Kicking the Bottle Habit

Hi A.,
The easiest thing to do is just take them all and throw them away or put them where you wont be tempted to give them back. If they are not there to offer she will forget after a few days and will be crabby for those few days also. But it's a lot less time then weaning them and I think easier on the kids. Kids have no reasoning skills at this time and so then no way to understand why, so if they just know that they are gone they understand that.
Good luck!
W.

My daughter is almost 4 and she still likes to drink her sippy cup of milk warmed up in the microwave. Maybe that would help?
Or the sippy cup you are giving me may have some residue in the top of the cup from some kind of juice you may have had in it.
The only other thing you could is get rid of all the bottles and be persistent. If she likes milk, she'll come back around. Give her a little time for the adjustment. She may also relate milk to bedtime, depending on when it's been given. So, try to follow the same routine.

just kick it cold turkey. it is ok if your child goes without milk a few days. they can get calcium from other sources- OJ, cheese or yogart. Good luck!

A.,
I am sorry if I sound harsh. My daughter is also 14 months old. At 12 months, our pediatrician strongly sdvised us to let go of the bottle. Since my daughter already had 6 teeth with the 4 molars popping though, I agreed. It was the hardest week for us, but I just basically took the bottle away cold turkey. She did the same as your daughter, drink water or joice with ease, spit the milk out. There were three mornings were she screamed, had her moth shut so tight. I even took off the valve and poured some milk in her mouth because I was so afraid that she was thirsty. But, we stuck to our guns and by the fifth day, after she threw the sippy and screamed in my face, I put her down, walked away and she went up to the sippy, picked it up and drank 2 ounces. I was so happy! She was being stubborn. Now, two months later, she guzzles the milk down!
Good luck and just try to be firm! I know its hard!

My boys did the same thing (ALL THREE OF THEM) & what we did was simply drop the sippy for milk... we gave them milk in a reg. cup and that was the end of it yes they had to drink their milk at the table but they at least drank it... if this is not an option for you try increasing other forms of dairy such as cheese, yogurt, and if all she wants it ice cream freeze some yogurt and mix it really good... they always believe it's ice cream if it's frozen, vanilla & in a bowl lol

Can she have chocolate? I would try mixing a couple of spoons of chocolate syrup or Nesquik. If she likes that you can give it to her for 2 days then slowly cut back on the chocolate each day until she's drinking regular milk.

Dear A.,

When my daughter was that age she did the same thing. It was only the milk she wouldn't drink. So my doctor told me to mix a very small amount of choc or strawberry syrup in it. He said that eventually she will drink white milk from a sippy cup. But just to get her used to drinking out of a sippy cup. I will admit even with the small amount of flavor she was still reluctant. But after a while she was ok. Then I would make to sippy cups and only one with flavor and then mix them together and slowly got it to no flavor. It also helped that I got her to give the baby bottle to a friend with a baby. I think for my daughter that when she saw the bottle she thought of milk. I know a lot of mom's would have a fit with what I did, but I did what I had to do and I don't regret it. My daughter is just fine and loves white milk to this day. Good Luck.
B.

Something you can try is switching to cups with straws, like the Dora the Explorer cups. This worked like a charm with my twin girls. When they turned one, I switched from the bottle, explaining that now that they are 'toddlers' they get to have these special cups. If she still likes milk warmed, warm it up first, then put it in the plastic cup.
Good luck!

I would try give her all her drinks from a regular cup. I never favored sippy cups anyway, but take it slow and introduce her to a regular cup to take her milk in. with a little time she will adjust.

My daughter had no problem giving up the bottle and formula at 12 months, but she did not want to drink milk either. The pediatrician suggested giving her other forms of calcium and to keep trying to introduce milk. So everyday we give her yogurt and cheese... We also give her oatmeal and mix milk into it.

She's 20 months now and still doesn't love milk, but she'll drink about half a cup every day. We did find that using a straw or letting her drink it like a big girl (put it in the sippy cup but don't put the lid on... help her hold the cup, of course) would yield great results.

that's bizare. Can you try and water the milk down? and then slowly decrease the water , as she become use to it.

Have you tried the Nuby brand sippy cups? The spout is soft like a bottle. My son went to a sippy cup fairly well, but at night before bed he wanted a bottle still. I tried the Nuby sippy cup and that helped. Hope this helps. If not, just keep trying. It's just one of those many problems we face when raising little ones. It seems like once I get over one hurdle with my son, there's another one waiting for us!

I have a 13 month old daughter who still drinks from the bottle and is still on formula because she hates all kinds of milk!! She also takes juice and water from a sippy cup but won't drink her formula from it. I am curious to hear with others have to say. I was going to talk to her pedi at her 15 month checkup about it. When I went in for her 1 year he said that if she was still on the bottle it was fine just not at bed or naps.

hi A...start by watering down her milk in the bottle..keep the milk in the cup normal..every time she wants milk offer both the watered down milk bottle and the regular milk cup..soon enough she will want the cup over the bottle..

Hi A. -

I've had a similar experience with my son. Since about a year old, I've been trying to get him to drink milk out of a sippy cup. I've tried different cup styles, warm milk, flavored syrup. I just kept offering the milk at meals and instead of bottles. Then just 2 weeks ago, at 15 months, he decided to drink the milk from the cup. Now he chugs it. Anytime he drinks milk from the cup, I make a huge deal ("Good job, big boy! Mama LOVES it when you drink from a cup.") He still gets about 1 bottle (or none) a day, but only on an "emergency" basis - sometimes Sean becomes inconsolable and after he chugs a bottle, he is back to his sweet self.

For many developmental transitions, I've found that not by forcing the issue, but continually offering and coaxing him, Sean eventually comes around in his own time. Every child and situation is different.

Good Luck!

I put a little chocolate syrup in my daughters sippy cup with milk. Then each day I added less chocolate, eventually she was just drinking plain milk. Your daughter will drink it, it takes some time.