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Parenting

Getting off bottle on to cups - 1 year old DS hysterical :(

17 replies

Everybloodybottleunderthesun · 13/07/2020 21:01

I’m really hoping someone can help as I’m running out of ideas and really upset after another fraught bedtime.

1 year old DS has been moving to sippy cups and open cups for a while and knows how to use all of them pretty much immediately. But will he actually take any decent amount of fluid from them, will he buggery. He will have a bit for novelty value then throw on the floor if in a good mood, if tired he will really cry until you give him a soft mouthpiece, at bedtime oh boy...he gets so upset I have to stop as he gets in such a state I’m honestly worried he’s going to have a seizure.

He will use a softer spout sippy cup fine and drinks plenty of water or milk, it’s only the mouthpiece that is the problem.

So far we have tried and failed to move off bottles at bedtime with the following:

  • munchkin miracle - doesn’t mind this but won’t take big quantities
  • doidy cup - likes but can use in limited circumstances as not much ends up on target
  • tommee tippee active sipper- very meh on this one, with both longer ‘trainer’ and shorter ‘older’ mouthpiece options
  • tommee tippee flip lid free flow - really doesn’t like
  • cow cup - meh on this



The only one he likes is latex spout Philips Avent. Which isn’t that different to a bottle teat really.

I’ve tried holding out with these and he drinks so little he gets dehydrated, so I cave in.

He’s such a happy easy going little boy I hate to upset him over this. Please help! I understand bottles after 1 are not good for their teeth.
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ShyTown · 13/07/2020 21:23

I wouldn’t worry about it providing he’s drinking only water throughout the day and teeth are brushed after his bedtime milk, not before. We mostly used a soft spouted MAM sippy cup until about 15 months then DC started daycare and was given a various assortment of sippy cups. Unsurprisingly she was fine with drinking out of anything there despite being mega fussy at home. By 2 she was able to drink out of a regular plastic beaker and has perfect teeth so no harm was done by the soft spouted cup for slightly longer than was recommended. In my experience many 1YOs still drink from a bottle, especially if it’s milk before bed, so it sounds like you’re doing just fine!

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Tyranttoddler · 13/07/2020 21:25

I've just finally dropped bed time bottle for my little girl at 20 months. Prior to that I brushed her teeth after the bottle. If he is hysterical, don't bother yet and let him have his bottle.

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Napqueen1234 · 13/07/2020 21:27

I don’t meant to sound unkind but I think you’re getting in a complete tizz about a v small issue. The biggest concern is bottle feeding in the night with teeth so if he isn’t feeding overnight and you’re brushing his teeth after his last milk it really isn’t the end of the world. Don’t let it become a battle or a massive stress- he’s 1 if he’s so upset he’s almost having a seizure (?!?) give him a bottle. Keep offering other cups, maybe try one with a straw? His favourite tv character etc? But honestly don’t stress.

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Happybint · 13/07/2020 21:31

My kids were well over 2 before they stopped having a night bottle. Dont worry. Let him have his bottle! Will make your life much easier! Its comfort for them.

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Happybint · 13/07/2020 21:32

Nothing wrong with their teeth. Smile

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forrestgreen · 13/07/2020 21:32

Look up how much dairy he needs. Use it on cereals, deserts and yoghurts. Offer a drink with meals.
Try a sports bottle instead with water.

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doadeer · 13/07/2020 21:33

My son loves his bottle before bed at 17m I don't want to fight this battle yet. I brush his teeth after. For me I'm fine to leave him.

I don't know what to suggest... What's the harm in keeping the bottle?

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Devlocopop · 13/07/2020 21:34

Just give him the bottle. This is not your hill to die on Smile fuck anyone who is telling you he should be on a cup. There aren't adults making a cup of tea at work in a baby's bottle so at some stage we all give it up.

Ds2 had severe reflux, made worse when he cried for any length of time. He was still on prescription formula until about 14 months and still had a bottle until about 18 months. I can assure you he is a full adjusted teenager.

Just brush his teeth after the milk. Keep going with the cup in the day, watch his liquid intake. And don't worry so much. It feels huge now because you are in the middle of it. This is about his comfort, bottles and sucking is comforting for him.

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Abouttimemum · 13/07/2020 21:36

DS is 15 months and still has a bottle before bed. I stressed about it for a while but he’s had so many changes over recent months I didn’t want to change that aswell.
I’ll probably try to take it away before 18 months. He has a cup of milk when he wakes and then water in the daytime from a miracle 360 or tommy tippee free flow, plus yoghurt, cheese etc so he doesn’t need his bedtime bottle - I just need to cut the chord!

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Fatted · 13/07/2020 21:36

My kids had a bedtime bottle past one. With the eldest it was at least 18 months and I think the youngest was nearer 15 months.

If he's drinking out of other cups fine the rest of the time, just let him have some comfort with his bedtime bottle.

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Ihaveoflate · 13/07/2020 22:07

My baby has just turned one and we have kept the bedtime bottle for now. We clean her teeth after milk so don't see the harm. It's the only time she drinks from a bottle and I think we might keep it until around 18 months but we'll see how it goes. I just feel it's a lot of change all in one go otherwise (formula to cow's milk, bottles to cups etc.).

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fadedout · 13/07/2020 22:08

He's one, chill out

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Indecisivelurcher · 13/07/2020 22:12

I don't think it's worth a big fight about an arbitrary number to stop bottles. However if you want to try another cup I really really recommend oxo tots straw cup. It's got a big fat straw, no valve, big capacity, and easy twist to shut. Super easy to drink from. My ds used to kick off about other cups, they didn't give enough milk in one gulp, he had to suck them harder, etc. We kept this one special for his bedtime milk. Got it on amazon.

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Everybloodybottleunderthesun · 13/07/2020 22:46

Thanks so much for all the responses- it sounds like this isn’t as big an issue as I thought. Which is reassuring. The owner of the nursery has been advising he really shouldn’t use a bottle now which is why I have been trying to push towards cups for bed. As I’m sure you’ve guessed he is PFB and I’ve been feeling like I’m failing in this whole cup department. I’ll give things a bit longer and tell myself to stop stressing!

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Everybloodybottleunderthesun · 13/07/2020 22:47

Thank you that’s good to hear and thanks for kind words

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Everybloodybottleunderthesun · 13/07/2020 22:49

@Napqueen1234 no he doesn’t feed in the night and I do make sure to brush his teeth, thanks for the reassurance. I know I sound a bit mad on the seizure thing but he really, really does get himself so worked up he’s boiling hot and can hardly breathe :(

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bonzo77 · 13/07/2020 22:54

One of mine still had milk in a bottle till 3.5. Or maybe nearer 4! Only milk, only at breakfast and bed till 3, and bed time only after that. Always brushed teeth after. He’s got no tooth decay, no excessively gappy teeth and no speech problems. And I’m a dentist. So really, don’t worry.

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