Is it OK to keep a bedtime bottle at age four?

[DearDog96]

In a recent post about my MIL’s comment towards DD it was highlighted that I needed to get her out of nappies, off the dummy and going to bed without her bottle. The dummy I took away straight away and we’ve been doing well since, and nappies we’re going to try this weekend. With a baby on the way in a few months time I’m inclined to leave the bottle for now as it’s only once a day and it’s her comfort before bed, plus I feel like I’ve rocked the boat enough already! What’s everyone’s thoughts? Did any of your kids keep the night bottle at 4+?

I have to lie my four year old down on a blanket as he is too heavy for the changing table.

To be fair @DearDog96 I've seen the size of some of the bowel movements my own 4 year old does. I apologise for my recent post but I geniunely couldn’t imagine giving my own child those things they are big at this age and it would feel ever so slightly wrong to me to be passing her them! My little girl did walk through transitions though and always has so I guess I’m lucky because she got rid of her dummy before she was 1 got rid of her bottle by 18 months and was out of nappies by 26 months and every child is different! You’ve just got to work hard now and get those done I wouldn’t like to be you changing those poos 🥲

Op how are you getting on today?
If no real progress, call your HV, thinking it might take another few days before she's able to come out. You can always cancel if you don't need her in a few days.

A first wee on the toilet which is great news! Lots of accidents still though. I might just do that - good idea. Thank you!

Hopefully the toilet might be more appealing and comfortable for her than a potty, also saves you cleaning it.

Bottles should disappear from 18 months. It can damage their teeth as presumably she isn’t brushing after the bottle, or is she, and it can affect the position of their teeth?

I’d pretend the bottle was broken and make a big deal of having no more in the cupboard, then put it in a cup

My friend's daughter left hers with me for our next-door neighbours cat who she liked to talk to.

She’s not in anyway constipated is she? Being constipated can interfere the messages about wanting to go.

No I don’t think so, she’s pretty regular and it’s never too hard (sorry if tmi!)

By 4yo surely she must know she needs a wee? Why is she going on the floor?

Id expect at 4yo you just say to her right no more weeing on the floor, you’re a big girl now and you go on the toilet.

Is she holding wees between wees? Does she drink loads?

She’s not deliberately going on the floor (as far as I’m aware!) she just doesn’t make it in time/can’t hold it so ends up having an accident.

she drinks a fair amount but not excessively and I guess she’s holding a bit but not very much

Have you tried fancy pants? Nobody wants to get barbie or elsa wet.

Have you started a
routine yet of taking her at set times? Do you take her with you when you go to the loo?

Yes we bought some Elsa ones x

And yes to both of those! I ask her every half an hour but he normally says she’s fine. I should try making her just go and sit

Yes you make her sit on the toilet whether she says she needs to go or not. At this early stage of toilet training she doesn’t get a choice. Every hour you tell her it’s time to go sit on the toilet and do a wee. She needs to stay on the toilet for a few minutes each time. Don’t let her sit there for 2 seconds and then leave. She sits there for a few minutes each hour and you (or DH) stay with her. Have some books available to look at so she can relax and not feel bored.

Make sure she’s well hydrated. She needs to be drinking her normal amount of fluids and maybe a bit more. Plenty of wee means plenty of chances to do it in the toilet and make the connection between brain and bladder.

Yeah don’t ask her just put her on the toilet every hour or so and tell her to do a wee.

Waiting until age 4 assuming no medical issues is pretty poor sorry OP and you’ve made your child in turn lazy and comfortable with nappies

you need to insist she goes and sits on the loo every 30 minutes - just asking her is no good - 4 year olds are stubborn at the best of times - or fill her up on a fruit shoot and wait 20 mins and then make her go to the toilet

my twins aren’t much older than 4 and they dropped the bedtime bottle years before - you really do sound like you have babied her far too long - cup of milk before bed and that’s it’s. To night time toilet train it won’t even be milk before bedtime but no drinks at least 1 hour before starting bed

Yes you need to start making her sit for a while until she understands the sensation. You sound very wooly about it all still.

A star chart...10 stickers wins a prize .

We’ve got one of those!

What’s that supposed to mean?

Wooly means a bit lacking in commitment or nouse to get a job done. Like perhaps you're sort of standing back a bit and waiting for her to train, rather than proactively putting her on the toilet at set intervals. The use of the TV with the potty wasn't a great strategy either but hopefully with using the toilet that has stopped.

Have you seen improvements?

No I’ve been putting her on/asking ever 30 mins. We’ve had a bit more progress but still quite slow. Will speak to HV