Help Getting 2 Yr Old off Bottle

Tonight before he goes to bed, explain to him that the bottle he's getting is going to be the last one and that from now on, he will be drinking from a sippy. When he finishes with his bottle, take it from him and throw it in the trash while you're holding it. Make it exciting by saying "Say bye bye bottle!!" and waving to it. Then, after he's in bed, take the rest of his bottles and throw them away too. Take the trash out so that you can't be tempted. Then, starting the next morning, fill up a sippy with milk. If he doesn't take it, don't force him or get upset, just say "okay, I will put it in the fridge for later". Then, everytime he asks for a drink, offer the sippy to him. If he refuses it again, say "okay, I will put it in the fridge for you for later." If he goes the whole day without drinking, he will be FINE. Do NOT worry. He WILL drink when he gets thirsty enough. Stick to your guns. If you do, within a matter of a day or two he'll be transitioned. If you give in, you automatically set yourself up for days and days of him screaming and throwing fits to try and get you to give in again.

I agree with Julie AC on this because if you dont start by taking away his bottle, he will continue wanting it and if you give in it will be even more difficult to stop. He'll know you gave in one time already. It will be un pleasant for him and all of you, but it shouldnt take any longer than a few days once he realizes that no matter what he does it wont get him his bottle back.

B. A. LPN

With our oldest, we started giving her sippy cups throughout the day, and she did great, but still wanted that bottle at bedtime. For a long time, we just did it. Then we got the idea to put 8 oz. bottles of water in our fridge (with a supply of straws nearby) - we'd open the fridge and say, "Do you want water or the good stuff?" One night, she said, "Water" and never looked back. Our youngest is not far from this point, and she'll be 2 this week.

I did see on Supernanny where a woman had a 3 year old who only drank from the bottle. One day, they said, "Okay - bottles are going bye-bye" and threw them away. He had a tantrum for about 30 minutes, and that was the end of it.

Good luck with however you decide to proceed!

How about no sippy...how about milk in a cup with straw...you can get some cups with lids and straws..maybe that will be fun enough. I agree that at this age, there will be no "easy" way to rid him of his comfort object...bottle, but it's time to go...so promise him trade, let him pick out cool bendy/twist straws, whatever to help make the transition fun.

I was in the same boat, my son who also turned 2 in August was taking the bottle at night (he is a horrible sleeper) but during the day with the sitter he was taking a "big Boy" cup. He would only ask me for the ba ba because I would give in and give it to him. But I had to cut him off cold turkey. I told him ba ba all gone. It was hard the first 5 days, he woke up and cried for 20 minutes and would throw the cup! Or during the evenings throw fits.
But now he never asks for it. He saw an old bottle in the cabinet and said "baba all gone" !