Weaning the Bottle

with my daughter I weaned at about 8 months I had tried before this and she would not take the cup. Then I found the Nuby cup(sold at walmart) that looks just like a cup but the top of it made of the same material that a nipple from a bottle is. It worked great she got used to that and then we went to a normal cup.

Hi S. S,
I am a mother of three, they all loved those bottles and did not want a cup for nothing in the world. Well with all three I just took the bottle away one morning and never looked back. The bottles went bye bye (or that is what they were told). 14 mo.'s is not to young, I did all three at 11 to 12 mo.'s. Good Luck! B.

No, I dont think 14 months is too early to wean. What I did was I took the bottle and filled it with something nasty that I knew my boys wouldnt drink and then I took a sip cup with a straw and cap and put their juice or milk in it. That way when they went to drink the bottle it was nasty and they would throw it down and go for the sip cup. And after a few weeks they didnt want the bottle anymore. I hope that helps.

14 months is not to early if you ask most Dentist they would tell you that you should do it before a year old. Im a dental assistant and worked with many childeren under the age of one with lots of decay because of bottle decay! Im not telling you this to scare you at all it just broke my heart to see so many with it. It will be a struggle but it is important too! That is not saying that the sippy cup is any better but it will get her down the path of healthier teeth. Just keep trying and she will pick it up. You can pick up some cups at walmart that has a silcone tip that may help you to. Good luck!

Most bottle brands have the different lids for training. I used the Avent brand and switched to the sippy cup lids a couple of times a day. My pediatrician told me that my daughter needed to be off her bottle by the time she was one. So your baby is not too young. I use the Nubby sippy cups - they're a combination of sippy cup and bottle.

My fifth child is one today and she has been drinking from the cup for the last month. I agree with the idea that after 12 months, the longer they're on the bottle, the more attached to it they become and the harder it is to wean. Someone else mentioned the Nubby sippy cups. Those are the only ones my daughter would drink from in the beginning. I think they're closer to bottle nipple so they're great for transitioning. Good luck, I know it isn't easy! :)
A.

I have a 6 year old and a 5 year old. My son was taken off the bottle and his pacifier at 14 months. He didn't like anything but juice from his sippy cup. So one day we just decided that he was too old for a bottle and threw them all out. If he would drink juice from a cup, he would eventually learn to drink milk from a cup. So at 14 months, we threw out bottles and pacifiers and only gave him a cup. He got one cup of juice and when he was thristy again, we gave him milk in a cup. He threw it to the floor. A little while later, he wanted a drink so we gave him the milk cup again. Same result. I took about 5-6 hours of this cycle before he gave up and started drinking the milk from the cup. All it takes is consistency and patience. Your daughter will not be neglected if she doesn't drink milk for a few hours or even a day. But if you give in when she cries for a bottle, you'll never win the battle. They are smart little things and know how to manipulate very well. Just take it away - out of sight, eventually out of mind. Good Luck!

14 months is not too young, just as I'm sure your pediatrician may have requested you start around one year of age. I think that all children and parents are different. I have a 16 month old son and I just started last Friday weaning him. The only reasons I decided to start now is formula is ridiculously expensive, it was a convenience issue for me, he is able to solids and I don’t want a two year old carrying a bottle around.

I took away all the bottles (one every 2 1/2 - 3 hours) except for the morning and the night one we use to rock him to sleep with. He still has dinner with us but never eats enough to fill him up. It is hard work but you can do it. Please look at the babies r us or Wal-Mart for the NUBY cup. It has a silicon top that feels like a nipple and my son only uses that one. Also his granddaddy got him curious with straws and he would get frustrated with the long straws so I would take one of his cups and a regular straw that I cut short this way he doesn't have to suck hard to get the liquid out. He loves this.

We taught him to suck through a straw by learning quick to improvise once time we were at a restaurant with no bottle or cup. I would take the straw dip it in my water glass and once it had water in it I would place my finger over the top to hold the water in, stick it in his mouth and it would flow right in. Not long after doing this a lot he started sucking on the straw. I hope this helps.

