How can I get my 3yo off the bottle???

**Lin** · 17-07-2009 21:43

Hello all!
My 3yo dd still loves to go to sleep of a night time with a bottle which, ashamedly I've let go on a bit long now! But it was easy to have her go to bed with a bottle (and stay quiet) while I got used to having another bub to feed and settle etc....But how do you get rid of something they are so partial to??
I took her out shopping today and I had her choose her own special cup and explained to her that she might like to drink her milk from this instead of a bottle because she's such a big girl now etc and she seemed quite happy with this idea.
She drank from it tonight while I read her a story and then tucked her into bed with her teddy....then of course we wanted the bottle!

I realise this might take a few nights to get used to but is there any other ideas I could try to get rid of the bottle?? (I guess I shouldn't have had her so reliant on it for so long! It's such a comfort to her - and now I have a job on my hands trying to get her off it!)
Any suggestions? Thank you muchly!

Me · 17-07-2009 21:46

My neighbours had the same problem, they just put their foot down and said no more.

Best of luck, it's not an easy thing

**JabberJaw** · 17-07-2009 21:48

My 2 middle ones were the same. Theirs got chucked in the wheelie bin and that was the end of them. It only took a few days and they were over it.

**Boobycino** · 17-07-2009 21:50

I've heard of this working for dummies with older toddlers, maybe it could work for bottles?

Make up some exciting story about the bottle fairies and they come and collect the bottles from the big kids so that the new babies who are being born can have bottles to drink from. Make it exciting and interesting. Get a present bag or something bright and colourful from like a $2 shop, and get her to collect her bottles from the cupboard and put them in, and then get a ribbon and have her tie the bag to a tree outside for the bottle fairies to come and collect the bottles.

And then sneak out when she's gone to bed and take the bag and throw it in the bin

or, you know, donate them to an op-shop, put some truth into the story.

And then give her the sippy cups, and if she asks about the bottles remind her that the faires came and gave the bottles to all the new babies in the world.

I've heard it works with dummies, it could be worth a try?

**Hooves** · 17-07-2009 21:55

My 3 year old is the same, still wants the bottle sometimes.

We did the Santa and Easter bunny thing for the other two kids.

Which sadly is a bit late for you. LOL

I conned mine by saying Santa will take it when he leaves your gifts, that worked a treat, on my daughter, the Easter bunny worked a treat on my oldest boy.

My 3 year old, is struggling, but we are staying firm. Problem is, we have new bottles in the house for the new bub. I am using different ones for bub, then what the three year old was having, though. And bub only has the odd bit of water, at the moment, as I am breast feeding.

BUT sheesh it is hard to convince a persisitant child that there is no more bottle.

I honestly think the best thing to do, is bribe the bottle for a gift. LOL Let your child throw the bottle out, or leave a note for who ever to take it and leave a YAY big person, gift.

Good luck with it, though. They are master manipulators.

**jag5000** · 17-07-2009 21:59

I hate to admit that the Easter bunny took my DD's dummies! lol

**Lastcenturymum** · 17-07-2009 21:59

Isn't it interesting that what we sometimes do to make life easier at the time become a rod for our backs down the track?

I'm no help as my only ffeeder never took a bottle to bed and was off a bottle by 9 months anyway.

But I agree, you have to be tough and strong and not give in if you decide to dispose of them. Good luck!

**HarvestMoon** · 17-07-2009 22:00

I had a 3 year old who was still addicted to his night time bottle. I just decided i'd had enough one day and threw them all out. He obviously whinged and carried on for a while.. wanting his bottle but he got over it.

**jag5000** · 17-07-2009 22:01

oh.. just a tip that I have gathered,

if you do just take them away and be firm.. REALLY throw them away. Don't just put them in a drawer or similar.. too much temptation for YOU if she has a bad first night or 2

**cja** · 17-07-2009 22:09

Hi,
I just went through a similar thing getting rid of my 2.5yr old DS dummy.

I don't think there is an easy solution once they get to this age, you have to go through a couple of tough nights while they accept that the item is indeed gone and come up with a new settling routine. I cut the top off DS dummy and as it was 'broken' we took it out to the big wheelie bin. We also did this with nappies when DS was TT so he has the idea that things in the bine are gone. Couple of tough nights, but stuck to our normal routines and in less than a week he no longer asks for it. As PP have said I am really glad the dummy was gone in the big bin because I think I might have given in on the second tough night!

Goodluck!