Taking the toddler off the bottle?

Question

My neice is 18 months and in the process of being taken off the bottle. I usually only give it to her unless she's taking a nap or going to bed. (we're not using formula, milk only) The reason why it's so late being taken off the bottle is because she is such a tiny little girl. I know 7 month old babys bigger than her. She's very little, 15 lbs. We wanna make sure she's getting everything she needs. Well anyways sometimes she starts screaming and crying, kicking her legs, throwing tantrums, if I don't give her the bottle. I live in an apartment and I can't let her scream like that because the neighbors might have a problem with that. How do I go about taking the bottle away and keeping her to forget about it?

Answer 1

buy a sippy cup with a design like disney princess and tell her its the big girl cup and how pretty it is etc...  

Answer 2

I had the same problem with my daughter, she is 2 1/2 now and she's been off the bottle for a couple months. It was a long process, mostly because I couldn't stand the tantrums. I tried everything though, water in the bottle, juice (she doesn't like juice) in the bottle, every sippy cup out there, she had to have her bottle. I too lived in an apartment and I couldn't have screaming all the time with the thin walls, my neighbor's would've hated us. So as she got older she wanted her bottle less and less and one day I packed them away and that was the end. She only cried the first day, and not even too badly. She has only asked for one a couple times but she now accepts no for an answer and takes her cup. I guess my point is that 18 months is not that uncommon for her to have a bottle, my doc was okay with her having one until she was 2 as long as she didnt go to sleep with it and we took care of her teeth. Give her some time, keep trying different cups until she finds one she likes, when she's a little older she will understand better and it will be easier on her.

p.s. The cups my daughter likes best are nuby cups, only found at walmart, they look really similar to a bottle. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

My son was reluctant to give up his bottle too! The first thing I did was replace the milk with water at bed time. Letting her fall  asleep with the milk bottle can rot her teeth. Once he got used to having the water, and being satisfied with still getting that nipple, then I replaced the bottle with those water bottles that come with a squeeze top. He liked them because they were in the frig where he could reach them, and they belonged to him only! Then if he fell asleep with it, there was no staining in the bed, or rotting his teeth. I could sneak in after he fell asleep and get it. He still does like those bottles though, and he's ten! But no harm came from it. In fact he drinks more water than any kid I know! Which is a good thing.

Answer 4

during the day what is she drinking from? sippy find one that she prefers and buy 10 of them and start by switching the bottle at lunch 2 a sippy then after a week or so then at night time ,before you know it bye bye bottle and don't give in.  

Answer 5

I am currently taking my son off the bottle also.  I started with no bottles during the day.  He got a sippy cup of milk with lunch.  At first he did not like it so he did not drink it.  He learned that milk from a sippy was what he got to drink, nothing else.  It took about 2 days.  The bottle at night.  I am not putting him to bed with it.  He gets it 30 min. or so before bedtime.  Some nights he does not even want it.  he still has his morning bottle, that's next.  This process has taken 2 months.  be patient with your daughter, this is new for her and you.  Be consistent so she will learn.  I would also let her scream, your neighbors have had children.  If you give into temper tantrums now she will grow up learning that behavior.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 6

Get like a 'big girls cup' when she asks or crys for her bottle say something like did you just see that? and take her over to a window and say oh you missed it but say i will find a picture of it on the computer type in a squille or owl or something and then say this is what i saw then say do u know what they eat or something- it will take her mind of it completley. At night you should read a book and if she is still asking for it say do you know what? If you dont have your bottle tonight tommorow i will get you some sweeties/treat. If this still doesnt work say no bottles are for little girls i thought you were a big girl. (You have to be cruel to be kind!) Don't be afraid in saying no.