Illustration by CELSO QUIJANO

Q. Dearest Paolo and Suzi,

Cherryl M. Cabarles

Paolo says...

Hi Cherryl! Weaning your baby from the bottle can be a challenge, both for your baby and for you as a parent. Usually, it’s us who decide when it’s time. So we force our kids to match the weaning schedule and deadline that we have set and imposed those on them. But remember to be patient when there is your child resists it. It’s inevitable.

From your letter, it already sounds like the bottle is less and less important to your toddler. So it may be less challenging for you to wean her at this time. Anyway as you have said, nutritionally, she is already getting what she needs from the solid foods she is already eating.

First off, remember that weaning can be a bit of a “stress” for a child. So it’s probably best to consider the timing. Take care not to time it with other major changes in the home so it’s less “traumatic” for your child. It may sound overly dramatic but every little bit we can do to make it easier for them is a big help in the long run.

Does you child use a sippy cup? If so, you can simply try to encourage her to trade her bottle for that the cup. Then from there, your baby can turn to a glass. If trading a bottle for a sippy cup doesn’t work, maybe you can try a strategy like putting half of her milk in the bottle and half in the sippy cup. Your child will be used to drinking a certain amount of milk from her bottle and when she finds the bottle is quickly drained, she’ll want more. When she sees that the sippy cup has more milk in it, she might be willing to drink from the cup to get her fill.

Another strategy is to make her bottle less attractive. This can mean filling the bottle with a watered-down mix of her milk, while offering the sippy cup with the mix that she is used too. If things go according to plan, she will prefer the cup to her bottle because it is the milk that she is used to. All the while, you must make sure to always praise her efforts to try the sippy cup so she feels happy to do it. You can even make a game out of it. For example, every time she takes a sip, you can make an animal noise. Pretty soon, she will be sipping just to hear you moo or meow.

Keep in mind that even at 2 ½ years old, your child’s bottle is one of her treasured “security blankets.” It is something that she turns to for comfort and is likely to be part of her bedtime ritual. Be patient because even as an adult losing something that gives you feelings of comfort and familiarity can be somewhat stressful. Be prepared for a few challenges in the process, but with time and the right approach, success will come. Good luck Mommy!

Suzi says...

Hi Cherryl! Weaning a child from anything is going to be a huge challenge. I’m glad to hear though that your baby eats rice well. And with fish too! It’s a great source of protein.  So at least you can be sure that you are not weaning him from his major source of nutrients. Some kids your child’s age might still be taking in too much milk, thus limiting his appetite for solid foods. Two glasses a day should be plenty for your child at this time. 

So here we go. Try to explain first to your child (may I assume that he’s a boy?) that you will have to wean him off the bottle. Tell him the reasons why. Prolonged bottle feeding might have an effect on the development of his jaw and teeth. There is a higher likelihood of him developing cavities if the milk stays in his mouth too long if he is in the habit of using his bottle as a sleep inducer. And lastly, he is becoming a big boy and big boys drink milk from a glass.

Do try to get him excited for the event. Take him out shopping so that he can pick out his own milk glass. Maybe he would like one with his favorite cartoon character. Do try to drink milk with him. It is always inspiring when you see someone else doing what you have to do. Remember, even though he has drunk milk all his life, taking it from a different container will certainly be a bit of a challenge. Imagine drinking soda from a feeding bottle instead of a straw. It’s still soda, but not quite the same.

Lastly, stand your ground.  Consult with everyone at home and tell them that this is what you want for your child. You must all be united meaning there shouldn’t be anyone who should play good cop and give your child the bottle because he is crying. I tell you, this is likely to happen!  So brace yourself, be strong and be patient. Goodluck mommy!