Name: Kellie G.
Chicago, IL
Number of kids: 1
Ages of kids: 20 Months
Problem: I have tried sippy cups, which I call "big girl" cups in place of my daughter's bottle. I have tried giving her milk in a cup when she has asked for the bottle. My daughter sees the milk in the cup and throws it on the ground and screams for milk in a bottle. She is very particular and is VERY attached to this bottle. I have tried letting her pick out her own sippy cup at the store so that she can feel like she has played a part in this big transition in her life. It seems that the more I try to keep the bottle from her, the more insistent she becomes on having it - and cannot be coerced into drinking from a sippy cup. We made the mistake of putting her to bed at night with the bottle. She has become so dependent on this bottle, that it is her pacifier for every stressful or problematic situation, or whenever she needs to fall asleep.
Solution submitted by Sammy from Preston, MD: This is no solution if you are insistent on not using the bottle at all, but I believe the difference in the way I have dealt with my children has made my 2nd experience much better. My daughter, 9,- I took away her bottle when she was 1, potty trained at two, and took away the pacifier at 2 1/2, because "you're supposed to". It was pretty difficult and stressful for both of us. My son on the other hand, 3 1/2, still takes a bottle of water to bed at night, and potty trained after 3. He potty trained himself when he was ready, and he will stop taking the bottle when he is ready. I believe there are certain decisions they can make for themselves, and when they are ready to give up their securities, they will, and it will relieve the parents of a lot of unnecessary stress. I do suggest telling her you will only fill her bottle with water. It may not be easy, but it will probably be better for her.
Another solution submitted by "Mother of 4" from New Orleans, LA: All of my kids where off the bottle before there 1st birthday..... I will tell you my techniques, (although I don't know if they will work with one so old) I started only giving the bottle at meal or snack time. And gave their favorite type of drink....(i.e., soda!) in the sippy cup....
At night, although, they were never given the bottle in the baby bed. (They were held, and either my husband or I gave it to them...then put them in the bed.) We would not, I repeat, not put whole strength milk in the bottle. At first, water it down slightly. Each night continue. (Make sure to have the sippy cup handy of course with full strength milk or what ever the drink is in the bottle). She will soon see that what is in the sippy cup tastes much better, especially as time passes and the drink gets weaker and weaker!
Try it, it might work it did for us through 4 kids. Oh, and we get rid of the pacifier by cutting the tip off....(we say it breaks). GOOD LUCK! Be persistent, you are the MOM, you need to be in control hear, she's not. Happy weaning!
Another solution submitted by Julie from KY: If you want to break her, you'll just have to take it. Put all the bottles up were she can't see them. Let her cry for a while, give her some to occupy her time. I was on a trip to texas when I broke my son. I would give him a sippy cup when he would cry, by the time I was there he didn't ask for one. He was about the same age.
Please submit any more solutions.