When do toddlers give up the milk ?!

10 replies

Derry76 · 10/12/2009 14:45

My eldest DD is has just turned 2, so i decided that she has to start drinking her milk out of a sippy cup rather than a bottle, which she has not been impressed by ! She would always drain her bottles in the morning and evening but now she tends to leave a lot of it and cant be bothered with them. Does anybody know what age toddlers tend to start dropping these milk feeds or if its just a case of her stropping because she no longer has a bottle !?

OP posts:

mumblecrumble · 10/12/2009 14:51

DD likes milk in a bottle before bed and see no reason to decide to stop it...
Be interested to see what folks think

pigletmania · 10/12/2009 14:53

I am in a same situation as you, my dd 2.9 wont drink any milk unless its from a bottle, i tried sippy cups, open cups no will not have any of it. I have just stopped her dummy now so dont want to do the bottle until later. At the moment she is not well and only drinks milk not much food, so if thats out of a bottle i dont mind. IMO milk is still important at that age i think that i heard until 4 years old. I am hoping that when dd goes into full time nursery that she will drop it and drink milk out of a cup. At nursery they provide milk in that way.

pigletmania · 10/12/2009 14:55

but not really botherd about the bottle tbh as she only has it at bed and naptime, its more comfort as she has never had a favourite teddy or blanket like other toddlers and will not even though i have bought her lovely soft toys and comfort blankets.

rodgershawk · 10/12/2009 15:00

I stopped my DS last month (age 21mo). I was only giving him one bottle before bed. He does take some out of a sippy cup now but not as much as from a bottle. I just try to give him bits during the day to top up.
We just emigrated to Canada and registered with a new doctor. The doc gave DS the once over as they do a 18 month development check here, and being a new patient he hadnt had one. One of the things she said was "I take it he is off the bottle now". So I assume that she thinks by 18 months they should no longer be on the bottle. Not sure why.
My mum at nearly every phone call asked me if he was off the bottle as "you were off the bottle at 9 months you know"!

Original poster

Derry76 · 10/12/2009 15:04

A lot of people say there is no harm in a bottle, even my health visitor said that her DD is 3 and still has her milk out of a bottle, like you say pigletmania, its only first thing and bedtime and nobody else sees it. Maybe im forcing her to grow up too fast !! My DD goes to nursery and drinks out of a beaker there but at home i think she is used to her comforts, give her a beaker and she tips the whole lot over herself !!

OP posts:

MrsBadger · 10/12/2009 15:06

dd only ever had ebm in a bottle - cows' milk came in a cup right from the start (ie 12m)
now 2.4 and is demanding removal of sippy lid

bottles aren't v good for teeth iirc, esp if after teeth-cleaning at night.

NB once they are this old and eating a balanced diet they don;t need to be drinking x amount of milk a day so do not stress if they won't drink as much from a cup.

Original poster

Derry76 · 10/12/2009 15:06

rodgershawk - so does your DS just have things like cheese and yoghurt rather than milk?

OP posts:

Original poster

Derry76 · 10/12/2009 15:09

MrsBadger - my second DD is nearly 10 months, and plan to only give her cows milk from a cup when she hits 12 months, i wont be making the same mistake again !!

OP posts:

rodgershawk · 10/12/2009 15:12

Yes, he has cheese, yoghurt but also bits of milk during the day from a cup. Also has cereal for breakfast so has milk in that.

MincePAELLA · 10/12/2009 21:49

Derry my DD is 2 1/2 years and will only drink her morning and evening milk from a bottle. She'll have milk or any other drink during the day from a sippy cup or open cup.

We make sure she brushes her teeth so not worried. I figure what's the harm.

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