[kjejmom]

I know this is a silly question since I have 5 kids. I know here we start weaning from the bottle at 1 year but how do they use the bottle in Guatemala? In our church many of the hispanic children are 2 and still have a bottle so I did not know if this is just what they do.
Our first daughter came home at 6 months so it was not an issue BUT Emma just turned 1 on June 24th and we will probably leave in 1.5 weeks and just wondering if I should take bottles or sippy cups.
Thanks for your help.
Brenda

[lisam951]

We picked up Marisol when she was 17 months old. Not only was she still on 5 bottles per day, but they were also giving her formula and baby cereal. It did not take her long to give up all but her bedtime bottle and she went right to whole milk without a problem. She also ate anything and everything we offered her for about 3 months before she started slowing down. Anyway, I would take some bottles just in case.

[spidermanteache]

Parker came home at 19 months and was still on 4 or 5 bottles a day and used to holding one in his hand most of the time!! He was on powdered milk.

I would for sure take bottles, but you might take 1 or 2 sippy cups just in case.

[Momof2boysinOH]

I can't speak for Guatemala but I think it must be common for Hispanic children to stay on bottles longer. I am Hispanic and drank a bottle at night until I was almost 3! (my mom tells me) My older son is 27 months old and also still on a bottle. I had almost weaned him off of it at 20 months, but then his baby brother was born and he regressed. He drinks juice and water from sippy cups but will only drink milk from a bottle. Toddlers are so active that they are usually notoriously picky eaters so I worry that if my son doesn't have his milk, he may start losing weight. Still, I have to be strong and get him off of the bottle one of these days...

Since your child will be going through an adjustment period, I would let them drink from a bottle for a while. I know pediatricians say they should give up a bottle at a year old, but personally I think you should do what you think is best for your child.

Congrats!

Mary
Mom to 2 bio sons
Starting paperchase for China in 3 months!

[pmgor]

Definitely it is very common to see them with bottles well into the 2's and 3's. I would take bottles and think of sippys once you are home and settled. I guess maybe take one sippy to see what she does but likely she's never had one.

[Iris's Mom]

Iris was on a bottle with formula 3 times a day. I stopped it and replaced it with milk in a sippy cup. I just gave her the night one for a few days she did not seem to need it to go to sleep so after about 4 days home we stopped it she never asked for it. She was 2 1/2 when she came home.
I thought that was a pretty long time by 18 months I had my son off of all his bottles.
Maria

[jpfister]

I would say take bottles and sippy cups. We brought David home at 12 months and he was still on 3 bottles a day. I cut him back to 2 right away and he ended up quitting his midday bottle all on his own. Now, at 15 months, he only takes about 2 ounces before bed.

Good Luck and Congrats!

[kjejmom]

Thanks for your help. I did pack bottles and left the cups out. I think we will let her adjust before we take her bottle away.
Brenda

[kddpitt]

We are actually in Guatemala right now for pick up. Our baby boy is 27 months old and his FM told us he still takes 3 - 4 bottles per day.

Kim
Proud Mommy to "3" FINALLY
Dawson (Bio)
Mia (Ref. 4/04 - Home 12/04)
Zach (Ref. 7/04 - Home 7/05)