When to switch to 2 bottles a day?

[laurencopenhaver]

My Kyler is 10 months and I think he's ready to drop a bottle.  He only takes about 6 oz in morning, then 4 oz before 2nd nap, and about 4 before bedtime.  He's eating 3 solid meals a day and takes in a total of anywhere b/t 32-42 oz a day.  He also won't drink from his sippy.  I've tried a couple different kinds and he doesn't want them.  He knows how b/c he's done it before but he just doesn't want them.  I haven't tried the straw one yet, I'm going to try that one next.  But I've tried to give him his formula in the sippy before nap and before bed, but he won't take it.  I was told when they become less interested and take less formula in the afternoon and/or before bed, it's time to transition to 2 bottles.  I really don't think he would miss it.  He doesn't need it to go to sleep. If I gave him a snack when he wakes, I think he'd be fine.  Just wondering if he'd take more before bed and morning if I dropped to 2 bottles. I've also tried giving the sippy at lunch and at dinnertime and he chews on it and thinks it's funny, then pushes it away.  Also, around a year I'm going to switch him to one nap, and was wondering how his days would go w/ 2 bottles, and how to give it to him in sippy cup.

[laurencopenhaver]

Here's a routine:

6:30-7:00  wakeup
7:30-8:00  Bottle-4-7 oz
8:30         Breakfast-3-6 oz
10:00        Nap-1 hr 15 min-1.5 hrs
12:00-12:30 Lunch-3-6 oz
2:00-2:15  Bottle-4 oz
2:30-2:45  Nap-1 hr 15 min-1.5 hrs
5:30          Dinner-4-10 oz
7:00-7:30   Bottle-3-5 oz
7:30-8       Bedtime

Amounts varie so greatly; one day he had 30 oz total, the next he had 42 oz.

[matthewsmama]

You can certainly try and switch to two bottles.  I would say give him a coupel of days and if he seems upset or uneasy then switch him back to the 3 bottes.  He might up his intake of solids.  I would definitely offer him yogurt or cheese so he gets enough lactose products as well. Maybe use a sippy cup?  You may also try and increase the amount he takes during the am and pm feed as well, like you stated in your post.  Let us know how its going and good luck!!!

[* Paula *]

I agree with Matthewsmama.  Sounds like it is worth a try switching to 2 bottles a day.  My DS dropped his afternoon bottle at around 10 months and we substituted it with a yogurt and he did not notice the difference.

If you want to introduce the sippy to him with formula in, you could always just put a few oz in a sippy for him at his normal afternoon bottle and offer him a yogurt and a snack with his milk to get him used to the sippy.  Once his drinking well from there, you could then look at swapping the morning bottle etc.

If you switched to 2 bottles an 1 nap, you could offer his milk in the morning with breakfast and then milk in the evening before bed.

HTH's  Keep us posted on how you get on.

Paula

[laurencopenhaver]

Well so far I think it's what he's been needing for awhile now, I don't know why I went against my instincts.  I gave him peas and banana for a snack yesterday AFTER his nap and he didn't notice anything.  Plus he took 8 oz before bed and 8 oz at 6:45 this morning.  So it definitely made a difference.  In fact he slept better than he has in awhile.  Granted he was still up at 6:15 this morning, but it wasn't as fitful, practically slept w/out stirring until 6 am.  Which meas he only really got 10.5, maybe 10.75 hrs of sleep.  Is that enough?  He's been taking 2 good 1.25-1.5 hr naps a day.

As for the sippy cup, we are so struggling!  I don't know what to do, he just doesn't want it.  I've tried w/ meals, b/t meals, in morning, afternoon, before bed, nothing.  Is this normal?

[matthewsmama]

Both my kids will chew on the sippy cup and basically play with it, they never really took it.  He will ge there, give him time.  Keep offering it to him.  THat is great that he slept better.  MOther ususally knows best.  Great job!!!

[laurencopenhaver]

He didn't take much of breakfast at all, only a couple oz of applesauce, which is unusual.  Usually it's 4 oz (total) of cereal mixed w/ fruit puree and maybe some cinnamon applesauce after that.  4-6 oz total.  Maybe he's full from actually taking a full bottle this morning. 

How long did it take before your kids REALLY took the sippy?

[* Paula *]

I would not worry too much about the sippy at this stage.  You are just trying to get your lo used to it for when he actually starts drinking from it all the time.

It did take my DS quite a while to master the sippy - I think it was only around 13 or so months that he acutally started using it himself, and then took longer for him to start drinking vast amounts from it.

Just keep persevering, he will get the hang of it in the end.  Remember all lo's are different.

Paula

[laurencopenhaver]

He hasn't really eaten much today, both am and pm bottle were 8 oz though, but all 3 solid meals were only about 3 oz, so we'll see how tonight goes.  if he makes it through it'll be a miracle.

[laurencopenhaver]

He slept great up until waking at 6:10.  He's woken at exactly 6:10 for a week and a half now.  And he only took 6 oz this morning.  He hardly ate anything yesterday and now only 6.  I can't take much more of this; first it's 1 week of 7 am, then 1 week of random early, then 4 days of 7 am, now a week and a half of 6:10.  He'll wake happy and I'll leave him there till about 6:45 when he gets upset.  I have NEVER done anything different, he just changes himself.  But luckily for me he's now stuck on early wakeup.  So now by breakfast he's rubbing his eyes so hard he won't eat cause he's so tired, and I tried feeding earlier and he wouldn't eat then cause he just had his bottle not too long before and isn't hungry then.  AGGHH!  What do I do?

[matthewsmama]

Have you tried maybe switching the  bottle to later and giving him cereal first.  I guess you have to look at whats more important, that he gets the milk or the food.  I would say if hes only taking 2 bottles, he should drink them.  Have you contacted your dr to see if maybe he might have something else going on?

[laurencopenhaver]

I've never tried the cereal first then milk, I'll do that tomorrow.  What do you think about the early waking thing?

[* Paula *]

Do you think your lo could be teething?  This could be connected to early wake ups as well as not wanting to eat much??

Just a thought.....

[laurencopenhaver]

I think he's done teething for awhile.  His first 4 teeth came in in three weeks.  But the early morning thing has been going on for about 6 months.  Yesterday he didn't eat hardly anything.  Don't know how much exact it was, but I know it was less than 25 oz total.  He slept from 7:30-6:05 this morning.  He ate 6 oz then went back to sleep until 7:15.  Hopefully he'll take in more today.  He's also starting to walk, would that have an effect on his hunger or wanting to eat?

[* Paula *]

I know that developmental milestones can affect their sleep, but have not heard it affecting their appetite.

He could have teeth moving up in his gums and this could be causing him some discomfort.