Bottle Breaking Your Child

Every parent has had to go through, or will at some point go through the bottle breaking stage . Every parent who has come to that point with there child knows how difficult it can be. I have 3 daughters 2 of which I have already bottle broke. This was my strategy.

Let your child pick out their own new "big kid cup". Allowing them to pick out the one they like, can help them want to use the cup more often. Once you actually have the cup, start giving it to your child once a day, with just a little bit of liquid in it. This way your not throwing them into it to fast.

Still allow your child to continue with the bottle . After your child gets used to the difference between the "big kid cup" and the bottle, start giving then there cup more often. Try to have then drink out of there cup until nap time. Then before your child's nap allow them to have their bottle back. After nap time continue with the bottle. Try that for about a week.

Then start having your child use their "big kid cup" all day except give them there bottle at naptime and be time. As soon as your child wakes up, take their bottle away, and give them their "big kid cup". If you do that for a week or so, it should be long enough for your child to realize that a bottle is for bed time or when they go to sleep.

After your child recognizes that a bottle is only for bed time, start taking it way at naptime. When your child gets ready for their nap continue to give them their "big kid cup". There maybe fussing or fighting, hold your ground. This can be one of the difficult parts of bottle breaking. Just reassure your child that they are big kids now , and big kids don't use bottles.

Once you have successfully stopped using the bottle at naptime, try taking it away at bed time. This was the most difficult part of bottle breaking my children. There was so much fussing and crankiness, it was almost unbearable, but I got through it and so did they. As soon as your child is comfortable without having there bottle at bed time. You are almost home free. This can also be the longest step in the bottle breaking process. Don't get discouraged, deepening on how attached your child is to there bottle is how fast its going to go.

After your child is now done using their bottle, make sure to get rid of the ones you have in the house. Make sure you get a few more of the cups your child likes. I took all of my daughters bottles out of the cupboard and replaced all of them with cups that she liked. I also purchased a few small toys and such. I placed the toys up in the cupboard where her bottles were. When your child gets up make it a point to show them that there are no more bottles, they are all "big kid cups"

This worked wonderful for my daughters, it does take a while but if you hold your ground it really can work great.

When it comes to bottle breaking, you have to find out what works for your child. There are many ways to try to bottle break your child. I'm sure you've heard of tons of ways. I just wanted to share my success story, on how I was able to bottle break my children.

Just make sure to always stay clam, this is stressful for you and your child. Don't get angry when your child wants their bottle. It's what they know and what they are used to. It will happen it just takes time.