It was real easy for me to wean my 3 daughters...I just switched them to the cheapy dollar sippy cup at Walmart...It is plastic and the cup is still easy to drink...They are able to suck out of it still....and it is technically a sippy cup...after they get used to that, you can try the harder sippy cups. And---after you switch..don't go back and forth it makes it harder on your baby. She may cry wanting it the first day or two, but after that you both will be happy.

Hey S.!
Here's what worked with all my children..with their bottles and their pacifiers too! I got rid of all the bottles/pacifiers in the house with the exception of one. We took that one and we sat down together and I told my child a simple story about how he/she could help the little doggie/kitty next door (or that of a family friend) I told them that he/she was getting to be a big boy/girl and that we needed to give a BABY the bottle/pacifier. I went on to tell them that the puppy/kitten needed the bottle because that played so hard and they were thirsty...I came up with little voices and a simple story line about that particular pet (use your imagination)I told the same story all week--1st at bedtime, when they wanted that bottle/pac. so badly-again at lunch or whenever we were at the table or when they had the bottle/pac. I prepared them for a week--so it wouldn't be a shock. I let them help me gather all the other bottles in the house and told them that we were giving them to the babies too! They loved helping find all the bottles/pac. and putting them in the gift bag!
(I praised them for what they were getting ready for--giving their bottle to a baby--how sweet--you're a big boy/girl! That's so nice! I told them that because they were so nice to the "baby" that they were going to get a big boy/girl sippy cup! I didn't give it to the until they gave their bottle/pac. to the "baby". I had the sippy cup in plain view and continued to praise them and point to the new cup with excitment. I played up the whole thing! When the day finally arrived, I went through the story again--which the kids know by heart by now :) and we were off to find the "baby"
Before we left home I filled the nipple of the bottle with tuna. My child was so excited to give the "baby" the bottle! When we reached our destination, we called for the "baby" (whatever the pet's name is) and I praised my child for being such a big boy/girl and handed the bottle to them to give to the dog/cat.... my child gave it to the puppy/kitten--which by the way, the animal eagerly accepts the "gift" and you have a very happy child! You break out with that sippy cup which you have promised and played up and hand it to your child with lots of praise and hugs and kisses! Make sure that the cup is filled with something yummy--perhaps something that the child LOVES a lot or that they don't get to have very often. Make it a time of celebration!!! Your child has just given up something that has been a part of their lives for as long as they have been born! It was hard for them...I didn't have any "withdrawls" because of my planning and my playing up and all the excitment around this great "gift" gesture...and it became a family tradition...each child told the next the story about the poor little puppy/kitten without a bottle...although the story has gotten longer and more colorful as time has passed--but it was sooo much fun! The kids still talk about it today! (ages 18, 15, 12)
Good luck!! I hope that I have helped--sorry about this being sooo long! I'm just strolling down memory lane...forgive me!!(My baby is now 12~)
S. J.

My son is 20 months old. I had him weaned off the cup when he was 9 months old. I bought him the cups with handles so he could hold it himself. I immediately took the bottle away from him there was no weaning process. So, you just might have to go cold turkey before this gets out of hand. One of my stepsons is almost three and his mom never "pushed" the sippy cup issue with him. Do this day he still will not give up the bottle.

But, one other word of advice. My doctor lectured me about my son using the soft spout cups like the Nuby. Because when the little ones get teeth they can chew the spouts off and choke on them. So, make sure you get her a hard spout cup.

a lot of doctors are saying to start weening when they can sit up, others are saying closer to 1 year old, but most say that after 1 they need to be on a sippy cup and no more bottles. She will take a bottle as long as you have them available. I would sit her down with a box and the two of you together pack up all the bottles and their accessories. Then take them out to the trash and leave them. Later when she is napping go back and get them and put them in your attic or storage so that if you need to use them for another child you can. The act of seeing them gone was enough for my daughter. And if she is thirsty she will drink from a sippy. It is like a bandaid the longer you try to remove it the more it hurts, but if you do it quick it doesn't hurt as bad and it is soon forgotten.

