Struggling...

[ChickandDuck]

Don't know if this is the right place, but anyway...

DS2 has recently turned 1. He has taken his bottle to bed at night for a few months. He doesn't fall asleep with it, he'll babble for a while after, then drift off. He has it in his cot else he doesn't have it, he's never taken a bottle from me or anyone else and is distracted anywhere else.

Anyway, today I have decided no more bottle and have swapped it for his milk cup. I'm determined. He has had water from it before so I know he can use it. I've laid him down, told him it's milk and left him to it, as usual. this was half hour ago. He's not stopped crying. Do I give in and give him back his bottle? I'm hoping once he's used to his cup I can start giving him his milk before he goes to bed, like I did with DS1.

WWYD?

tbh it's a battle that I've never been bothered to have with dd aged 3.6. She likes to have milk out of a bottle at bedtime, no other time, and it's not a problem for me.

I think I just want to crack the habit of taking milk to bed, with a cup it will be easier as he can sit up, he won't with a bottle, he wants to be lying down and in his cot.

He's still not settling - should I just give him a bottle and approach this in a different way?

Ok - does he take his bottle at any other time of day? I started with DS by switching his breakfast bottle to a cup. He absolutely kicked off but it was far easier to deal with in the morning than at night.

We stuck to breakfast time only and for 3 days he as good as refused most of his milk.
Once he took to it in the morning, we also changed it at bedtime without any issues.

If you want to try it in the morning then do so, otherwise IMO stick it out. They will battle it for a few days then cave.

I woluld, tbh, and then gently introduce a big boy cup. It would be easier if he were a bit older and could (say_ choose a new cup or something. He's still very wee - if it's not affecting his sleep, I'd leave it.

Have given him his bottle after he got very angry at me for offering a different cup. Thanks mistletoekisses, he does have a bottle after his breakfast, I think I will do that. I guess I was just more concerned about the evening one because I want to break the habit of him taking it to bed. Will try again in the morning.

It worked for me...be prepared for the strength of their reaction..I was stunned at how upset DS got (did it when he too was a year old), but as I say, after 3 days, he drank from it no problems. And it is definitely easier to deal with first thing in the morning. The chances of them taking it are also higher as they are hungry and will want their milk...I felt very cruel, but will do the same with DS2.

Friends who left it later had real battles on their hands, some of the DC's are 2+ and still have a bottle at bedtime..and the parents hate it...

you say if he doesn't have it in bed then he doesn't have ita t all - can he go to sleep without it?

if so then I'd ditch it altogether and introduce milk in a cup earlier in the bed routine ie before teeth

Thats why I'm keen to do it now mistletoe, went cold turkey with his dummy a couple of months ago and managed that so hopefully will this as well.

No MrsBadger, no chance! That's why his kicked up sucha fuss tonight I think. In fact, he's finished his bottle and is still upset, I've clearly traumatised him. Think he might be having bottle number 2 tonight

Chick don't worry, your DS will be fine.

We also did cold turkey on dummy when DS was 10 months old...he was fine within a few nights...

let us know how you get on.

thank you, he's finally gone to sleep! Will persevere tomorrow!

Ok, so I gave him a beaker of milk with his snack this morning, he had a sip then kept pushing it away. Put him in his cot for his nap and let him take the beaker, he's had about half. He doesn't seem bothered at all that he's not been given his bottle. Fingers crossed!

That is great! Keep that for 2/3 days, then take the bottle away at night...he will probably still be a little upset, but not quite so much. Fingers crossed!