 

[skatty]

I was so surprised my LO took to the sippy no problem straight away, you may be surprised. As long as my DD gets her milk she doesn't care how it comes 

[km7896]

Thanks for the advice, I think I am going to replace the middle bottle with a snack and sippy, and see how that goes.

[SallyDom]

Hi Kate,
When we were switching to a sippy I started giving the beaker before Dominic asked for his milk; with the bottle I would wait and he'd suddenly get crabby so I knew it was milk time. With a sippy by the time he got crabby it was too late and he wouldn't accept any milk from it (which led to a VERY unhappy baby!) so maybe an hour after his breakfast (or lunch) I'd get the sippy out and start telling him repeatedly it was his milk and would he like his milk now etc.
At first he'd only drink a bit of it and it took ages but now (about 4 weeks later) he'll sit on my knee and drink a whole beaker-full in one go like he used to a bottle. I just switched his day bottles at first and left bedtime with a bottle but now have started giving him a beaker at bedtime and he hasn't noticed the difference which is great.

Critter - I know what you mean ab out 'losing your baby', I can't believe my baby is big enough to not have a bottle any more. I'm nearly 8 months pregnant though so I get to start all over again soon!

Sal
x

[BabyBsMommy]

DS is 20+ months and still won't take his milk from a sippy.  We cut out the midday bottle when he was sick back in June and couldn't have milk and it wasn't a problem.  I think at some point, I will just have to cut the morning bottle and keep offering the sippy until he will take it...  I am going to keep offering it off and on as I have until he is two and then go for it then, if he still isn't taking it.  Thank goodness he likes cheese and yogurt!

[AHackney]

My daughter just turned 13 months old and she still drinks a moring 6oz and bedtime 6oz bottle (given before her bath) but durning the day I give her a sippy cup of water when ever she wants it. when she can drink a large amount of liquid from her sippy cup I will then replace the moring bottle with it and next her bedtime bottle. it has worked so far and i hope to have her weaned from the bottle completly by 15 months. To everyone out there just remeber to stick with what ever method you chose. If you dont it will cause confusion and you may never get rid o the bottle.

[BabyBsMommy]

I've tried sticking with the sippy for a week and he just goes on a total milk strike.     I think I just may wait until he's 2.  Although....on our trip last week he finally mastered the straw so I may start using a straw as his special way to drink only milk and see....

[BabyBsMommy]

That's how I feel, too.  I mean, it's not as if he is going to end up at preschool with a bottle hanging from his mouth!  He only gets it first thing in the morning and before bed.  I think I will keep the evening bottle for a while still but maybe start offering him the straw sippy in the morning since he is so hungry anyways.  Offered milk at lunch today in a straw sippy.  He took a long slurp, said "Mmmmmmmm!" then "no more!"     I'm just glad he drinks milk at this point!