Taking bottles away

hoosier momma wrote: If you used bottles, how old were your children when you took them away? My doctor really pushes for them to be done by 15 months. We have John Robert down to just a bottle before bedtime and one before his afternoon nap. I would like to give him another month or so before I take them away completely. He is 15 months now though. He drinks out of a cup just fine, but he knows that he gets a bottle before bed. Any suggestions for taking the bottle away without a lot of fuss?

booey2 replied: Sorry I may be of no help here, both our boys ahd them til well beyond 15 months, more like nighttime bottles around 3.5 years old. I know bad mommy. But when we finally broke them of the bottle is was harder on us then them. We just did it one night, I took all the bottles and packed them away where they couldn't find them and handed them a sippy cup instead. They both resisted and screamed and fought with us (well me) for about 30-45minutes but I finally won out in the end. We ended up going through the same process with the night time sippy.

it is not a fun or easy process

Hillbilly Housewife replied: 15 months old is old enough to understand simple concepts. Have HIM put the bottle in a "special bag" (gift bag) for another baby, and give him a "big boy cup" instead to take to bed. A "special bed time sippy cup".

He might whine and complain a little.... but it will be ok after a while.

My son was about 7 months old when we took the bottle away, my daughter was about that age too I guess... I don't remember... and my youngest never relaly took to a bottle. She uses a sippy cup at nap and bed times, as well as between meals, filled with water so she can walk around with it if she watns to, and drinks from a regular cup at meal times. She's about 18 months old.

hoosier momma replied: Rocky- did you just lay your kids down with the sippy cup? John Robert usually sits in my lap while he goes to sleep and I take the bottle out of his mouth as soon as he drifts off. I really don't like the idea of putting him in bed with a sippy, but I guess I could hold him the same as with a bottle.

I like the idea of the bag, but I really don't think he would understand. I might be underestimating my son, but he would probably just want to play with it.

hoosier momma replied: Terri, thanks for making me know I am not alone. My doc's office made me feel like a complete idiot of a mother because he still takes the bottle.

A&A'smommy replied: alyssa quit when she was 12.5 months which to me I was WAY ready before then but she wasn't.... the only time she took one was in the middle of the night, and one night I went in the kitchen put a TINY bit of water in it after that she never wanted one again.. I would try that and see if it works, and if he decides he wants the water put it in a sippy cup he should be just as happy with that! Good luck!!

Hillbilly Housewife replied:
I put the kids to bed the same way I was putting them to bed before. My son would just, go to bed. My daughter had to be rocked.

The nap and bed time sippies were filled with water though, not milk. Maybe get him used to having his before bed milk in a sippy cup, then having his bottle filled with water, to get him used to having water in the bottle... he might not want to take it and might prefer his siipy cup of milk.

I have never relaly put my kids to bed with a sippy or bottle filled iwth anything other than water, I don't want their teeth to rot out.

As for the bag... he might not understand... but he might. Or maybe give him the bottle, but without a nipple, and act like "oh, it's broken?! oh no!!! I guess we have to use a sippy cup now...." You'll see. Toddlers are AMAZINGLY smart. They understand much more than you think.

BTW - 15 months is a good age to start putting them to bed on their own if you haven't yet... rock them like normal, then lay him down in his bed when he starts to drift off but before he's drifted... and continue to pat him or rub him or sing or whatever... mine has known for a couple months now that "dodo" (french for sleep) means put your head on your pillow, and close your eyes. Now, we just put her in her bed, and if she whines or whatever, we tell her "dodo" in a firm voice, she lies down, and that's the end of it.

booey2 replied:
Glad I could help, my doc never really asked me when they were little and really pushed us to take it away, he always said to follow my gut and my judgement was best.

Good luck, Rocky has given you lots of good advice.

hoosier momma replied:


I think he understands the concept of sleep because when he gets tired he will lay his head down on a pillow on the couch or floor or just lay down wherever we are. Then he will start fussing for his bottle. I think I will try your suggestion above and maybe if I rock him or just sit with him he might go to sleep without the bottle. Thanks for all of the help.

Boo&BugsMom replied: I am a stickler to get them off by the time they turn 1. I just take it away and don't turn back. Eventually they know they wont get it back. I'm a strict mommy when it comes to bottles and pacifiers.

hoosier momma replied: My ped said 15 months so I was kind of going by that. My mom said age two and I of course said no way to that. I had him down to just a bottle at nap and bedtime for a while, but was finding it hard for me to try to take those away. It went really well though. I don't mind the pacifier so much if he only takes it at nap and bedtime. It is not allowed any other time.

hoosier momma replied: My ped said 15 months so I was kind of going by that. My mom said age two and I of course said no way to that. I had him down to just a bottle at nap and bedtime for a while, but was finding it hard for me to try to take those away. It went really well though. I don't mind the pacifier so much if he only takes it at nap and bedtime. It is not allowed any other time.