What are your plans re weaning from formula bottles at 12mo?

[Indigo77]

I'm trying to slowly reduce his formula consumption, but I have a feeling he will still want his bottles beyond age 1.

 

[KozmikKitten]

I hope you get some responses! I am looking for info on this too. My son is younger than yours, at 9 months one week, but his Dr suggested trying to get him to use a sippy cup now so that he is weaned from the bottle at one....so I think the two kind of go hand in hand (I wont be giving him cows milk until much closer to 1 though!).

 

[GracieGoo]

My ds was off bottles by 11 mths (still actually cant believe we managed to do it!!) But literally at 10.5 mths I was still holding his bottle, whilst he was sat on my lap and I feeding him so it was quite amazing. So one day I just refused to hold his bottle, and let his sit on my lap, next day I sat him next to me, and the next day I got a different coloured sippy cup from his water cup (but the same cup), and gave him that - he only took about 3-4oz, and we had lots of tears, so I helped him have a little bit more and praised lots, the next day he had a bit more and so on.... As much as I hated the crying, it wasnt for too long and I gave him lots of reassurance, and held his hand and such, and was just there for him as much as possible without giving in so to speak. I felt I needed to get him off the bottle, as I was due his baby sister 2 weeks after his 1st birthday, and was worried he would get upset or try to 'steal' her milk which is why I started the process a bit earlier. Some people though dont take their baby off the bottle by 1 at all though. I would give it a try, if it is causing baby problems, then give them the bottle back and try again in a few more weeks. I think the thing to remember is that the 12 mth thing is a guideline, it doesnt have to be the exact time, so there is no need to completely rush through it.

Also my ds was only on 1 bottle a day from 9 mths, although he loved this bottle, I imagine it would be a lot harder if baby was still on a lot of bottles. I know my friends daughter (same age), is still on a night bottle, but managed to swop over her other 2 bottles to cups by doing it one at a time, and she is now working on the last bottle...


Good luck when the time comes

 

[Noelle610]

Same. I think the cow's milk will be a non-issue, but it's the bottles I'm concerned about.

I will probably keep them for a few more months. It's comforting for her in the morning and at night. It's frustrating that breastfed babies can keep their source of comfort, but bottle fed babies are encouraged to give it up. Obviously I understand the practical issues, but emotionally I have a hard time with it.

 

[Indigo77]

He has been drinking water from his sippy cup for months & loves it,
but he has bottles of formula when he naps (2x/day),
for bedtime & sometimes for his 4 am dream feed.

It's also our time to be quiet together & cuddle before he falls asleep.
I'm dreading the end of this. He's so active now...he's always on the move...

 

[overcomer79]

I think my dd is close to self weaning. She wants food. She hardly drinks her bottles and I'm thinking of cutting them back honestly. She had cows milk in her sippy on saturday for the first time. It wasn't intentional though. We went to a family dinner and there was a four month old baby there. She was content after she ate but when that baby got his bottle, she threw a fit!!! We had left the formula at my parents' so my aunt gave her a cup of whole milk. She guzzled it. Last night she ate bread, eggs and diluted orange/pineapple juice and had a bottle so I didn't give her a bedtime bottle. Instead, I rocked her down for five to ten minutes.

 

[bubbles123]

Same. I think the cow's milk will be a non-issue, but it's the bottles I'm concerned about.

I will probably keep them for a few more months. It's comforting for her in the morning and at night. It's frustrating that breastfed babies can keep their source of comfort, but bottle fed babies are encouraged to give it up. Obviously I understand the practical issues, but emotionally I have a hard time with it.

I completley agree. Whilst I do understand why they say to ditch bottles at 12 months unless the child is happy to do so I think it's a bit mean. I tried at 12 months and my son was so upset! He was fine with cows milk but loved his bottles so much I let him self wean in the end, which he did happily at 2 years 9 months. I think my daughter will give them up much sooner, she is not that bothered by milk anymore and is drinking less and less milk (half formula half cows) so I will let her wean off bottles herself and I think it'll be pretty soon.

 

[Indigo77]

I like the self-weaning idea, but I haven't looked into why they say to stop bottles at 12 months...

 

[bubbles123]

I like the self-weaning idea, but I haven't looked into why they say to stop bottles at 12 months...

I'm no expert but from what I understand they say sucking on bottles will affect the development of teeth, cause tooth decay (as liquid is in contact with the teeth for longer with a teat) and that as children take more liquid from a bottle it can contribute to obesity.

So I made sure I only gave him milk in bottles (any other drink was in a sippy cup), never let him suck for a long time or take a bottle to bed, gave small amounts (5ozs or so, I gave him more if he asked but not in one go) and brushed his teeth straight afterwards.

By doing that I was comfortable I was minimising any problems with long term bottle use.

 

[JMB1992]

I agree with others that there no rush. I think 12 months is still very little and they still need around 16oz per day from age 1. So if they wont take it from a sippy cup then the only other option is a bottle. I definetely wont be taking away my lg's bottle when shes 1 in 2 weeks.