Question for BTDT Moms

It has come time to begin weaning my DD from her bottle. I would like it to be a 4 month (or so) process by replacing each bottle - one at a time - with a cup of milk and something special (snuggle time, reading time, a meal, etc...). However, we are running into a problem before we can even really get started. She refuses to drink ANYTHING besides water from a cup!! I have tried juice, milk (warm & cold), watered down milk - all of which she will drink fine out of a bottle. As soon as she tastes it and realizes it isn't just water, she spits it out and throws the cup on the floor! She drinks water like a champ. I know that a solution may be to let her get really thirsty so that she will drink whatever I give her, but we have some constipation problems which are always intensified by a lack fluids (this happened when we cut out the first of her 4 daily bottles). Other than that, I am totally out of ideas!

HELP! PLEASE! Before it is too late!

[MarissaNicole]

I'm not a Mom so I am not speaking from experience just trying to give you some ideas, so if they are not helpful just ignore them!

Have you thought of using different sippy cups to see if she likes them better or can associate them with milk? Does she drink juice now?
Have you thought about hiding the bottles and trying to go purely sippy cup?
And if your ticker is correct she is only 13 months old (and I don't have ANY parenting experience, just nannying) but I'm sure its not the worst thing in the world for her still to be on bottles still.

[bobk]

Re: Question for BTDT Moms

If your child is under three or four years old, I would not worry about it. She will develop an interest in sippy or regular cups eventually, so there's no need to force it. I learned this with potty training - if you push too hard it's stressful for everyone and doesn't really help.

[DCJenn]

The Russians had them off bottles and drinking (not well) from china cups (looked like sake cups) at a year. It was ridiculous but he survived!

Jenn

[L.Jane]

Not a mom here, but I know my cousins put a drop of chocolate milk in the cup and it worked. For some reason B didn't like plain milk but with that little drop of choc milk, he drank it like a champ.

[Vanquisher]

I know you want it to be a peaceful transition, but I really think you have two options here. 1. Wait. Let her have her bottles. She is young afterall. OR 2. Go cold turkey on the bottles. While your DD knows that the bottle in an option, she will continue to refuse the cup no matter what you do.

Cold turkey was the only thing that ever worked for bottle weaning at my house, and I think my kids were around 18 months. I know, bad mom, but realistic.

[Pollyanna]

I wouldn't worry about it. Have a sippy cup with water available for her during the day, like someone else said try a variety of cups. Some kiddos like the soft ones others like the hard tops and there are a bagillion types of sippy cups. Once you find the type she likes put milk in it. She will slowly figure it out and if she likes milk from the bottle she will drink it from the cup. I would not try to flavor it yet because she actually likes milk, she just does not want it from the cup yet. Heidi is right, she is still young so don't worry too much about it, she won't go to kindergarten still using her bottle

My son is 27 months old and still drinks morning and bedtime bottle. He loves them and I don't see the harm in them. You might want to talk to your pediatrician. They told me that after 12 months, they don't worry about getting too much milk in their diet. You can give yogurt and cheese for dairy and let her drink the water during the day. In my opinion, stick to the bottle in the morning and night. That way, she's still getting milk. But, that's coming from someone with a two year old that can very clearing say "I want bottle." hahaha

FYI, I originally did not give up the bottle because my son has a lot of food allergies and wouldn't "drink" soy milk from a sippy cup. He only would sip it. Since he's small and skinny as it is, and he can't have cheese or yogurt, my ped allergist said to just keep him on the bottle to make sure he's getting enough.

Lacy
Wife to MS1, Mother to 2yo boy