27 month & refusing to hold his own bottle

i just dont know what to do! my 27mth old would'nt hold the bottle himself during milk time. He wants me to feed him like a newborn else he wont drink. my husband always blames me for this problem saying is my fault.....but my concern is he doesnt get enough nutrient cause he doesnt eat much other food. i've tried to refuse holding his bottle but then he wont drink, then wakes up at 2-3am crying. he wont let any other members of the family hold his bottle either. any mums know how to fix this problem.....any supernanny ideas?

Agree a 27month old shouldn't be having a bottle, certainly not at every meal during the day, I know some toddlers still like their evening milk in one for comfort. He also should be having milk during the night, kids that age are quite capable of going through the night without 'eating'.

I do think you need to go cold turkey, and brave it out for a few days. Give him a drink in a cup when he gets up, then his breakfast a little while later. Its a vicious circle, he is not going to eat more while he knows he's going to get his bottle, and the more milk in his bottle you give him the less hungry he'll feel and the less he'll eat. Just tell him the bottle is gone, usually the reality is not as bad as you imagine, maybe 2 or 3 days of upsets, then at the end of the week get him a little present for being such a big, grown up boy.

The above posts sum it up well.


As mentioned bottle weaning should be done earlier. Kids can drink out of an "adult" glass at 12-15 months. They can feed themselves almost without help at 15-18 months.


Unfortunately at 27 months you're in "Terrible Twos". You'll have a tough time weaning, but it needs to be done.


Our #1 had bottle until 3 years for the night time milk. Otherwise nothing from 12 months. Porcelain cups and real glasses at the table, and sippy cups or water bottles while out and about.

thanks guys for the feedback!l

there seems to be two issue then...one of using bottle and one of giving milk. I know there's no fixed rules to using the bottle cause I've heard from other mums that they give a bottle to their 6yr old!! so I gathered there's no rules as to when to stop giving a bottle. As for the milk i know i should decrease the amount given as he grows and replace it with other food stuff for nutrient's sake. but this holding bottle thing is just crazy so i will use the cold turkey way as suggested and prepare for a battle.


To Amanda Le - no there's nothing physically wrong with him, he is quite capable to hold the bottle if he wants to. I've been refusing the hold the bottle for him on and off for quite awhile now but I always give in :( cause I can't stand his screaming. It just drives me crazy. At 2-3am he doesn't demand milk he just cries. At meal time he runs around refusing food or just take 2-3 spoons then after 2hrs of each meal is his milk time and he gets 200ml.


To Cara - yes my son drinks anything from cups and bowls but just not milk. He must have it in a bottle! maybe is a comfort thing.

"I know there's no fixed rules to using the bottle cause I've heard from other mums that they give a bottle to their 6yr old!! so I gathered there's no rules as to when to stop giving a bottle."


You are right, but... There is a bigger issue at stake. He needs to learn to do new things and by himself. When children show interest in doing something "adult" like holding their own glass, do not hesitate. No matter if they spill, drop the glass or whatever, it is an opportunity not to be missed. Once you want them to change, they probably will have no interest.

axptguy38- hey thanks! you brought up a good point that I've never thought about.

"When children show interest in doing something "adult" like holding their own glass, do not hesitate."

Everytime my son shows interest in doing something "adult" I just tell him to play with his toys instand and not to bother. He always wants to wash the vegi, wash dishes in the kitchen with me. He likes to do things adulty all the time.....of course all but the bottle holding thingy!

axptguy38- hey thanks! you brought up a good point that I've never thought about.

"When children show interest in doing something "adult" like holding their own glass, do not hesitate."

Everytime my son shows interest in doing something "adult" I just tell him to play with his toys instand and not to bother. He always wants to wash the vegi, wash dishes in the kitchen with me. He likes to do things adulty all the time.....of course all but the bottle holding thingy!

Glad to help! :) You will find, of course, that things take much longer and are much more work when little one wants to "help". But it is worth it in the long run.


Our #1 went through a dish-washing phase where every night she would be standing on a stool, drenched (and preferably naked), for 20 minutes while "washing" all the dishes. I think she was about 2½ at the time. Then there was the "clearing the table" phase during which miraculously not a single dish was broken. We don't force her but we find it very important not to discourage all these things.


Some things we do insist on. At 3, she is old enough to go to the potty by herself instead of asking for help with every step. This meets with some complaints at times (ok, often) but since she'd rather not pee herself...


Heck, another example is all these HK kids who seem unable to walk from the 50 meters from point A to point B. I see all these 4-5 year-olds being carried up stairs. Come on! Our #1 hasn't been carried in the stairs since she was 2½, except for occasionally at bedtime and other special occasions. It's just one more step in making her independent. The girl can hike 2 kilometers without issues. And she enjoys it! Kids can do more than many people think, and they like being "a big girl/boy".



".of course all but the bottle holding thingy!"


Give it time. He'll get around to it again. ;)

AKKY, I wasn't sure from reading your post if you were trying to cut out the 2-3am milk or if you were just wanting him to hold the bottle himself and you were ok with giving milk. If you want to stop the middle of the night feed, try only offering water. We did that when our son was very young, 8 or 9 mths and he stopped waking up for milk. It might be a hard few days with crying but he will eventually get the message and at 27mths he should be able to understand your explaination - something along the lines of, we only drink milk during the day, or during meals, etc.


Please also be careful of dental carries/cavities. My mother used to feed me a bottle to bed and I ended up with a mouthful of cavities and very traumatic childhood memories of the dentist and getting my teeth drilled. Once you have developed a certain bacteria in the mouth, you will always be prone to cavities...something to keep in mind unless you are brushing his teeth after the 2-3am bottle...