how much milk for a 18 month old?

[delilah1]

Hello

I am not sure how much milk my 18month old b/g twins should have. DD loves milk in her bottle but is unable to drink it out of a 'sucky cup' (she doesnt bite up to release the milk - she could never breast feed because of this) and refuses it completely out of a beaker or cup. DS would use a sucky cup but insists on a bottle if he sees his sisters. They currently drink 4 oz in their cereal and then 4 oz in the morning, 4oz around 3pm and 5oz at night. Basically is this too much (they are both well rounded babies!) and how can i get them off bottles. Any ideas gratefully received - it is so complicated with the two!!

At 12 mos I stopped DSs bottle altogether, and quite easily, by throwing them in the bin. I kept offering milk in a cup and after about 3 days of faffing about he got the idea (although was already accepting water from a cup)

He had about a pint of full fat cows milk (including whatever was in cooking).

DD is 17 1/2 months old she has 2 beakers of milk in the morning and one at night, I would say this is about a pint a day overall. Plus she has cereal/cheese/yoghurt as well.

She was BF for a year before going onto cows milk, does your DD use a sippy cup for water/juice or is it just milk she doesn't like out a cup?

I found the best ones were the Tommee Tippee really basic ones for 4 months + they don't need to suck as it's freeflowing messy at first but they soon get the hang of it. DD can also use a cup with a straw in it now as well. She likes drinking from these think because of the novelty.

DS is 20 months and has 6oz in the morning when he gets up and 6oz at bedtime. Still out of a bottle though, I should have been tougher....

DS is 20 months and has 6oz in the morning when he gets up and 6oz at bedtime. Still out of a bottle though, I should have been tougher....

Thanks all

I think I should really get rid of afternoon bottle. Sweet kitty, they both drink water out of that basic Tommy Tippee cup but she throws it away in disgust if there is milk in it. I don't think she really drinks that much water really. Madmarchhare - am full of respect - bedtimes are such a nightmare with two I take the easy option with a bottle. Do you all give milk to drink before, after, or with brekkie?

If it were me I would get tough throw out the bottles give them a beaker and that's it if they drink it, they drink it if not then it won't do them any great harm not to have milk for a few weeks until the get the hang of it. Once they realise it's a beaker or nothing I'm sure they will drink it fine.

Hmm - that sounds rather like common sense to me ! DD was such an underweight rubbish drinker at birth I guess I have just concentrated on getting milk in to her. I will try to get rid of thye bottles during day ot least! were you confident that your DD liked milk enough to drink it out of anything eventually? I just think my DD only drinks it cos she likes sucking the bottle

DS has milk as a drink after breakfast and just before bed. None during the day as I find it inteferes with his appetite.

Honestly though, it wasnt too difficult giving up the bottle, and if they already take water....

Although, DS was always fairly good at going to sleep by himself, do yout DTs go to sleep whilst having their bottle?

from 1 year the recommended amount is between 12-20 ounces (roughly 350-600mls). This is inclusive of milk in cereal, in foods and any dairy products e.g. yoghurt and cheese.

My dd stopped bottles at around 13/14 months and had a sippy cup of milk along with breakfast and an avent cup of milk before bed. The rest of her intake was from cheese sauces, yoghurts, etc. She now (age 2.1) has either some milk or calcium fortified orange juice with breakfast (tropicana) and has one or two drinky yoghurts or ordinary yoghurts a day as well. She still enjoys anything in a cheese sauce too (e.g. pasta, broccoli, etc).

Have you tried using a cup with a straw instead of a sippy cup or even an open cup e.g. doidy cup. I let my dd use open cups in her highchair/in booster seat from around that age or a bit younger.

doidy cup

Thanks madmarchhare. No, fortunately they dont drink themselves to sleep with their bottle. I really think DD is so resistant because she likes sucking the bottle. Did your DS get dehydrated from not drinking the milk or did he just drink more water?I tried yet another kind of cup - looks like a bottle but with a very soft flexible sucking bit with threee holes that the milk just falls out of but she was not impressed. And thanks for the info Seona1973 - have tried a cup/ straw combo but will just try an ordinary straw. What is a doidy cup by the way?

He did drink very little for those first couple of days, but he has days like that now from time to time. I wouldnt worry too much about that.

Just have water around for them and carry on as you would like it to be. Im sure they'll get the hang of it when they realise they're not getting their bottle back (if they dont usually rely on their bottle to get all sleepy then it might not be too bad).

You will have to be tough though. Like most things if you give in, it will be harder next time.