Some children are more difficult to wean to the cup than others. On my daughter's first birthday, I put away all the bottles, and that was that. I tried the same with my son, and he drank very little, and finally after a couple of days I gave him a bottle or 2 a day again. Then I tried again a week or so later, & it went well. I do recommend trying as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the harder it will be.

S.,

14 months is not too young to wean. My doctor wanted my son off the bottle by 12 months but I actually weaned him to a Nuby sippy cup which is most like a bottle when he was 9 months. He will now (at 14 months) drink milk out of anything as long as we take the chill off of it but nuking it for about 30 seconds. I hope this helps. Will he drink anything out of a sippy cup like water or juice? Also have you tried all the different sippy cups. They have so many out there now with straws, hard spouts, soft spouts, hard spouts with soft coverings. I hope this helps!

R.

My daughter had a hard time switching to sippy cups too. Have you tried the Nuby cups with the soft top? I figured my daughter might like them because they are soft like a nipple and it worked! She was weaned from the bottle slowly, till she was only taking a bottle at night and then one day we ran out of formula (while we were staying with family out of town) and she just never got a bottle again. I was lucky I think on that note, but try to reserve the bottles stricty for at night and naptime, and them just night time, then not at all. It may take a little time, but dont worry. I don't think theres a specific age those things. Pacifiers either. My daughter still loves her paci and usually has a spare with her too.

Try the sippy cup by NUBY. You can get it at Wal-Mart. It has a soft spout like a bottle but it's shaped like a sippy cup. I found it was a good transitional cup for my daughter.

She is no where near to "young". The last I heard most Doctor's say to wean at 12 months. That is when I weaned both of my children. She may just be a little more attached than some kids. Or if there has been a major life change...a move or something I wouldn't try it for a while. The thing that really worked for my daughter was the Nubby sippy cups. The entire spout and top of the cup is silicon...so its feels a lot more like a bottle than other sippy cups. Once she get used to that, the transition to other sippy cups will be a breeze.

It's unusual that your daughter wont drink anything from a sippy cup. I am a mother of 3, aunt of 23, great aunt of 12..lol and im only 36..anyway, here's what i did..for the next month, give nothing but milk in the bottle, and only at sleeping times...during the day while she is up and about, offer her juice, tea, whatever in a cup...and only from the cup..once she begins drinking from the cup, take the bottle away..and here is how i did that...put a clean trash bag in the trashcan, then tell your daughter the bottles are going bye-bye..have HER throw them in the trashcan, clapping and giving much praise for each one..then tie the bag up, and let her see you carry the bottles to wherever the trash is taken to...(you can always get them back once shes not looking, and put them away) have her wave and call bye to the bottles...after that when she cries tell remind her that the bottles went bye-bye and are gone.
You must have patience, she will cry for the first day or two, but offer her the cup when she cries and dont give in..if you are consistant it will only take around 2-3 days for most of the crying to be over..Good luck

with both of my children i would fix them a bottle and then when they were finished i told them to throw the bottle away we did a count down... and when they were on their last bottle then i explained to both of them that it was their last bottle and told them that they were big kids.... my kids were two before they were taken off the bottle... but no matter what age it is still difficult to remove the bottle.. stand strong.....

I started weanning my daughter from the bottle the day she turned 1yr old. The longer you wait the more attached she's gonna get. I started with a soft sippy and gradually moved to a harder one. Also don't go from sippy,to bottle and back. Once you go to a sippy, don't change it will just confuse her.

My daughter has been using only a sippy cup since she was 7 months old. I use the nuby sippy cups. The spout is soft like a bottle. I took all bottles out of the house. I figured if she can drink juice out of a sippy cup she can drink formula out of a sippy cup. They can only use what you give them....

