Bottles, solids, sippies and more :)

TMWarren85 · March 2014

To forewarn you, I am always long-winded. I am sorry.

I am a walking advertisement that each kid is different, at least I tell myself that to not feel so idiotic being a STM and still being so clueless, but here goes-

DS turned one 3/2, he has completely transitioned to whole milk, but isn't digging the whole milk out of a sippy cup thing. He has ALWAYS been a big eater, he's off the charts for his height and smack dab in the middle for weight so it was never really a concern and his doctor has always said his food/milk is going to bone growth so it's completely fine. At his one year appointment we discussed his milk intake since we were transitioning to cow's milk, and his pedi recommended approximately 24oz. milk/day, and transition to sippy cups.

DS was drinking 36-40oz milk/day, and would drink water/juice out of sippy, but not really milk. His suggestion was to focus purely on reducing quantity and only offer water in sippy cups, and then once that was down try milk in sippy cups again. Almost like holding the power button down on the cable box, he said for some kids it 'resets' their thoughts on sippy cups if you cut back a bit.

So, we got down to around 24oz. milk/day and this weekend tried to get back to sippy cups. We got down to three bottles a day (from five), first thing in the morning, after nap, and then at bed time. But he gets really fussy during those times he's used to getting a bottle and will almost 'strike' against solids. I can give him stuff he loves and he will hold out for his bottle. URGH! He did do well with milk in the sippy cup at breakfast and snack time, in fact we made it past his normal 10am bottle time without an issue, but once 2pm hit (would have been his next normal bottle time) he was almost inconsolable. He wouldn't eat anything and just cried (unless you held him) so I gave in and he had a bottle and was his normal self again.

It doesn't help that during the week at daycare if he doesn't eat his solids well they will follow it with baby food, so he know's he'll get what he wants eventually.

To this point we haven't been that concerned (and really, he's not even 13 months so concerned is still a bit overstated) about his eating habits because my daughter was the exact opposite- she was above the chart in height, but below in weight. She finally hit 2% at one, so we would give her anything and everything to gain weight- so since my son seemed to eat anything and everything I haven't thought much about HOW he gets his nutrients over the fact that he IS getting his nutrients.

I am sort of at a loss- Do I just move forward and make him 'get used to it'? I feel so bad with the thought of that! Do I keep going and reduce the number of bottles slower and space it out more? And how can I get him to eat more solids? He will suck down a pouch of HappyTot anything like it's nobodies business, and eat carbs until the cows come home (unless he's on a bottle strike) but turkey or hot dogs? Nope- Cheese quesadilla? Nope-

TIA- and while I welcome ALL advice, if it's negative please try to put a positive spin on it, I already struggle internally with this situation and would prefer not to have more negativity weighing on me.

hollygb22 · March 2014

i think you just need to come up with a plan and stick to it. If you're going to get rid of bottles and transition him to the sippy, then it might be best to quit bottles cold turkey. Sure, he might not drink milk for a day or two or even three..but if you give in and give the bottle, I feel like your transition will drag on and and on.

DD is 16 months and i remember when we went through this right at 12 months, my pedi told us..if she goes on a strike once you get rid of the bottle and refuses milk..she'll survive since you should view milk as a beverage with meals and not as a meal in a bottle after 12 months.

As for daycare...I would tell them what you want to do and expect them to stick to it. If he doesn't want solids and they give in an give him baby food (not sure if this is purees) I wouldn't be happy. I would want them to mimic what you're doing at home so its consistent.

pb_bride · March 2014

We didn't have to do the bottle to cup transition (DS was EBF), but in terms of the amt of milk, can you just do cold turkey with the bottles, AND offer WCM in sippy cup WITH meals? This is what we've always done since we started weaning him from BFing. DS gets WCM with meals and with snacks, and water in between (including before naps and bedtime).

A totally different issue is the eating solids - refusing foods and wanting pouches etc. I would first deal with the bottle/WCM issue first. Then I'd recommend reading Fearless Feeding - it has lots of great advice and tips on how to feed babies/toddlers/children.

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