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2 1/2 year old frustrations with a bottle

jfortescue18jfortescue18 member
in Toddlers: 24 Months+

I just had a new baby 8 weeks ago, and not surprisingly my 2 1/2 year LO has become increasingly frustrating. I know that she is going through a lot of changes (including changing daycare providers, which has been a HUGE transition) so I am really trying to maintain my patience. She has gone from a very sweet toddler, who listens to instructions and rules, to one that is constantly challenging authority and ignoring our requests/rules. It is driving me crazy!!!

One thing that really bugs me is that she has recently become very dependent on a bottle that she has in the morning. It's the only bottle she has, but now she demands it and cries for it. If I attempt to not give it to her, then she throws a horrible tantrum. We never thought too much about it before because she honestly didn't seem too dependent on it until the last couple of months. Now I'm starting to worry that we waited too long to eliminate it. What is the best strategy for getting rid of it? Has anyone else gone through this with a new baby, or are we just horrible parents?!?!

Sorry to be melodramatic. I am just struggling because of the drastic change in her demeanor, and really feeling like I'm fighting a never-ending battle :(

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Re: 2 1/2 year old frustrations with a bottle

  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] member
    I don't have any experience but could you maybe talk about how soon the bottle is going to go away (maybe even the "Bottle Fairy" can come if you want to go that route) and because she is a big girl she is going to get a brand new cup of her own to drink her milk out of? You could take her to the store and let her pick one out so she gets just what she wants and that may make it more exciting.

    Since there is so much new adjustment in her life I probably wouldn't think it a bad thing to let her have the bottle a bit longer if it's a comfort for her but if she doesn't drop it on her own after awhile longer I'd probably just go cold turkey with it. It might be a rough few days but it might be the best way to get rid of it. I wouldn't be surprised if she drops it on her own, though, once things settle down again a bit for her since you said she wasn't too dependent on it before the new baby came.
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  • rlyttlerlyttle member
    Have you explained to her that bottles are for babies and she is a big girl? We have started a sticker board for DS. It's really helped with his meltdowns. He wants things HIS way and when HE wants them. He will argue over what car we drive to the store. "NO I WANT TO DRIVE DADDY'S CAR"!! So we started the sticker board and he gets a sticker every time he "helps" mommy or daddy. When he gets 10 stickers he gets to go to the "ice cream store". It doesn't work every time, but we are having less meltdowns over him not getting his way.  
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  • jfortescue18jfortescue18 member

    Thanks for the suggestions. We took it away cold turkey yesterday morning, and funny enough, she didn't even ask for it today! We'll see tomorrow, but I'm crossing my fingers!

    And thanks for the suggestion, @rlyttle. She is EXACTLY like this (even demands certain cars, too! Ugh). She definitely knows what she wants, and will demand it very clearly. We pick our battles, but sometimes it can be really exhausting because she has a very strong personality. We'll have to give the sticker concept a try! :)

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