bedtime bottle to sippy transition: why?

DS and DD have been using sippy cups for a while now to drink their water during the day, and to drink their milk when they wake up. We have continued to give them a bottle of milk at bedtime and had been planning on making that change this week -- mostly we just wanted to get some other changes/disruptions out of the way before making the bedtime change on the theory that they're not going to drink as much from the sippy as they do from the bottle, and that it could effect sleep for a short while until we get it sorted out. But now I'm wondering: why the change at all? I mean, I understand wanting to make the switch in general -- the kids should be comfortable using a sippy and also working on drinking from a "real" cup (which they are), and we don't want them running around with bottles forever, but what is the rationale behind getting rid of the bedtime bottle at this stage? (And I know we're doing it late as it is.) I'm going to do it and all, but I'm just wondering: why? And did anyone wait this long, or longer, before eliminating that one last actual bottle?

 

We stopped because our kids did not need to drink that much milk (16-20 oz a day), and they were drinking more than their fair share during the day. We switched to sippies which was painless, and then started giving it to them with their dinner. Before we knew it, the bedtime "bottle" was eliminated totally.

Another reason we stopped is because we incorporated brushing our teeth into our nighttime routine. I did not want to brush their teeth, and then give them milk afterwards.

ETA: We finally eliminated the milk at bedtime at around 16 months.

 

All of mine had a bottle before bed until after they turned 3. I never understood the need to switch earlier either :unknw:

 

I'm not sure of the reasoning, I know the reasoning behind not letting your child take a bottle of juice/milk to bed, but the bedtime bottle I don't know. That said we stopped the bedtime bottle with my oldest DD at 15 months. For the twins they still get a bedtime bottle now, but we plan to stop in 2 weeks or so before we go on vacation. We will replace it with a small snack and sippy of milk.

 

I think it has more to do with logisitics. They start developing an attachment to the bottle, which makes it harder to eliminate. By stopping all bottles at a younger age, the process *tends* to go more smoothly.

We actually stopped all bottles before their 1st birthday. We had slowly switched to sippies during the day. Well, the first time we tried to give a sippy at bedtime, Aaron threw it across the room in a rage. Guess he didn't like it. We just put him to bed without the nightcap and never looked back.

 

We stopped as soon as we stopped formula. For one thing, I didn't want to start a habit I would have to break later--that is, I knew I wouldn't want them drinking right before bed when we started potty training, so why make a habit of it. Mine have had dinner at 5:30, and then don't get anything until bedtime unless they ask. We have done the same thing since they were 11 1/2 months old.

 

I agree with Sharon. We stopped it when we transitioned to whole milk. The longer you wait the more difficult it will be to remove it, since they will get more attached to it. I think in the long run it will definitely help with potty training.

 

QUOTE(Mellizos @ Jun 4 2007, 03:23 PM) [snapback]279074[/snapback]
I think it has more to do with logisitics. They start developing an attachment to the bottle, which makes it harder to eliminate. By stopping all bottles at a younger age, the process *tends* to go more smoothly.


I was going to write this but its already here.

We also stopped bottles at the same time we stopped formula.

 

All of my reasons are already listed (including no more formula = no more bottles, change in bedtime routine to incorporate teeth brushing, the lack of need for the milk since they only need 2-3 cups max and they were getting that during the daytime) what I wanted to mention was for us it was actually better that they weren't drinking as much since like I said they didn't need to since they were getting the recommended amount daily without the bedtime bottle. Changing from bottle to sippy to eventually no drink at bedtime at all except water with teeth brushing has not effected their sleep at all. For us there was not even a 'sorting out' period. I think that was because at that point K&K were drinking it out of habit not hunger, which I guess brings me full circle back to not wanting to continue habits I knew I would want to break and the time when we were done with formula seemed to just make sense to also be done with bottles.

 

No need at this early age, imho. The only upside is that I think the cups are easier to clean then the bottles. I don't even remember when we finally switched the bedtime milk from bottle to sippy. 20 months? It was painless at that point, since they'd been having nap time sippy cups for so long. They still get a sippy of milk before bed right now, and I think our goal is to have that cut out by 3. We'll see. Whenever the boys are ready. I try not to rush anything, and most transitions have been pretty easy so far.

 

We kept up the bedtime bottles until they turned 2 as well. Besides the logistics argument there is no physical (tooth decay) or developmental reason to give it up if you're brushing teeth before bed. For my girls it was a comfort thing. It was part of their bedtime routine and there are so many other transitions to deal with at that time. We had no trouble giving up the bottles later rather than sooner. In fact, I found it easier when they were older and could understand and communicate more. Once we switched to food snacks at night, they drank less anyway and had no problem giving up their bottles. Do whatever works best for your family.