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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to still give my 2,5 year old a bottle

25 replies

mummyofalittleprince · 03/10/2023 14:12

my little one is 2,5 and he associates the bottle as his soother before bed. he never took the dummy so this has been his soother since birth. I know they are supposed to stop the bottle at around age 1, however every time i try stopping it he wont have milk any other way for days. A week ago thought enough is enough, and we threw all the bottles in the bin. Since then he hasnt had any milk and he has also stopped napping. He gets very cranky and unsettled when he doesnt nap, and he also throws a huge fit at bedtime. I was holding on to this nap for life as this is the only "break" i get throughout the whole day, he is always with me no nursery/childcare so thats when i do my work. The past week has been really difficult and i am honestly considering if it was worth stopping the bottle/ how bad it actually is, given the outcome. Am I being unreasonable for thinking of re introducing it again? (He usually has 2 a day, one before his nap and one before bedtime)

OP posts:

GallowwayGirl88 · 03/10/2023 15:44

I wouldn’t worry about the milk intake, they don’t need it.

Milk before bed (I assume you’re not then brushing his teeth) can cause issues with their teeth.

Holidaylover68 · 03/10/2023 15:55

He doesn’t need milk at 2.5 years. Stopping it will cause him some upset as it’s a soothing habit. But he doesn’t need it so stick with it!

Clarevoyant1 · 03/10/2023 16:11

It’s always such a hard transition but I think you should stick with it. Drinking from a bottle at his age can cause tooth decay and also result in the deformation of his palette, because it promotes an immature sucking pattern.

You’re in the toughest stage right now but stick it out. You’ll turn a corner and be very glad you did!

CaptainJackSparrow85 · 03/10/2023 16:42

2.5 is quite a normal age to stop napping.

Hellodarknessmyoldpal · 03/10/2023 16:42

If you're a week in I'd ride it out. Mine both stopped taking milk as a drink when they stopped having it from a bottle.

Whatheactualchuff · 03/10/2023 16:43

Hello
we let our kid continue with a (empty) bottle at bedtime at that age, it had become a dummy substitute.
we only weaned him off when the dentist pointed out that his teeth were slightly out of alignment. The bottle fairy swiftly swooped in and took it away.
I’d suggest losing it if you can

Jandob · 03/10/2023 20:23

It is bad for their teeth but try a sippy cup for milk.

MercurialMargot · 03/10/2023 20:27

We made a big deal about how grown up they both were at 3 and bought them a special cup to replace the bottle "that little babies need" worked well for us.

I'm not sure I'd reintroduce, feels like more work and unfortunately this is the sort of time they stop their naps anyway.

Lorelaigilmore88 · 03/10/2023 20:29

I would stick with it... he will very soon get used to it. My now three year old was very reliant on his bottle of milk to settle at night but he did very soon get used to it. Ditto naps. Stick with it... i found dropping the nap made bedtime easier anyway as he was that bit more tired, so you might get him down earlier and have a easier/ longer child free evening....

InTheRainOnATrain · 03/10/2023 20:31

I also struggled with a 2YO that wasn’t napping so they go to part time nursery now and it’s been great for both of us! Don’t most stop napping around 2.5 anyway? I wouldn’t dream of going back to baby bottles. They don’t need the milk and it’s terrible for their teeth.

fivenonrouses · 03/10/2023 20:32

It's bad for his teeth and his jaw development

Some adults develop overbites/ underbites/recessed chins because of that habit

I know it's tough though so I can emphasise with you xx

Straw cups are better

dayofcheese · 03/10/2023 20:33

Buy a nice special cup.
Put the bottles in a special place for the milk fairy.
Milk fairy swaps for special cup overnight
Bottles must go in bin and out of sight so they can never be discovered.

I'm afraid the naps have to stop sometime.

Daphnis156 · 03/10/2023 20:36

The child will be taking the bottle to school at this rate.

Flyhigher · 03/10/2023 22:14

We swapped the milk gradually and watered it down. And she ended up drinking water for years out of the bottle until she was 6. At a weekend away she finally was persuaded to give it up. It was fine! She drank tons of water.

Beezknees · 03/10/2023 22:20

I think YABU, sorry. They don't actually need milk at that age anyway. It's difficult but you just have to ride it out. I took DS's dummy away at that age, cold turkey is the only way.

Totalwasteofpaper · 03/10/2023 22:22

We stopped bottles at 14m as health visitor was horrified and told us her teeth would fall out blah blah and so we introduced milk in a sippy cup.

Then we went from full nights of sleep to waking repeatedly. This went on for months and my mum told me to just give my baby a bottle as it's clearly what she wants/needs.

At 20m we now do one 180ml bottle before bed and brush teeth after.

Candidly If this is the most egregious act we commit as parents I'll be fairly pleased with myself.

EpitomeofEpiphany · 03/10/2023 22:23

Bottles are so bad for their teeth which sometimes effects their speech, it's just not worth it.

If you're worried about his milk intake a bit of cheese and milk in cereal will be fine and if he doesn't have that then giving him a multi vitamin will be fine.

bellamountain · 03/10/2023 22:24

My three year old still has a bottle of warm milk. My eldest did too at that age. Teeth are always great at dental checkups. I think calcium can't be underestimated, it's good for growing children.

MilesAndMilesOfLights · 03/10/2023 22:26

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MilesAndMilesOfLights · 03/10/2023 22:26

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Janieforever · 03/10/2023 22:26

I’d also stick with it, he does not need Milk now , or likely naps, and I don’t think effectively babying him for longer is in his favour.

Janieforever · 03/10/2023 22:27

bellamountain · 03/10/2023 22:24

My three year old still has a bottle of warm milk. My eldest did too at that age. Teeth are always great at dental checkups. I think calcium can't be underestimated, it's good for growing children.

It’s not just about teeth though is it.

dayofcheese · 03/10/2023 22:28

The milk is fine. They just need to clean their teeth after. An open cup is fine at that age too.

Beezknees · 03/10/2023 22:32

bellamountain · 03/10/2023 22:24

My three year old still has a bottle of warm milk. My eldest did too at that age. Teeth are always great at dental checkups. I think calcium can't be underestimated, it's good for growing children.

They don't need to be drinking fron a bottle. Just use a sippy cup.

dayofcheese · 03/10/2023 22:33

Get a jug or a little bottle of milk and they can get used to pouring it themselves into an open cup

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