I'm working on weaning my son from the bottle (11 1/2 months old), but ....?

Question

he wont drink milk or formula from a cup. he will try it, then realize what it is and refuse to drink it. he will drink juice and water from a cup. i worry that he isnt getting his nutrients from his milk, so i give him atleast 8-10 oz of formula in a bottle once a day... and i still worry that isnt enough. he LOVES yogurt so i make sure he gets that every day.

how can i convince him to drink milk from a cup? i tried even taking the lid off and letting him drink without the spout on the cup, and that didnt work either.

Answer 1

Why not continue with milk in the bottle and wean a month from now (or 2 months or whatever)?  

Otherwise, you could try introducing a straw in the cup of milk.  He might have fun sucking through a straw.  I know it doesn't solve your problem exactly.

Answer 2

i would still give him his milk in his bottle but keep giving him the juice and water in his cups. I would wait until he us a little older to break completely from bottle but you are headed in the right direction. Good Luck.  

Answer 3

I had the same problem and I tried flavoring his milk strawberry. He loved it and he drinks his milk out of the sippy cup. They also have banana flavor from Nesquick and he likes that too.

Answer 4

I totally have your solution.  all 3 of my children refused anything but water from a cup until about age 3!  

First, begin giving him a multivitamin/mineral suppliment (Walgreen's Kid's Choice is the most complete, or Schiff has a liquid one) so that you don't have to worry about getting the nutrients from the formula.  Ween from the bottle completely.

The only thing necessary from milk on top of a multivitamin is calcium (you'll notice most suppliments don't have much).  Give him a Viactive chew or one of those chalky chewable calciums (they market to old people).  He'll get the protein and fat he needs from other foods.

Check with your pediatrician if you have any questions.

Answer 5

I am going through the exact same thing.  I have been trying since my daughter was about the same age.  She is now 15 months and still only takes milk from a bottle.  ( I also have a 2 month old now, so her seeing him take bottles isn't helping!) I just keep trying.  Try talking to your doctor, I know I plan on it.  

Answer 6

Both of my children were off the bottle by 1. You are doing the right thing starting now. And I agree with the other woman I used the Nubby and it worked great for my daughter. You may have to try a bunch of different cups or a straw sippy cup, but it can be done. I introduced the cup several times a day with my daughter and it finally worked after a couple of weeks.  Don't wait too long b/c by 15 months they already have that attachment and it will be really hard to wean.  

Answer 7

You really have to go slowly. Gradually take away one bottle at a time rather than forcing him to the cup. Personally, I'm in no rush. My son is a year old and I'm letting him take his time. As long as he doesn't sleep with a bottle in his mouth and you brush his teeth at night there's nothing wrong with the bottle.

Answer 8

how about chocolate milk?  i wouldn't worry about the nutrients unless he has nothing else.  yogurt is good.

Answer 9

try using one of the Nuby sippy cups that are sold at places like Walmart and other stores.  It has the soft nipple in the middle of the lid, and it seems more like a bottle.  They are good for about two months though, until the leak from over usage.

Answer 10

He is too young to be weaned from a bottle....is he even walking?

Answer 11

I went through exactly the same thing at the same age with both of my boys.  With the older one, it was no problem.  With the younger one, we realized that it was not worth making him completely crazy and put it off until he was about 14 months and then he was ready.  Although the pediatritians suggest that by 1 year the bottle and pacifier should be gone, in my opinion, it is just not worth it if the kid is not ready.