The Snotty Toddler: A Cold (Milk) War
Yes, yes, I know. We did this to ourselves. We should have never bought that dang bottle warmer, should have never given in to Michaela refusing cold milk. But honestly, what were we to do when breast milk and formula were her only form of nourishment? So we caved. We bought a bottle warmer.
That. Stupid. Bottle. Warmer. Over time my hatred has grown towards the bottle warmer. Just the waiting. The waiting and the screaming. Waiting for the stupid green light to go off while Michaela screams "BABA" incessantly. She is relentless. Don't you get it, Chae? Mommy and Daddy aren't trying to torment you, it's just that we spoiled you with warm milk and now your hooked like a crack head. It's even harder to accept when you realize it really is all your fault.
And here we are. Our baby girl is now eighteen months. Where has my baby gone? She's so big, saying so many things, impressing me with every sound and step she takes....but she's still hooked on the warmed bottles. I decided it was time to end the madness. Time to reduce the bottles she gets and slowly ween her off of bottles, as if she was quitting smoking. Something I have a great deal of experience with. It can get real ugly quitting anything, and bottles for snotty toddlers are no different. Personally, I always did best with cold turkey, but I don't have the heart to put my child through that with something she's found so comforting since birth.
Step one was removing the bottles we sent to day care. This went well. From what day care told us, she didn't seem to notice at all. "Well, that was easy", I thought. So we quickly moved on to step two, which was removing her morning warmed bottle and replacing it with cold milk in a big girl cup. Which I prepped her for all weekend long, mind you. Talking about what a big girl she is, etc. She seemed to get it. I was wrong. How could I tell? Well, when an angry sleepy toddler straight up swats it out of your hand, it's pretty clear she's not feeling it.
Fast forward to this morning, I got home from power cycling class and saw her sprawled out on the living room recliner. She has a big girl cup of milk in her hand. This looked positive. "Did she drink it?", I asked. "Nope. I even warmed it", my husband said, sounding a bit defeated. I came over to give her kisses and she spazzed out. Arms flailing, yelling. "Yeah she's not in the best mood", said Jim. I tried to pick her up and ask her to try it. She refused. Shocker.
So, WTF friends? How the hell did you get your kid to drink milk in something other than a bottle? And further to that point, if your kid was hooked on the warm stuff, how did you fix that problemo? We are now onto just putting milk into things, rather than giving her a bottle. And if you're wondering, yes, I feel like the world's biggest hypocrite even trying to get her to drink milk since I hate the stuff myself. I find it to be one of the grossest things on this earth, but her doctor wants her to drink it, so I'm on board. I'm doing my best to try to release my worries over this, but it's tricky business. And so the saga continues. And it can only get worse from here, because she still takes a pacifier to sleep. DON'T JUDGE US!!! I can tell you're judging.
That. Stupid. Bottle. Warmer. Over time my hatred has grown towards the bottle warmer. Just the waiting. The waiting and the screaming. Waiting for the stupid green light to go off while Michaela screams "BABA" incessantly. She is relentless. Don't you get it, Chae? Mommy and Daddy aren't trying to torment you, it's just that we spoiled you with warm milk and now your hooked like a crack head. It's even harder to accept when you realize it really is all your fault.
And here we are. Our baby girl is now eighteen months. Where has my baby gone? She's so big, saying so many things, impressing me with every sound and step she takes....but she's still hooked on the warmed bottles. I decided it was time to end the madness. Time to reduce the bottles she gets and slowly ween her off of bottles, as if she was quitting smoking. Something I have a great deal of experience with. It can get real ugly quitting anything, and bottles for snotty toddlers are no different. Personally, I always did best with cold turkey, but I don't have the heart to put my child through that with something she's found so comforting since birth.
Step one was removing the bottles we sent to day care. This went well. From what day care told us, she didn't seem to notice at all. "Well, that was easy", I thought. So we quickly moved on to step two, which was removing her morning warmed bottle and replacing it with cold milk in a big girl cup. Which I prepped her for all weekend long, mind you. Talking about what a big girl she is, etc. She seemed to get it. I was wrong. How could I tell? Well, when an angry sleepy toddler straight up swats it out of your hand, it's pretty clear she's not feeling it.
Fast forward to this morning, I got home from power cycling class and saw her sprawled out on the living room recliner. She has a big girl cup of milk in her hand. This looked positive. "Did she drink it?", I asked. "Nope. I even warmed it", my husband said, sounding a bit defeated. I came over to give her kisses and she spazzed out. Arms flailing, yelling. "Yeah she's not in the best mood", said Jim. I tried to pick her up and ask her to try it. She refused. Shocker.
So, WTF friends? How the hell did you get your kid to drink milk in something other than a bottle? And further to that point, if your kid was hooked on the warm stuff, how did you fix that problemo? We are now onto just putting milk into things, rather than giving her a bottle. And if you're wondering, yes, I feel like the world's biggest hypocrite even trying to get her to drink milk since I hate the stuff myself. I find it to be one of the grossest things on this earth, but her doctor wants her to drink it, so I'm on board. I'm doing my best to try to release my worries over this, but it's tricky business. And so the saga continues. And it can only get worse from here, because she still takes a pacifier to sleep. DON'T JUDGE US!!! I can tell you're judging.
Ok heres my two cents since i run a daycare i can give you some advice...even though I'm sure its much easier to say than do ......did you try or can you try a milk substitute? Such as Pedisure, soy or almond milk? Maybe just something just a bit different will tempt her but you still get the same benefit as real milk. Also, to get rid of the pacifier/ bottles you can have a "fairy" come to your house that collects all the pacifiers and bottles and gives them to babies who need them.....Buy a cute little fairy doll that holds a bag. Have Michaela collect her pacifiers and bottles put them in the bag and overnight "the fairy" takes them away and exchanges them for a big girl gift for Michaela. Hope this helps!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this Fairy idea Sylvia! Thanks!! I actually was thinking of getting flavored almond milk or something like it to sub in, so I am glad you agree on that idea too!
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