There is something that needs to be done but I am having a really hard time with it. The babies are almost 20 months old and it is high time that I get rid of their bottles.
It is time to commence with Operation Bottle Removal. But I have been totally dragging my feet.
I don't really like that fact that they still have a bottle or 2, 4 if its a really bad night. I especially don't like the fact that they turn them upside down and either leave a trail of milk all over the floor or 'color' the TV and entertainment center with milk. This is not really the look I was going for, black with milk smears.
Its just that its so easy at night, before bed to give them a bottle and then in the middle of the night, and yes there is always some one up in the middle of the night, to quick give them a bottle.
I am also scared that we waited too long and there is going to be a HUGE protest to Operation Bottle Removal. And I already have to listen to a lot of crying during the day, I don't want a night or nights full of crying too.
But I think that the biggest reason that I am dragging my feet is that putting away that bottles pretty much seals the deal that they are not babies anymore. Once these bottles are gone, they will never be coming out again.
Well, on the one hand this makes me happy (I want them to grow up, I really do) but on the other it makes me very, very sad.
I seriously blinked and my babies were not babies anymore. It seemed like Hayden grew up fast enough but with 3 of them, they seemed to grow up at the speed of light.
Because there are 3 of them, I don't remember a lot of their first year. I didn't get to sit and rock and cuddle each one. I didn't take a lot of pictures or movies. We were just in survival mode.
I would give anything to go back in time and just hold each of those little tiny babies once again. To sit and rock each sweet little baby as they soundly slept in my arms. I fear that with time, my arms won't remember that feeling any more and sometimes they just ache for that feeling.
So, Operation Bottle Removal must be done. I know it must. It is more than time for the bottles to be packed away and I know it may be hard. I just don't know who it's going to be harder on, mommy or the babies.
Deux par Deux Has The Cutest Kid Clothes
4 days ago
46 comments:
That's actually really heartbreaking. :( But try to think of all the things you have to look forward to: first steps, learning to ride a bike, first days of school, tree climbing, playing games, learning to read... there's a lot ahead. :)
Oh Jen :( It must be so hard. I hope it is relatively painless for you, and that any hassles will be DIVIDED by three, not multiplied by 3! I haven't even tried to get rid of my kids' comfort things, because without them, I worry I would simply not be able to manage their behaviour. One day. When I'm ready :)
Oh it's that emotional thing Jen that is by far the worst. Our transition went so painless it almost killed me - it was a non-event - which just meant even more that they are growing up so fast.
Oh, I so feel your pain. All my kids were two when I finally took the bottle away. It was so hard; like taking away their crack pipe, I swear. The way they snuggle up and relax the moment you give them the bottle; it's hard to be the one to take that away.
One positive thing; you have so many more adventures ahead of you with these kiddos of yours...won't it be so much better without that trail of milk behind you?
Good luck!
I felt to EXACT same way when I took AJ's bottles away. I won't tell you how old he was when I finally did it but it was older then 20 months. He did way better with it then I did. HUGS. Be strong.
Wow, I know how fast my twins' first year went so I can only imaagine how quickly the triplets' first year passed by. :( It's soo sad. You never know though, maybe it will be easy... The twins were MORE than ready for sippy cups at ONE! They both refused to drink their bottles anymore. Not even one.more.time. For me though, it was even more sad when I took my son's pacifier and my daughter's security blanket away. But they were both ready for it.
You know, come to think of it... For the pacifier and the blanket we used these books.. They had the muppet babies, and there is one for each thing you end uphaving to take away (like the bottle, pacifier, blanket, etc...) After we read the books to them a few times, they wanted to do what the muppet babies did in the book (get rid of whatever it was). Maybe you could try that? :) Good luck!
I wish you luck, I have always found it so easy to give in and give them bottles. It was always such a comfort. Let us know how it goes.
