Taking away bottle from 3 year old - aibu to think it's going to be tough?!

[Happyclappy20]

My just 3 year old dd is obsessed with milk from a bottle, including at night. I need to stop them but am dreading the fall out. If you've done this how long did it take? No judgement please, I know I should have done it ages ago...

Just go cold turkey and suck it up for a few days. It’s like ripping the bandaid off. It will pass and you will look back on the whole thing and laugh

It will be tough but only for a few days

Cold turkey is the only way. It will be a rough few days, but you'll get through it.

Yes you should and it is urgent. I would start by gradually watering down the milk until it is only water. 3 is old enough to understand and ber rational. Then I would throw away the bottles, take the tantrums for a few days and allow this chid to develop drinking habits of a three year old, including no milk during the night. It will take as long as you let it.

I had this with the dummy and the bottle fairy had previously visited. I just kept saying that when you are ready let me know and we can give the dummies to the dummy fairy and they will give them to the little babies. One day she said we can give them to the fairy now and that was that. A few chocolate coins and a little gift and we are finally plastic free. She was 4 so don't feel bad, we all go the easy route for whatever reasons until we also are in the right frame of mind to deal with it x x x

Took dds away when she was two. There were a couple of hard nights but then she got over it

My son had a bedtime bottle until 3years and 3 months. I was dreading taking it away as enjoyed it so much.

Offered him a cup of milk (non spill cup with straw) and he took it no problem. He didn't enjoy it as much and wouldn't finish it so now we offer him a light snack in the evening and dont bother with milk at all unless he asks.

I was really stressed about it and it was fine. Hope you are as lucky.

3 is old enough to understand and ber rational.

Oh my days

I don’t disagree with anyone here but a rational three year old?! Come on now

That made me chuckle too

The rational 3 year old comment is funny, I don't think they're rational for another decade and then some! 😂

OP go cold turkey, couple of days of tantrums and then it's over and done with.

I went cold turkey

We went the watering down route.

We did it in my ds 3rd birthday. Gave him plenty of warning that the time was coming and he got an extra special cup for his birthday that he now uses instead of the bottle. Turns out he liked the bottle more than he liked the milk so he doesn’t drink much anymore but we’ve found he drinks more water in the day and eats plenty of calcium rich food. Maybe the Easter bunny could bring a special cup with fave tv character on or something?

Thanks all - can anyone recommend a nice cup?

We used the mothercare no-spill trainer cup.

I was REALLY lucky - mine was sick one night after having milk in a bottle, so we cleaned him up, brushed his teeth again and I said 'Let's not have any more milk tonight to give your tummy a rest'. The next night, I just said we'd have another night off the milk since he had been sick the day before and then by the third night he didn't even ask!

Obviously, I'm not suggesting you make your child sick, but I would have said the same as you about my son's reliance on the bottle so I was truly astonished at how easy it was in practice - I hope it goes smoothly for you too!

I would get a cup that she can get excited about. We got one with buzz and woody on because my son is a big toy story fan and he was so pleased with it. He also liked it because it had a handle and no lid so he felt really grown up. I think they key is to let them think they’re too grown up for a baby bottle

Cold Turkey. You’re going to be amazed and proud at how your dd adapts. It’s the right thing so just get on with it.

Perfect timing in that the Easter Bunny can take the bottles and leave a present. Do that.

My DD was 2.5, but we had a new baby in the extended family, so I told her the baby needed the bottles and she just accepted it. Maybe it won't be the battle you're imagining?

We gradually reduced the number of bottles we had so there was only one left in the house, and dd had to learn to wait (or use an alternative) while it was in the dishwasher etc. We then limited it to a specific time of day only

In my defence of saying a 3-year-old is rational, you may think I have used the wrong word. What in fact I mean is that a 3-year-old has a great deal of understanding and logic. There is a place for rational talking, discussing and negotiating that should go on. Children are not just to be talked at with no thought for their own feelings. Yes, of course, they lose it and throw tantrums, that's different. I know plenty of adults whose brains go out the window when emotions run high.
I come from a place of 45 years experience, both bringing up 4 and in my professional work , both understanding children's behaviour and working alongside parents. I hope some of your comments are tongue in cheek, and that you do in fact discuss things rationally with your three year olds. Their logic is often quite brilliant. Those of you with somewhat challenging toddlers will know this. You will look back on the way they think and see that it often reflects in their personalities. I do agree there are times when a parent has to take a firm lead, and in the case of this bottle, that time has arrived. MN has a tendency to leap on a post occasionally. I will temper my comments