Is it best to wean brothers together?

Question

I have 2 kids - daughter aged 4.5 and boy - 2. I really want to wean the older from the bottle and I hesitate about throwing to the deal the boy. My main concern is, of course, her jealousy. The boy is really easy-going and will probably not prove very hard to wean; still, it doesn't feel right to me. I mean, when she was his age, I didn't think of weaning her. My wife thinks we should do it together. Any advice will be much appreciated.

Answer 1

Yes wean both of them now.

Using a bottle after the age of one can cause serious dental problems.

Tell the kids you need to send all the bottles in the house to little babies or the bottle fairy. Some story. Them put all the bottle in the house in a box. Have the kids paint it or decorate it. Then take the box to good will or something. If a family or friend has a baby give it to them even just as a symbol.

Ditch the bottles pronto.

Answer 2

I think weaning them together would be fine. two birds-one stone.

He is only 2, so while it may be easy to wean him, it will be a bit of a mess because he is young and not fully coordinating his movements yet.

Good luck.

Answer 3

They are both way to old to be on a bottle still!!! Wean them now! Do you want your daughter crying for a bottle in kindergarten??

Answer 4

Wow.. 2 years old is too old to be on the bottle.. 4 and a half is WAY too old to be on the bottle.

Children should be weaned at around the 1 year age.

I suggest you wean them both now.  Buy them new sippy cups if you have to but get them off the bottle.

Your 4 year old will be starting school soon and should be able to use a regular cup and sip from a straw.

Answer 5

For your daughter: Tell her that you got a letter from the Bottle-fairy and the letter said that it's time to give the bottles to another little girl who needs them. Have her gather the bottles and at night have her hang them on a tree, plant, even the door outside. Then in the morning, wake her up and tell her you see something hanging in the same spot she left the bag.

Buy her a gift from the bottle fairy. Write a letter saying she's such a big girl and everyone is so proud of her for being such a kind, giving girl. Give her a nice, sparkly cup from the fairy saying that this is her big girl cup.

She'll understand that the 2 year old can still have his bottles, and one day she can teach him about the bottle fairy.

Answer 6

I weaned my daughter at 10 months ...the earlier the better. And I just started giving her a sippy cup instead of a bottle, giving her no choice. If they get thirsty, they;ll eventually get used to it. Start with a soft spout sippy.