I tried with baby Jett and gave up for right now for my sanity. Um, when they are old enough to put the liner in, push the micro buttons on their own and screw the lid on-DEFINITELY time to get them off-BUT, I'm not :) He's my last baby, I will eventually!
I know...kids are born to break your heart. But, they must move on. Good luck with your operation:-)
they will always be your babies...even when they are 30 years old!
I have no advice- I never did bottles . . . but this post made me sad . . . babies no more
The milk trails don't seem to be much better with sippy cups! That's one reason I couldn't wait to use cups. But they all seem to leak. Or he hits them hard enough angainst any hard surface and they shoot out milk, juice, water. My carpet is a mess.
And my son is also 20 months. Hasn't used a bottle in at least 6 months, but for some reason I still have 3 sitting in the cabinet. Hmmm, what does that say about me?
I'm sure it's going to be tough. I think it is at any age. I know it drove me crazy! And so many nights I was standing there ready to give in. But the hubs wouldn't let me. You'll do it when you're ready! And so will they!
good luck with the transition...you can do it!
Good luck!! Maggie's bottle removal was delayed due to our move to Montana, so she was long past 2 when we finally took them away. The mournful "Milk, in a bottle, pease!" Be strong! It will take less time than you think :)
Jen - this post is only making me realize what I do not want to realize. At almost 20 months old, my lil' dude needs Operation Bottle Removal AND Operation Nipple Removal. The sucking this kid can do is freaking me out!
Okay let me know how it goes and send TIPS!!
:-)
i know...and it puts a date for sure on sofie needing to move on...and you know she's the last baby. sad, really. but i love the older years a lot...focus on the goal. focus on teh goal.
I have a few thoughts on this. First on being, don't make the mistake I did and miss how small they still are. Even Hayden, because when he is seven and a half, you would give your right toe to have four year old Hayden back.
On the bottle issue...I wish all kids were as easy as my Wild Child to lose the bottle. Oneday I went to give it to her and she threw it at my head. Yelling, "NO BOTTLE." That was it. She never asked for one again. Sippies can be your best friend during this transition. I wish I had bought stock in them. Just the same, they were a life savor.
Anyway, the best and worst part about being a mom is watching your kids grow up. Big Hugs sent your way.
I didn't have to wean from bottles so I don't have a lot of advice for you.
Good luck and be strong! :)
My operation bottle removal always went right into the sippi cup phase.....is there really a difference?
I feel your pain!
I totally get this, I had a hard time taking the bottle away from my youngest one too. She's 10 now and it's making me sad
It's so sad when they start to "grow up". I bet it will be way easier than you think! Good Luck!
My baby is 19 months and has given up the bottle (for a sippie) but still has a pacifier. And he is addicted to it. I know I should take it away, but I can't stand the tears. Plus he's still teething so I justify that he just needs something to chew on....yea, that's it. I wish you luck. My only consolation is that at least I only have 1 to try and take something away from. :)
It's always harder on the moms than the kids :)
Ahhhh...I hope this goes well for you! My girls transitioned to sippy cups surprisingly well. I hated the leaking bottles and know the milk slathered t.v. look well!! Good luck:)
I'm feeling the same way right now about breastfeeding. I love it, I really do, but I am ready to be done with it. To stop wearing nursing bras. To go away for a weekend with my husband! But that means my baby isn't my baby anymore and that just breaks my heart.
So much of it really is a blur, isn't it? So hard to let go of the baby stage even though it was SOOOO hard.
I think of my 19 month old as a baby too. I call him baby, I treat him like a baby, I talk about him as a baby...sigh.
He's not a baby.
I really wish we could bottle up the memories and take them out like smelling salts, making them all vivid and close. I really wish that.
Mom's bar far! I waited till Bagel was about 18 months, and I was freaked about it. But she practicially gave it over. No problems.
Good luck!
Feisty
Awwwwww....that is so sweet and heartfelt. But with each stage comes such new delights! Just think of it that way ... and really, won't it be so much less work for you? : )
Operation Bottle removal was slightly different for me, only because I never gave either of mine a bottle before bed.
