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Expert Q&A
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| By David L. Fay, M.D. Family Physician Associate Director, Waukesha Family Practice Residency Program | ||
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One of my 25-month-old twin boys is still on the bottle. I am a softy and give in when he asks for a bottle. Lately he will not drink at all from a cup and of course is having problems with his bowel movements. When he is at daycare during the day he drinks from a cup. I went out and purchased the same looking cup but this did not work at home. I need some advice, please help and thanks.?
The key here is the fact that he will drink from a cup at daycare. Basically what is happening is that he feels more comfortable with a bottle, and when he persists in his desire, you allow him to have the bottle. If this is OK with you, fine. If you want him to stop using the bottle and use a cup, give him his drinks in a cup. Get rid of all the bottles in the house. He won't like it at first and will make some noise about it, but he will eventually understand that the cup is the only choice, and he will accommodate.
Another strategy is to offer him a choice of which cup he wants; this way he maintains some control, but understands that the bottle is not one of the options. The biggest problem for most parents in this sort of an issue is that their children are more persistent than they are.