DD refuses milk not in a bottle - she's 3!

[Bumperlicious]

DD (just turned 3) still has milk morning and night out of a bottle. I'm kind of ok with this, I'm not bothered by people who insist she shouldn't be drinking out of a bottle at this age, it's not a big deal really. She gave up dummies 6 months ago, at great stress, we've just moved house, DC2 due any day now, it's a small comfort to her. However she keeps chewing through the teats, and we now only have one intact.

It wasn't clean from last night so today I bit the bullet and gave the milk to her (warmed) in a cup, with a straw. She is refusing to drink it. It's not the first time we've tried and she's refused.

She's complaining now, she wants milk in a bottle. What can we do? Do you think she will just give up when she is ready and I should just leave her to it? Or should I persevere? If she is not going to drink milk at all I'm reluctant to get rid of the night bottle (before teeth are cleaned) as it's part of her routine (what little routine she has) and fills her tummy.

Any advice?

At 3 I stopped bedtime milk for DD (was from a beaker) as I wanted her to be dry at night (which she was after I stopped the milk), we had other bedtime routine things by that point eg bath, stories etc. I told her she could have milk with her tea in a cup. Morning milk from 18 months was given in a cup with breakfast.

DS1 wouldn't drink milk at all from a beaker (prefered a bottle) but still ditched it at 18 months. He didn't drink any milk after that until he started nursery at 2.5 as he was happy to drink it there.

Is there any medical reason why she still needs morning and bedtime milk?

If you want to continue, just give her the milk with a chewed up teat?

No medical reason, but she's not a big eater, especially not breakfast, which is probably down to having a big bottle of milk. But she loves it and asks for it as soon as she wakes up.

She complains about the ones with chewed up teats, and now only really drinks from the intact one.

Not sure what to do for the best really. Don't know why I thought 8 days till due date was a good time to stop something like this

At 3, can she be reasoned with? Either has the beaker or not at all?

She won't be missing out nutritionally, and if it means she eats more, it might be better anyway.

TBH 8 days before due date prob isn't a good time to change anything, but it might be harder after.

Gosh yes 8 days before due date not a great time to get rid of. Are you going to BF or FF as forsee issue with ditching bottle and then FFing baby!

I ditched DS1's bottle at 18 months as he wasn't eating breakfast nicely.

Options:

• tell her you are not buying any more teats so if she chews it it will be gone. Keep on using in meantime
• take her shopping to buy new big girl cup - perhaps disney princess with matching plate bowls etc
• offer her breakfast as soon as she wakes up and give milk in open cup with breakfast
• star chart for using big girl cup and eating breakfast nicely

My step dd didn't give up last bottle until she was 8! Drunk it in secret from friends. We just left her too it and made sure she cleaned her teeth after.

ds1 had a bottle of milk every night until he was... wait for it.... SIX... no harm done. has never drunk milk again since he stopped having the bottle.

Thanks for the advice.

I have tried telling her about the teats, but with this one still intact she seems to have stopped and that doesn't seem to bother her.

She did eventually drink her milk from a cup this morning, after bribery with a vitamin (I know - what a treat )

I might see what she does tomorrow and see how we go. If she's not playing ball I might just not worry for now, what with the new baby etc.

Baby will (hopefully) be bfed so that won't be an issue.

While I'm ok if she does continue with a bottle, I do feel a bit like it is my (not so) secret parenting shame!

Friend got her son to pack up all bottles in a "special bag" for the bottle fairy, who takes them to little babies. Hung up in house last thing at night, next day their was a big boy cup in it's place. It worked for him.

Oh and I know of three 3 year olds who all still drink out of bottles.

Thanks walkthedog, we did that with DD's dummies about 6 or so months ago, so I think we may have used up our 'fairy' good will.

I've just asked her if she is going to drink her milk from a cup tomorrow morning and she said she will, so we'll see. I don't think I'm ready to tackle night time yet!