Bottles

[Karen]

How stressed should I be about my 20 mo. old dd's wanting to only drink milk out of a bottle? We tried only giving it to her before and after naps/bed, and that worked for awhile. After our Christmas trip to the in-laws, however, she now demands the bottle all the time. I held out for 3 weeks and then my dh came home one evening, couldn't stand the whining and gave her the bottle. He says it's her only "vice"! At the 18 mo visit, her pedi told me she should be finished with the bottle now or soon! She definitely uses it for comfort. The only way I think she will give it up is if I remove all bottles at all times. But she loves it so much. (I don't let her carry it around or go to bed with it.)

Should I just let it go and figure she won't go to school with it? Those of you who've been through this...help.

Thanks, Karen

[KarlaB]

I wouldn't be stressed about it. My oldest ds went off the bottle around 20 months. I say they are only little once and let them have their comforts. I remember "stressing" about ds #1 being the only one still on a bottle at the class I took him to only to find out later that other moms just weren't "fessing" up to it. I just wouldn't worry about it if I were you. :)

[Mickey]

I feel very strongly about this and I'm sure many people will disagree, but I say let her have it.

My ds had warm milk from a bottle before nap and bedtime (didn't fall asleep with it though to prevent bottle rot) until he was 3 1/2 years old (bash away, I don't care! LOL!). He gave it up when he had the flu and I told him that having it would make him sick. After he got better he said, "I don't want my baba because it will make me sick." and that was it. He never had one again.

He gave up his binkie a couple months after his fourth birthday. I asked his pediatric dentist about the binkie and he said that any damage it may do (curving the roof of the mouth) will correct itself if he stops by age 5.

K...there you have it. I don't see it as a big deal and I'm not one for following anyone else's parenting rules. But, you have to do what you feel is right in your heart.

[AnnW]

Heck, I can remember saying to my now 11 year old..you are 4 now, so it's time to give up your bottle!! LOL I think he had milk bottles till he was almost 3 and then water bottles till 4. I ditto Mickey on this one. Kids need to have something to comfort themselves with.

[Diane]

I never stressed about my kids and their bottle. I gave it to them when they needed/wanted it and never had to fight with any of them to give it up. They gave it up when THEY didn't want it any more. I never had to do a thing to take it away... My first one was just about two years old, and my second was almost 2-1/2 and so was my third. I think that sometimes when you start making a big deal about it and start fighting them to take it away, it only makes them more determined to keep/want it. LOL I really wouldn't worry about it. I'm sure she'll give it up before she starts kindergarten. LOL

[RCT]

I wouldn't stress out over it.....offering the sippy cup is always a good thing, but I believe that children need security things, binkies, bottle and blankets are usually what they are tied to at that age.....it will be ok, and your child will gradually move on to something else, and use the sippy cup and then the cup and wow, it will all go by so fast your going to forget about all the worry....

[Leigh]

My friend has a child that also gave up the bottle on his own because of the flu. He just refused to take it anymore, but he was about 18 months. He still takes his binky though and she doesn't seem to be on a hurry to take it away.

[Diane]

While we were out the other night I swear I saw this kid that HAD to be at least 3-1/2 year old (if not older) with a bottle. I had to stop and take a second look... I couldn't believe it. :) I wasn't the only one looking either! Even if a child this age DID have to have a bottle... you'd think that the least they could do is leave it at home. I would have been WAY too embarrassed to bring it out anywhere with me. Gotta wonder!

[Edited by Diane P. on 02-18-2001 at 04:39 PM]

[Ryleigh]

Ahh, the good old bottle days. ds who is now 4 just decided at about 16 months, big sister doesn't have a bottle and I'm a big boy so I don't want one either.(although he still had a water bottle at bed time until about 24mo. and then just handed it back to me and said "no more". DD was a little more difficult. She really was miserable when told no more bottle at age 2 1/2. Me, being the softy wanted to give in but dh said 'no way'. Finally the whining got to him and he gave in to comprimise. She could have two bottles a day. Her choice of when she wanted them but had to sit at the table to drink them just as she would if drinking out of a cup. In not quite two months time she came to the conclusion that she could drink faster out of the cup and get back to playing. No more bottles. I heard her explaining to 'Nana' bottles are nice but they take longer then 'Blues Clues'

[Ryleigh]

I can't believe it!!! Went out for groceries this morning and came across a woman with her ds. ds had to be at least 10 or 11 years old. He was sitting in the shopping cart with a pacifier in his mouth. Of couse my ever observant ds pipes up as says "look Mom. That's the biggest baby I ever saw!" The boy's mother heard him and was quite embarrased but the boy just laughed. I apologized for my son's outspokeness and finished my shopping quickly before he could comment again.

[Diane]

Originally posted by Ryleigh
I can't believe it!!! Went out for groceries this morning and came across a woman with her ds. ds had to be at least 10 or 11 years old. The boy's mother heard him and was quite embarrased but the boy just laughed.


Sounds to me like this kid was probably doing it just to get a reaction and thought it was real funny when he did. I can't imagine a kid this age actually using/needing one. LOL

[Karen]

Thanks for all your responses to my question. It has certainly made me feel more comfortable with the decision we went with. And it is MUCH more peaceful around here!