Transitioning off the bottle

DS is almost 22 months and he's still having 3 bottles of milk a day (about 5-6 oz each bottle). We've been trying since he turned a year to give him milk in sippy cups and he refuses. I've tried just about every cup out there.

If your DC had a hard time giving up the bottle did they eventually do it on their own or did you have to force the issue? I don't really want to force him, but I'm not sure he'll get there without a push...

Transitioning off the bottle

This is us. Dd is two and has two bottles of milk a day, when she wakes and bed time before we brush her teeth. She has refused milk in a cup since a year.

One day we will just do it cold turkey. I know her milk intake will drop, but that's ok. She has plenty of dairy (yogurt and cheese, etc)

Message edited 7/27/2015 11:36:16 AM.

Re: Transitioning off the bottle

DD had to do it on her own, but she did it by around 15 months.
I tried to force it at 12 months and it was a God awful disaster.
Horrendous.

Then at around 15-16 months, one day, DH just told her, no more bottles, here is a cup, and she took it no issue.

They really have to be ready IMO

Transitioning off the bottle

I only offer milk in a sippy. If he doesn't drink it he doesn't drink it. The only thing is I still give him a bottle at night. He asks for it and loves it. When he is closer to two I am going to start taking it away. He's 17 months.

Re: Transitioning off the bottle

See that's the thing, he asks for it. It's a real comfort for him, especially after nap and before bed. Ugh, DS1 was so easy and just gave it up on his own...

Transitioning off the bottle

Does he drink water or any other liquid in a sippy cup? We transitioned DS1 slowly- gave him most of his bottle (6 oz) and put 2oz in a sippy cup. Showed him that he had to drink the 2oz before he got his bottle. 2 days of that and then we went to 4oz in each. 2 days later is was only 2oz in a bottle. Then he got that taken. We took away the morning bottle first and then a week later we worked on the night bottle. I tried to take the bottle away cold turkey, but it resulted in a broken sippy cup, 8oz of milk ALL OVER MY KITCHEN and a 2 hour meltdown. The gradual approach definitely worked for us, but we've also reasoned with him and explained things thoroughly since day 1, so he's used to that way of parenting. Regardless, might be something worth trying! Also- DS1 was 16 months when we got rid of the bottle.