Help me wean my 10 mth old daughter from a bad habit..

Question

My 10 mth old daughter has to have a bottle to go to sleep naps and bedtime, or there would be no sleep.. I am worried about her teeth, we do brush twice daily, but I want to break this habit.. It is my fault, but didn't know better first time.. She takes a sippy cup with water all day.. Please help.. I willing to let her cry it out but hoping for better method...

Answer 1

She's only 10 months old.  They say that they can have a bottle until they are a year old, then you can really start worrying about their teeth.  But to try to make her less interested in a bottle, try putting only water in it and start putting her milk in her sippy.  She might not take it as much knowing that it doesnt have what she really wants.

Answer 2

does she have something that she values more then the bottle?With my son we made him choose between a bottle or a soother, and when he chose the soother we made him say goodbye to the bottle as we threw it out. Kinda like a special ceremony. That seemed to work for him so that's the best advice I got. Hope you figure it out.

Answer 3

I have this problem with my 21 month old daughter.  She was doing good for a few weeks when she had her sippy cup a little before bedtime.  I rocked her, read her books, and sang to her so she would get sleepy on her own.  (I know it's hard to take the time to do this every night)  Most of the time it worked, but then she wanted her cup at naps and night time again.  I'm still working on it, but it takes a lot of patience to break them from that habit.  Your daughter is 10 months?  Don't get rid of the bottle yet, wait until she is 12 months.  Start her on a sippy cup now so the transition will be a little easier...then you can get rid of the bottle.  Keep brushing her teeth.  

This problem is very common.  Don't beat yourself up over it.  My cousin was almost 4 when he stopped drinking from a bottle...Now that's bad

Answer 4

My little guy is now waiting for his appointment to have about $200 in dental work done as he is missing enamel in some places, they grew in like that.

Here's what the dentist said for ANYTHING that might help me:

1) NEVER put him to be with a bottle or nursing unless I wipe his mouth out after or if the bottle has just water

2) Try to ween babies from bottles by age one

3) Brush twice daily with brush and toothpaste and wipe the mouth out after all food and drinks other than water.

When my little one was about 9 months I moved him into his room (out of mine). I started a bedtime routine in which I nursed him right away, then brushed teeth, wash hands and face, change diaper, read a book, etc. Then I hold him, turn out the lights walk around his rooms and let him see everything and his eyes adjust. Then I lay him down in bed and sing a lullaby. The first week I had to put my hand on his hip and hold him down. Once the song was finished I'd kiss him say goodnight and leave the room.

Then I'd wait, and I'd set a timer to 30 minutes. If he hadn't fallen asleep in 30 minutes I'd go in, comfort him, hold him, sing to him, rock him or walk around with him in my arms for 10 minutes (but not turn the light on) and put him back down for another 30 minutes. If he still was not asleep I'd go through the WHOLE process again minus the feeding.

After three weeks he started to fall asleep within 15 minutes. Now he's 14 months and he's usually off in dream land before I finish the lullaby.

You'll get there. Letting them cry it out is good and bad. It tires them and they start to find ways to sooth themselves, just keep in mind that there comes a point where they wonder if you're coming back and panic sets in. Its a fine line to walk, and its up to you ("Daddy", if he's around) and your little one to decide what is the right amount of crying for you.