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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Ideas on how to get Dd to take milk from a cup not a bottle?

19 replies

Dizzymama · 04/04/2006 20:40

Hi all,
Dd is 14 months and my HV says I should be thinking about giving her her morning and night time milk in a cup not a bottle. So far there has been no success at all, she's having none of it (literally!) has anyone any suggestions?

OP posts:

jmum6 · 04/04/2006 20:51

Do you use a cup for water or juice during the day?

If not start, but if you do then you know dd can take them so I guess you should only offer milk in a cup. (Maybe not at night as you'll want some sleep!)

She'll soon get used to it.

Original poster

Dizzymama · 04/04/2006 20:53

She does take her juice from a cup so I guess she has no problem there. Hmmm, perhaps I will start to do morning 'bottle' in cup - you're right though, maximum intake of milk at night is preferable! Thank you.

OP posts:

Katemum · 04/04/2006 20:54

How about a shopping trip for a big girls cup?

Seahorse2 · 04/04/2006 20:58

I agree with jmum6 - just go cold turkey. Maybe you could tell her you are giving all the bottles to the binman? I know someone who did that when giving up dummies. Then they know they are gone and they have no choice. My ds absolutely refused milk in a beaker although he happily drank water in it so when he reached 1 year I just got rid of the bottles and he accepted it without a murmur!

Original poster

Dizzymama · 04/04/2006 21:03

This seems to definitely be the way to go! I shall invest in some super strength ear plugs in preparation for the tantrum ahead but it has to be done!

OP posts:

Mamo · 04/04/2006 21:43

Sorry i'm jumping in at the end!! My son gave up at 12mths his sister gave up the bottle aroung 15mths of her own accord, occassionally up to around 18mths she called for a bottle in the morning just because it meant she got an extra cuddle with mummy and I got extra time in bed!!!! I just told her she was a big girl now and big girls used cups not bottles!
I know some 2 yr olds who used the bottle but bit through teats and where just told when that one goes there are no more.

I suppose what I'm saying is go with whats right for you!

jmum6 · 05/04/2006 16:32

Any luck with the cup today dizzymama?

Original poster

Dizzymama · 05/04/2006 19:50

I am very ashamed to admit that I'd sat down with dd on my lap with a bottle in her mouth before I remembered I was supposed to be trying the cup! I'm working tomorrow and Friday so am going to write myself a big note and stick it on the fridge so on saturday I definitely remember that it's no bottle!

OP posts:

redstarfalling · 05/04/2006 20:06

Another idea from the Baby Whisperer (!) is cut a slit in the teat so the milk comes faster then after a few days cut again to form a cross then every two or three days cut out a trianlgle iyswim. Eventually they get fed up and prefer a cup when offered. ( As I suppose you would !! ) Haven't tried it but remembered it from reading her book a while ago. Might be worth a try

Mamu · 05/04/2006 20:42

Have you tried giving milk in a cup with meals, breakfast and tea, so she gets used to the idea of drinking it with her food and not from a bottle?
Might become a bit of a game and she might not initially associate it with cuddle time therefore reject it later.
Then you could try switchiing to her sitting faacing out on your knee with a book distract her from the fact it's not the beloved bottle?!

Original poster

Dizzymama · 05/04/2006 20:56

Both great ideas ladies, thank you I feel so much more positive about trying again now, ahh, the power of mumsnet!

OP posts:

hulababy · 05/04/2006 20:57

DD didn't liek spouted cups and milk ws one thing she wasn't keen on drinking from her Doidy cup. She liked the comfort of the bottle I think. We cheated :) We used to use Avent bottles, so I bought some Avent spout - from their non spill cups. I removed the non spill valve (hate them!_ and used that on the bottle instead of the teat. Worked for us, and she evetually after a few more months gave the bottle up too.

Original poster

Dizzymama · 05/04/2006 20:59

You know I'd never thought of doing that, what a brilliant idea! I'm spoilt for choice now!

OP posts:

hulababy · 05/04/2006 21:01

Why not combine some of the ideas? That gives your DD more chances of getting used tot he change.

For my DD it was the morning and bedtime bottle that were thedifficult ones - it was a comfort thing purely. She liked having the bottle to hold and a cup just wasn't the same. The spout option was the best compromise for us.

Piffle · 05/04/2006 21:03

We had no success with dd until one day we chucked out the bottles
Her milk intake did dip for a week or so, but soon picked up again.
this was when dd was 2 though.

poppiesinaline · 05/04/2006 21:34

I remember when we did this with DS and DD both times we were 'forced' into it. Lost the only teat left with DS so he HAD to have a cup - made DH do it! And with DD we were on holiday at my parents and my dad threw the only teat out by mistake one afternoon - again I made DH do it!! A coward me!

sassy · 06/04/2006 07:50

Hi Dizzy,

You may want to hang on a week or two until we all go away. Dd2 is on verge of giving hers up (except dream feed) of her own choice, cos she wants a big cup like Dd1. Amazing - dd1 was about 2.5 before she'd let me give up the bottles! Anyway, E may observe/copy my 2, and happily switch cos they are.

I'd give it a try - anything for an easy life, me!

Original poster

Dizzymama · 06/04/2006 21:02

Great idea mate, hadn't thought of that either! (is there anything I had thought of?!)

OP posts:

browniegirl · 11/04/2006 14:06

I can't understand why their is so much pressure for children to give up having a bottle sucking is a natural reflex for a babies and toddlers why are we obsessed about taking it away from them. My 3 yr old naturally weaned herself however she was breast till she was 2 and then took comfort from the bottle which didn't exactly please me but then I realised what harm is it doing. As long as feeding cups and normal drinking cups are gradually introduced it will happen naturally. There are enough parenting pressures why create another one chill!

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