R.,
I am a mother of 3 girls. I have a 17 year old, a 19 month old and an 8 month old. With the 17 year old, we used formula, as she was in the hospital and that prevented me from breastfeeding. She stayed on the bottle until she was 14 months old, but, as a single mom at the time, I had to have her in daycare so I could work and she had to be off the bottle by 18 months. My parents and I started her on a sippy cup at 13 months old, along with the bottle. By the time she was 18 months old, she was only using a sippy. My 19 month old started to throw the bottle away at 10 months of age. So, by the time she turned 12 months, which is when my ped said she should be on whole milk, that was an easy change. Milk and a sippy. At 8 months old, it was suggested that we start introducing the sippy cup, with water in it a few times a day. For the first week after her first b-day, we gave her a bottle first thing in the morning and right before bedtime. During the day she only drank from sippys. To this day, she uses her sippy and drinks whole milk with no problem. The 8 month old is just being introduced to the sippy so we shall see how easily she breaks of it.
The 19 month old, refused our food at first at 12 months of age. So, we used the Gerber Meals exclusively with her. They were a lifesaver, as I had a 2 month old at the time also. They warm in the microwave for 30 seconds and they are the perfect size for her. She did not finish them at first, but, now she does. She mostly eats adult food now, but, when we eat turkey or ham she has a Gerber Toddler meal. She has trouble with turkey, makes her sick and ham is too hard for her to chew. But, for the most part, she is on all adult food. We keep, my husband and I, Gerber meals in the house, so when we are crunched on time, we can warm one up and feed it to her and she loves them. I make my own applesauce and that is her favorite fruit. She has never had any trouble eating veggies, she seems to love those, no matter what they are or how they are made.
Eggs, waffles, raspberries, and fruit and veggie puffs are wonderful snacks. Best of luck! Every child will be different. You just have to try different things and find out what works best for you and your child.