Teaching to hold bottle - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

E1979 · 07-17-2008, 07:22 AM

Ok I know I have talked about this before. But I am really at a loss. I can't get my 12 month old son to start to hold his own bottle. We can't switch him over to a cup yet because we can't even get him to hold a bottle or a cup. Maybe it's a boy stubborn/lazy issue!!! Does anyone have any advice or techniques for teaching a child how to hold the bottle himself???
What we are doing right now is I lay him down on the floor and I put it in his hands. This way gravity works with him! He balls his hands into fists. He wont open his hands up. It try to pry his hands open and sometimes he'll hold the bottle(then I go nuts clapping and cheering for him) or sometimes he'll just let it fall and have a tiny tantrum.
Any and ALL thoughts are more than welcome!!!

jammyslisa · 07-17-2008, 08:51 AM

Does he hold other things in his hands?

Lisa

LauraLu · 07-17-2008, 11:46 AM

Hi E,
Madeline JUST started holding her own bottle a few weeks ago. She too was my little "lazy" girl. I actually would do the same thing you did and ball up her blanket between the bottle and her chest for more leverage. Have you tried doing anything like this? Or even a small, flat pillow so that the bottle will tilt more easily for him?
Madeline got really frustrated at first, but I just kept repositioning it for her and doing lots of praise like you do.
He'll get it! Good luck!

Ratatosk · 07-17-2008, 01:01 PM

DS held his bottle TWICE! Twice for us. That's it. Also was "lazy". Sometimes I'd have to hold the bottle with my chin if I needed to grab something or rearrange him while in my rocking chair. Thing is... He held it at daycare early on -- all the time!!! Ornery child just wouldn't do it for us, his parents.

E1979 · 07-17-2008, 01:07 PM

Oh yeah, he holds other things in his hands. His fine motor skills are excellent. He likes to pull his ear(no infection, already checked) or pull his hair, gently mind you, while he has his bottle. Its a comfort thing for him. But because of this he doesn't have a free hand to hold the bottle.
I haven't tried propping the bottle up for him. Maybe I will give this a try.
So should I be worried or will he eventually just grow out of this??? With food he wants to do it himself. Use a spoon or pick up little pieces of food. But when it comes to his bottle he just wants to play with his ears and hair while he drinks! My funny little man!