However CC really loved his bottle... I waited until he was 2. Then I took him shopping for a special milk cup! He got to choose it, then we went home & threw the bottles in the bin together. Then I poured him a cup of milk. We never looked back.
AE had a dummy, we used the dummy fairy for her!
Hope that helps :)
Hugs Jen! If it makes you feel any better--Pickle is still addicted to the bottle and she's over 2!!
That mommy-longing never really seems to go away. My youngest is now 14, and although I thrill to watch him grow into a fine person, I still long to be able to hold him in my arms and lap. At almost 6foot, my son just doesn't fit anymore!
I am a mom of four myself (four kids in less than four years -- last two were identical twins). I can't even comprehend how challenging triplets must be. And how much joy they must bring you. What I CAN understand is survival mode. The lack of movies, pictures, concrete memories of just loving their baby-ness. This isn't going to be a popular recommendation but I say, "don't stress over it." Everything else flew by and this will resolve itself soon enough. DOn't waste any time fretting over it, and just enjoy it as it is.
((hugs))
KathyB!
It is so hard for us as moms to see our littles ones grow up and grow up to fast. But there are still a ton of firsts you will experience.
I am stopping by from Rachels blog.
Erin
http://family-live-love-laugh.blogspot.com/
that's hard. my little man will be 6 and my hubby had to step in to do "operation thumb and night-night removal" for him (and me). it's the thought that he is no longer my baby!
As the pediatrician told me.. it's much harder on YOU than it is on them. They'll adapt and take whatever form of "cup" you give them. They may resist for a few days, but kids are resilient.
Of course, I did it when I visited my folks - so I had reinforcements.
Good luck!!
And BTW - at 35 I'm still my parent's Baby Girl... or so they tell me.
I am so glad I'm not the only one who will be facing this challenge! I, too, have let Finnegan maintain his bedtime bottle (and middle of the night bottle...or two...) and just can't yet bear to get rid of them!
Let me know what tactics you use in Operation Bottle Removal. I'll watch for your successes. ;-)
hmmm. i don't think its HAS to be done right now. i've never seen a kid in kinder with bottles. they will give it up on their own eventually. got mine off his at 12 months, because people said I was SUPPOSED to. he misses it, I miss it too. next kid i am just taking my time with it. however, if you want it done with, you have my full support! good luck!
OH! I am in the SAME boat with Kainoa! He's 19 months old and we put him to bed every night with a bottle. Laina and Maile just lost interest in it, but Kainoa kicks back and REALLY loves his bottle. I'm afraid too...but I think I might ride it out and see if he loses interest.
I don't want to fight...and yes...I may be holding on just a teensy bit to the baby years. This post REALLY spoke to me tonight!
Good luck Jen! It was so hard for me too. I hated saying good bye to the baby days and hello to toddlerville :(
I am working on fortifying myself for the long-dreaded passie removal at our house. Ugggggg.
sending you lots of luck. for everything that has been difficult with Aidan and Asher, they were incredibly easy to break from the bottle.
I did operation bottle removal cold turkey on my twins birthday. Callous, I know. But, it was time. I don't remember it being that bad. For long. :) Good luck.
P.S. I'm loving all of your recipes on your cooking blog!
Aw, man, I feel for ya. That is tough.
But, you gotta do it. And all 3 at one time, for sure.
Try to transition to sippy cup only. I would hold my kids in my arms and "feed" them from the sippy cup so they feel like it was a bottle. They got it eventually.
That, or only put their least favorite drink in the bottle and their FAVES in the cups. Like, water in the bottle but chocolate milk in the sippy cups. That's another trick that works.
GOOD LUCK!!!
Good luck!
I cut both my girls off the bottle cold turkey. The day each of them had their one year check-up, and the doc said they could start drinking whole milk instead of formula, I started using sippy cups.
But now, at ages 6 and 8... they still want sippy cups, LOL!
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