Do I need to bottle wean?

[AFWife]

DS is 19.5 months. I stopped BFing at 15months because of pain and low supply (thanks pregnancy). I was able to transition him (seamlessly actually) to raw cow's milk and more solids. However, he'll only take the milk from a bottle. Well, scratch that...we're most successful with it from a bottle. Everything else is just sips and then an attempt to pour it on the floor (where liquids apparently go?) 

He LOVES his bottle and signs "milk" when he wants it. It's great for comfort and sleep (we never did a paci) And, honestly, on the days when he seems to be living on AIR (we've been getting molars so some days he refuses to eat) I'm comforted in knowing that he's getting fats and nutrients.

I was reading randomly around the internet and came across something saying that extended bottle use (like, past a year) can cause speech delays? He's not verbal yet and it made me wonder...

I'm due in January so I kind of need to know NOW if he'll just grow out of using a bottle?

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

Um, Matthew still gets the majority of his liquids from a bottle.  He will sip from a sippy, but GUZZLES from a bottle.  And the kid WILL.NOT.SHUT.UP.  hes 2

Charlie's speach is fine.  More then fine.  Hes been talking in complete sentences for a year, I think, and he was finally weaned around 2.25 i think. 

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by ~Charlie's~Angel~ 

Um, Matthew still gets the majority of his liquids from a bottle.  He will sip from a sippy, but GUZZLES from a bottle.  And the kid WILL.NOT.SHUT.UP.  hes 2

Charlie's speach is fine.  More then fine.  Hes been talking in complete sentences for a year, I think, and he was finally weaned around 2.25 i think. 

Did you force him to wean or did it happen naturally? DH said he remembers throwing his bottle away and his Mom saying, "If you throw it away you don't get it back." I went from BF to cups so my parents are no help!

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

I didnt FORCE it. I very gently encouraged more cup and less bottle.  Eventually, he stopped asking for it. 

Every once in a while, he will say he wants one too when he sees matt having one, but i usually just theatrically tell him what a silly boy he is.  Hes just SOOOOO silly, then I tickle his side, he falls on the floor giggling, and forgets all about the bottle request.