Too old for bedtime bottle?

[jaybirdsinginginthedeadofnight]

So DD is 2.5 and still taking a bottle of milk before bedtime (I brush her teeth after). The reason is she refuses to drink milk from a cup and trust me I tried every type of cup. She drinks water throughout the day, but loves her bedtime bottle. She sleeps a good 12hrs usually without a peep, so I guess I think if it ain't broke don't fix it? But I am aware we will need to ditch the bottle eventually.

So I guess I'm wondering does anyone else have LO's still taking a nice warm comforting bottle for bed over the age of 2. But I would also appreciate any suggestions of how to get her off it?

[Lilacflower]

My DD is exactly the same. The reason I keep giving her the bottle as it's the only milk she gets all day unless she has cereal for breakfast. Some nights she doesn't bother so I think she'll eventually come away from it

[AuditAngel]

DD2 is 3.10 and I have just thrown away her bottles (actually they are in a carrier bag behind the recycling to go out tonight). We had one tantrum when I refused to give her a milky, but I just showed her the empty shelf.

We went away without a bottle and haven't looked back.

I feel a bit sad though, my baby is growing up.

[SeattleGraceMercyDeath]

4.5 and still going strong with the bedtime bottle, total non issue in my mind, have bigger battles to win. It's a comfort thing, it signals bedtime, he brushes his teeth after draining it in less than 5 mins. I'm sure he won't go to uni with it!

[Bakersbum]

I agree if your dd is happy then why force it out, my ds finally gave up his beloved bottle at 3.7. It was completely his decision but I was a little relieved, had visions of him still having it at 20.

Someone we know had a baby and he wanted to give them to her. I primed the mum and she acted very grateful for his kindness etc. I think he had been talking about bottles at nursery and realised he was the only one, hence deciding to do that.

[Fairywhitebear]

22 month little girl here..and she still has her morning bottle and bedtime bottle!

Although to be fair, doesn't help that i have a 4 month old who is obviously being bottle fed at those times too!

I'm not stressing about it.

[3pigsinblanketsandasausagerole]

Bottles are my hate and go in the bin on first birthday in my house

[5madthings]

Some of the madthings had a bedtime bfeed till almost four years.

Ds4 had a bedtime bottle til 3.5yrs and dd just in the last fortnight gave up her bedtime bottle, she will be four in dec.

I dont think one bottle of milk before bed is a problem ad long as you brush teeth, they give it up when they are ready.

[hollie84]

One bedtime bottle with teeth cleaned after is a bit of a non-issue to me too. Where's the harm?

[5madthings]

audit my dd decided she didn't want her bottle anymore and I felt sad as well! She is my youngest and I prob won't have any more, it's like the end of an era!

[Thesimplethings]

My ds2 is three at the end of this month. He still has his milk in a bottle with breakfast then a bedtime bottle. The morning one we could probably drop but he drinks 9oz plus ears his breakfast. His bedtime bottle is part of his routine and he loves his warm milk watching the bedtime story. Teeth brushed straight to bed and goes out like a light for 12-14 hours. He will not drink milk out of a cup and I'd rather he had those 18oz a day than nothing.

Recent dentist check shows his teeth are perfect.

He's happy, I'm happy.

[Thesimplethings]

Ears? Eats!

[CheesyBadger]

Dd breastfed at night until 3 - perfectly ok I would say. She's still little

[Gileswithachainsaw]

The sooner the better Imo they can't argue with you or get out of bed in a strop at 1. Some kids will give it up on their own with others your gonna have a battle whenever you do it so might as well get it over with.

Personally I can't stand seeing children walking around with bottles. Bottles are for babies. But I do what I see fit with mine and others do what they want with theirs. There are worse things.

[ShadowStar]

DS1 is 3 and still likes a bottle of warm milk before bed.

We also struggle to get him to drink milk at any other time.

[Only1scoop]

Dd had a bottle of milk until 14 months. Just seemed natural at that time to give it up....agree though had a cupboard full of cup like contraptions for a while.

[5madthings]

None of mine walked around with a bottle just like none of them walked around bfeeding. It was a quiet snuggly time.

Sucking is a very natural and normal comfort for little children and I don't see the need to force the issue, all five of mine gave up of their own accord no tears or fuss. They moved on when ready.

[myotherusernameisbetter]

DSs (age 14 and 13) still have milk before bed - admittedly no longer in a bottle, I think they were 2ish when we managed to move onto a sippy cup and then to a proper cup and then a glass - they hate to miss it - sometimes we are daring and have strawberry milk :) In the winter they like it warm with a spoon of chocolate powder. I think they'll be doing night milk forever. When we go on hols we have to suss out a shop to get milk to take back to the room! we go through about 40 pints a week.

[Sapat]

I had a bottle until I was 7. I didn't have dummies, did not suck my thumb, my teeth are fine. Having a night-time bottle did not ruin my life.

DD had bottles until about 4 I think. Her and DS1 stopped at the same time. DS1 (4) gave up his dummy after much encouragement 2 months ago. It was done without a fuss, when he was ready, no problem.

Pick your battles.

[jaybirdsinginginthedeadofnight]

Am glad she's not the only one! And I agree there's no harm, she brushes her teeth after and loves her bedtime routine, and I like the snuggles with her while she drinks her milk. I would have had no thought about it actually only a friend gave me a hard time saying I'd never get her toilet trained, dry at night etc so that got me thinking. I think I will leave well enough alone for a while yet

[5madthings]

My dd and the other madthings were all toilet trained and dry at night whilst still having bedtime milk. Don't think it makes a difference. They do these things when they are ready.

[SeattleGraceMercyDeath]

Yep DS is fully toilet trained at night too and his been since he was just over 3. Having said that I've long suspected he has a bladder made of steel as he doesn't even go for a wee until he's been up and at em for over an hour some days.

[tobysmum77]

I'm with 3 pigs and giles but whatever works for you . I stopped with dd2 at about 10 months for bedtime because she'd down it then her nappy would explode!

[Cheepypeepy]

our 3yo old has a small milk drink in the bottle at the evening, and juice water mix in the morning (i would prefer not juice but she doesn´t eat vegetables and fruit so juice is preferable to the hospital visits and laxatives she had instead), she has just moved off bottles for her lunch and dinner after a holiday with her older cousins

I didn´t think I´d do many things as a parent (my DD is top to toe in pink for example) and having not pushed dropping bottles by the time DC2 came along I decided that forcing her to stop when so many other things were going on was not fair on her.

I was hoping that DC2 would help change her eating and drinking habits but now I see that her best friend has got her eating peas so I am going to be alert for any cues but basically leave it to social conditioning . . . much less stressful!

[Cheepypeepy]

btw she sleeps through the night and is toilet trained day and night

[ElephantsNeverForgive]

DD2 BF at night long, long after she started school, I really don't see why DCs shouldn't enjoy their end of the day relaxation just as we drink tea or wine.