14 month old - questions about milk and bottles

[Pitkin2]

Hi

My LO is 14.5 months now and I just have a few questions;

He has 2 bottles a day both 8 oz of reg whole milk which he has in the morning and at night before bed - he is still drinking out of a Dr Browns bottle - is this ok or should I now put the milk in a beaker??  I've tried to find beaker type teats that fit Dr Browns bottles but I can't find them and the advent ones I got don't fit properly and the milk leaks.

Also, I've noticed that a lot of you are talking about sippy cups - now he likes to drink from my glass sometimes is that a sign??  He is fine with beaker cups and was drinking water from it from 6 months old should I now introduce a cup?

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Emma

[nursekat]

Hi my DH is a dentist and the recommendation is that you switch from bottle to sippy cup at age one and sippy cup to regular cup at age 2 to prevent tooth decay.  We are still doing two bottles a day here, however!    I asked him what the difference was between bottles and sippy cups if I'm still giving them to her at the same time of day, and he said really the problem was with parents who put their babies to bed with bottles, and as long as you are brushing their teeth before naps and bedtime you won't have a decay problem.  I give her sippy cups of water at meals so she can do that herself and she often drinks from a cup with my help.  We'll start gradually pushing her away from the bottle more and more as I get her naps sorted out and I hope to have her weaned from them by 18 months.

HTH!

[Pitkin2]

Hi

Thanks for that - I've noticed Dr Browns do a trainer cup so I may buy one of those and start with the morning bottle.    I'm sure he will be fine but I think it's the association of the bottle and the milk.

Also out of interest do you know when they will drop the milk?  Not that it's an issue I just wondered.

Thanks for your help
Emma 

[taygensmom]

You really would not want them to completely "drop" the milk, as it gives them nutrients and calcium. Most toddlers are still encouraged to drink milk throughout the toddler years (and beyond); usually up to 20 oz per day. However, the method (i.e. bottle vs sippy/cup) often switches as do the times (some LOs get milk just with meals, some continue morning and night). They can of course get calcium from foods as well, but some milk intake is often still encouraged.

[nursekat]

From what I've read you gradually move the whole milk closer and closer to the meal times, and then offer it during every meal.  They need milk for the next 30 years LOL!  Although the amount they need changes.  Our pediatirican says to remember that cow's milk is important - for CALVES!  (he's a joker) But his point is to encourage milk but if they are getting the calories and protein and calcium elsewhere it's not a huge stressor.  But it sounds like he likes his milk so that is not an issue.

My dd definitely has an association with the bottle and her milk, if I give it to her in a sippy cup she takes a sip and looks at me like "What IS this??"  

[Pitkin2]

Thanks for this

Yes some LO of friends have stopped wanting the morning milk as they have cheese, yoghurts etc.   My LO still has all of that and more but stands at the top of the stairgate shouting at you to hurry up ( in his baby language) with his bottle in the morning and he downs the whole 8-9 oz in one hit!   Mind you he was 10lbs 1 oz when he was born  and he's 28lbs already and tall so I think he will just go through his life eating a lot!

Thanks again
Emma

[nursekat]