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JackieSlavin · Apr 18, 2007, 01:57 AM

My son will be 3 years old next month. He still insists on having a bottle when he goes to sleep, this doesn't bother me at all, it's the waking up 5 times a night to keep giving him a new one that does. I would just like to know the best way to go about weaning him off it all together?

curlybenswife · Apr 18, 2007, 02:20 AM

I've got this pleasure coming although I have never let our daughter go to bed with a drink of any kind.
My sister just stopped giving her son the bottle he has a drink in the kitchen before bed and that's it. She did have a few weeks of hell but then a few weeks is nothing compared to being woken for more milk in the night right.
Its time to get tough and take control you could try buying him a really posh cup with a straw for his final drink before bed but stay strong don't cave it will be worth it in the end.

alkalineangel · Apr 18, 2007, 06:05 AM

I agree... one night I threw all the bottles out (mainly so I wouldn't cave in) and from the next morning on, it was a sippy cup... although, at 3 years of age, he should start learning to drink from a small plastic lidless cup... We weaned off the bottle at 12 months, when he started to walk, and then weaned off the sippy cup around age 2 1/2... he now drinks from a normal cup at 3 1/2 years.

Emland · Apr 18, 2007, 06:44 AM

Plan ahead for several nights of no sleep then make him go cold turkey. You will be up for a few nights in a row getting him back down and settled, but it will be worth it in the long run. The longer he goes the harder it will be to break the habit.

I had the same problem with my daughter, but it was the pacifier rather than the bottle.

Good luck!

vlee · Apr 19, 2007, 02:41 PM

Tell your son he is now a big boy, and that it is time for his bottle to go away. Throw it out, and never look back. He may scream and cry and fuss for a few nights, but he will go to sleep without it. You have waited so long to do this however, that your torment will likely last longer than those parents who did it when their children were younger. Your son has a much better memory than a 12 month old, so don't be surprised if he gives you a hard time for quite a while. But don't cave in! My son never had a bottle in bed. He did take a sippy cup when he was 2, but only with water, so he really only used it if he was thirsty (since there was nothing too yummy in it). Your son needs to get used to not having overnight drinks, since no doubt you would like to sleep through the night. Just be patient, expect a lot of crying and protesting, and don't give up!

Fr_Chuck · Apr 19, 2007, 03:56 PM

Yep, thow it out, get the siip cup and go for it. Time to learn the tough parts of being a parent at times.

missk · Apr 21, 2007, 11:59 AM

My son is 18 months and I stopped the bottles at about 13 months. I just had to throw them all way and told baby bottles are "all gone". It is hard at first but it only gets better. It's going to be like that at every stage of his life and you just got to put your foot down and go for it! :)