So we tried to go cold turkey on the bottles..

and we caved. I am so frustrated. My DS is 20 months, I've tried the cold turkey thing once before and it was a disaster. He will NOT drink out of a sippy cup and will not drink anything but milk. ever. The few times he was sick and throwing up, the doctor told me to cut out the milk, the boy drank nothing but about 2 oz. of pedialyte for 2 days.

We also have issues with eating, so I generally rely on the milk for him to get protein as well, since he eats so few things.

He's moving up again in a month or so at daycare, so we thought we'd give it a whirl this weekend. Disaster. He drank nothing all day, and no nap, since he had no bottle. He was crying and walking over and holding on to the refrigerator door all afternoon. I finally caved at about 7:30 since he had been screaming for an hour and it's so hot out and I really didn't see him going to sleep.

I guess I am just venting, but was wondering did anyone else have a DS that had a hard time switching? Did they just eventually try the cup. I have every kind of cup, he's been offered the cup since about 6 or 7 months, but several times daily since about 13 months. He will walk around holding it, but won't drink out of it.

Message edited 8/15/2009 10:09:12 PM.

Re: So we tried to go cold turkey on the bottles..

I"m so sorry!

My DD would never drink milk out a cup. She just isn't a milk drinker. She will drink water and diluted juice though. I make sure she gets her dairy other ways. Will your DC drink anything out of the cup? My ped suggested just letting her go "on strike" she will drink if she was thirsty. He was right, but just not milk. I was never a milk drinker, so I never really forced it. As long as she was drinking something.

Will he eat ice pops or drink out of a regular cup while you try to stop the bottle? As long as he is getting some fluids you just may have to grin and bear the crying for a few days. They say it only takes 3 days to change a habit, which I find to be true...but in the hot summer you don't want him dehydrating.

Good luck

Re: So we tried to go cold turkey on the bottles..

Won't drink out of a regular cup either and he won't take any fluid, no water, no juice. If he was drinking something, I wouldn't care so much about him not drinking the milk. I haven't tried ice pops, maybe I will try that. Thanks for the reply.

Message edited 8/15/2009 10:40:23 PM.

Re: So we tried to go cold turkey on the bottles..

Sorry D, doesn't sound like fun. I like the ice pop idea--at least he's getting "fluids".

I also 2nd the 3 day rule...that worked w/ Gracie's paci (giving it up) & I heard it for a few other things too.

I'd hide all the bottles so he can't see them & what if you make a big deal about buying a new cup; letting him pick; etc. He won't even drink juice? (We never give DD juice, except for special occasions & so its a treat)

In any respect

Re: So we tried to go cold turkey on the bottles..

No advice, we are in the same boat...well kinda.

Noah loves Juice and drinks from a sippy cup or a regular cup ...But wont drink Milk from ANYTHING but a bottle...so he has two bottles still a day.

For me, ( no daycare issues) I have given up...I know its bad, especially b/c of his speech issues and the bottle promotes a tongue thrush forward but I cannot battle over this, to me it seems like such a small thing. But he doesnt walk around with a bottle or anything like that.

In your situation, I guess its harder b/c you really need him to drink something else.

What about starting with the cups that kinda look like bottles? I just saw some new ones at BRU last week ( was gonna try them with milk to see how it went)....maybe try juice in those?

Lots of Luck.

Re: So we tried to go cold turkey on the bottles..

try making the holes in the nipple much larger ....sometimes it is the controlle flow that they like....also...put something tastey in a sippy cup.....i did chocolate milk with my niece...worked like a charm!

Good luck to you! Stay strong!

Re: So we tried to go cold turkey on the bottles..

I didn't have a hard time - I did it over the course of a few weeks starting at 12 months. I do think the earlier you do it the easier in the long run so starting now versus in another few months will make it easier on YOU and him.

Does he use a sippy cup at school? I have to say, it was always amazing to see how much peer pressure will convince them to do things. If he's using it at school, then there is no reason why he shouldn't be able to switch.

Re: So we tried to go cold turkey on the bottles..

We went cold turkey a few months ago. Some days she still asks for a baba, but we just ignore it.

She loves straws so we bought her cups with lids and straws and that has helped her drink her milk. And some days she won't have any, but she loves yogurt so we give her that.

I agree with the ice pops, they make slow melting pops so there is no much mess.

Good luck.

Re: So we tried to go cold turkey on the bottles..

Right there with you. Ds is almost 14 months and i've tried going cold turkey this weekend on the bottles.

He's been miserable, not napping well and won't drink much at all. I just keep giving him water. He drinks water from his sippy like a pro. So frustrating.

I did give him a bedtime bottle. I had to. Otherwise he would have been up all night.

Now he's been up for 45 minutes and won't drink from the sippy. He usually wants it first thing. He keeps saying "ba ba."

I have every sippy cup imaginable too....

Message edited 8/16/2009 7:17:49 AM.