How do I transition my 3-year-old from a bedtime bottle without a big fight?

[Eric_J]

Our little one is almost three and we’re still using a bottle at bedtime for comfort. I know it’s probably way past the recommended time, but it’s the only thing that settles him down without a huge fight. I’m just curious if other parents have been in this spot and how it went when they finally made a change.

[StevenTW]

I hear you We used a bottle at bedtime for comfort too It helped calm him but it dragged on We waited it out and gradually added a cuddle ritual and a tiny stuffed friend It took months but it changed little by little

[FrankS]

Youre not failing Its a plain habit and it deserves a slow fade Think about a replacement like a favorite toy a special song or a sip of water that comes at the same time every night The pace matters

[EricFJ]

We went through a mix up about weaning The bottle stayed as the last thing for longer than we planned It made bed time softer for a while then stories fixed the gap

[Scarlett.R]

The bottle is a signal that the day is done and shifting that signal will feel awkward at first

[Richard2]

Maybe the bottle is not the real issue It anchors a bedtime boundary and you can rebuild that boundary with gentleness and time

[Amelia.G]

I would not rush The fear of fights is real but three is still a time when kids are learning independence The pace can be slow and steady

[EricR]

From a craft angle the bedtime ritual becomes the small world your kid lives in The bottle is a familiar stanza changing it means rewriting a scene and that can be messy but it can also open space for new comfort moments