I just weaned by son this weekend in fact. He is two weeks away from his first birthdya. Nuby cups are fantastic. They are very similar to a bottle. I started with just one bottle a day and then he just took it. Of course we started the sippy cup when he was abotu 7 months old so he has been used to it. I suggest the Nubys. I got three in different colors so he could have one for each meal if he wanted. They are under $2 at Walmart.
Hope it works out for you!
Jennfier

S.:

I weaned my 7 yr old son when he was 12 months. have you tried to use a colored cup and don't let her see you fill the cup with the milk? That is how I got my son to drink from one. I let him go to the store with me and pick out the sippy cup he wanted. I just tried to lean toward the cups with alot of color.

B.

I was kind of nervous about weaning my 14 month old but it wasn't as difficult as I had anticipated. When I took her to her one year visit to the pediatrician she told me that I should start weening and that my daughter should not be sucking a bottle past one year because of the damage it could cause to her teeth so I just took the bottles away that day and threw them out and that was that. We had a little bit of a problem for about two days and we haven't had any problems since. It took a few tries to find a cup that she liked but when we finally did we didn't have any more problems. She would only drink from the Nuby cup with the soft spout like a nipple on a bottle from wal-mart so you may want to try one of those. When it comes down to it if you take the bottle and your child's thirsty they'll pretty much drink from whatever you give them. So my advice is just try taking it away and substituting with the cup. It may not be as bad as you think. Good Luck!

Mine is 16 month and I'm not planning on taking his bottle any time soon. Does your baby eat solids? Since mine eats alot of solids, I let him have his bottle with juice, water or milk. I remember my mom giving me a chocolate milk bottle every morning before pre-school...later she just took it away and it wasnt hard. I think she's too young but you should start giving her a cup with juice or water and leave the bottle only for the milk for awhile.

I would try the nuby sippee cup, its like a bottle sort of b/c it has the soft top. That is what we did.

I have four boys and I made the mistake with my first child not to wean the bottle and he was three before he let it go and that was only because he knocked out a front tooth and he was scared it would hurt if he drank from a bottle. My last 3 I completely took the bottle away the next day after their first birthday and they did just fine. I started about a month before their first birthday offering it every now and then until they got the hang of sipping. I think if you wait to long to take it away then it will only get worse and they can start to tell you what they want. Just go cold turkey and offer everytime you would have offered a bottle . Eventually if they are thirsty they will drink from it.

Hi,

A lot of children will not take milk from a sippy cup right away. Does she drink anything else from a cup? I never ever put anything in a bottle besides milk. I think it is gross, not to mention it is really bad for their teeth. My daughter has been drinking from a cup since she was 5 months old. She has never had a bottle (she is breastfed) but I do put a little bit of formula in a cup for her at meal times. It is really good to do this because it gets them used to having milk in a cup at an ealry age and helps with the weaning process. Also, is she allowed to walk around with the bottle? I never let children off my lap with a bottle. It is meant to be a time of bonding, so that is what I do. If you do let her up, then try NOT letting her up. Only let her walk around with a cup. Most children will not want the bottle if it means sitting!

Good luck!

Start watering down the bottle so that your little girl doesn't find it appealing anymore. And make sure that the milk in the sippy cup is full strength so it taste like good old milk.

I used the avent soft spout. Or any stage one soft spout sippy cup is best to start with. I had my daughter weened by 10 months. I had to because I was already pregnant with my second child and wanted her weened as soon as possible so I didnt have my daughter regressing back to the bottle when she was a toddler and needed to be on sippy cups instead. It took some time and often times I would have to try the sippy cup first and then give into the bottle sometimes I would hold the sippy cup and her and feed it to her like a bottle. You just need to be paitient and she will eventually get the idea. Actually the thing that really helped was simply putting her milk in her cup instead of juice.

I started with the sippy cup when my daughter was 7 months old (she still used the bottle for formula, but only formula). My advise to you would be take the bottle away. Offer the sippy cup, if she is thirsty then she will drink from it. Because by 14 months they do not get there main source of nutrition from the bottle anyway. Good luck!

Wow, my daughter is 9 1/2 months and Ive been trying to get her to use a sippy cup and she isnt really interested either. She will do it briefly and thats it. But if I have a cup in my hand she wants to drink my drink and she can do it too! I dont get it. She'd rather drink from my cup and spill it all down her neck than drink form her sippy cup!