My daughter is 9 months now and uses a sippy cup extremely well. I want to start putting her formula into it so I can slowly transition her to the cup alone and be able to get ridd of the bottle before she's a year old. Our pediatrician said it would be great if I started it now. Only problem is when I give her formula in there, she know's its bottle time and doesn't want anything to do with the cup. I give her the cup at every meal filled with water, juice , and sometimes a little bit of formula. I don't give up right away. I do for an hour trying different places in the house. Sitting her by different toys ,leaving her alone seems to work for only 1\2 an ounce and then she got frustrated and cried and since it was already almost an hour of trying it, I just gave her a bottle because at least we tried it. I give her 3 9 ounce bottles a day which works great. And we are also introducing table food, which is going quite well. We started all of this not even a week ago. I 'm not trying to rush this but I was wondering if any of you mothers had the same problem or any tips you can give me. They all will greatly be appreciated. Thanks so much!!! N. K
I'm kind of going through the same thing with my twins. I am trying to one type of sippy cut at meal times (Juice and Water) and then use a different type when it comes to formula.
It seems to be working okay. But at 11 months they still do need a bottle at least a couple times per day:)
Good luck!
I gave my son juice and water in the sippy starting at 8-9 months, but still gave him the formula in the bottle. When he turned 1, I put his milk in the sippy and kept the bottles out of sight. He never once asked for the bottle. He switched immediately.
My son did the same thing when I wanted to take the bottle away before a year. He just knew that his formula was suppose to be in a bottle and he would have nothing to do with a sippy or straw cup for it! So I just wait until he was a year and we were switching to milk. It was actually fairly easy this way. I just put his milk in the sippy or straw cup and that was okay. He would drink it right up. And pretty soon we had transitioned to no bottles and all sippy or straw cups that had the milk, not formula. For him it was all the association and what he was use to. So I didn't fight it. Just waited and it worked nicely. He's 18 months now and uses a cup just great.
N.,
If he's doing well with a sippy cup already, I wouldn't worry about it. They're not really ready to give up the comfort of a bottle before a year. It still has to do with the sucking need, the bonding, the comfort. I wouldn't worry about it if I were you.
We weaned my daughter down to only the nightly bottle by the time she was a year old, so it wasn't so traumatic, for her or for us, taking it away. A little traumatic for a couple nights only, but thats all. The first night my daughter was so exhausted (just after a year old actually) that she fell asleep without the bottle, my husband and I stayed up to wash all of them. We got them all put away and the next night when she wanted her bottle, I looked at her and said well you fell asleep last night without one and now they're gone. You don't need them anymore, you're a big girl. It worked.
L.
Be thrilled that she uses a sippy cup so well. If she only has a bottle 3 times a day, that is good. She knows her routine and she will give up her bottle when she is ready. My daughter didn't give hers up until she was about 14 months old. She used a sippy cup all day but when it was bottle time she wanted a bottle. Sometimes its more a relaxation source not just a nutrient source. They all give them up when they are ready. Encourage it but don't force it. Time will tell.
when my kids were at 9 months i started to mix some milk with formula ....not tottally half and half... just a little to try to get them use to milk for when they turn a year old. maybe that would help u.
Unfortunatly for me, my son NEVER took formula out of a sippy cup!! He just turned 1 on the 6th, so I was able to start him on milk, and that he takes just fine. My friend had the same prob. w/ her son...Hopefully ou can find something that works, or ask her ped. if he has any suggestions...good luck!!
Hi N.~
I agree with Laurie. If your baby uses a sippy cup well already, what does the bottle hurt? We did the same thing you are, using a cup at mealtime, and only putting formula in a bottle. As we weaned back the formula, the bottle naturally went with it. At one year, he gave up the bottle/formula completely and never gave it a second thought. By that time he was only on one 8oz bottle per day, anyway. Your baby will get it, there's no rush. You are ahead of the game so relax and let it happen.
~L.
Perhaps splitting up her formula between bottle and cup would work?
instead of doing 3 9oz bottles do three 4oz sippy cups and 3 5ounce bottles. That way she gets used to the feel of the sippy. Also using a soft tipped sippy can often help the transition from bottle to cup.
For 3 of my 4 kids I found "cold turkey" was the best way to get rid of the bottle. I waited until about 11 1/2 months and then just tossed them all in the trash. It was no longer an option that way. They were all totally ready to get rid of it so I didn't have a hard time at all. My oldest was off the bottle at about 9 1/2 months. He got a bad cold and couldn't suck on the bottle with out getting out out of breath so I stopped the bottle then and never went back to it.
You might find waiting a few more months might make the transisition much easier. She won't need as much formula or milk once she's totally on table food so won't want the bottle as much.
If you really want to start getting rid of it now make sure you are consistant and not give in regardless of how long it takes. If you give in after awhile she's going to expect it every time and continue to fuss until you give in. You should start by getting rid of one bottle and not give in to the fussing once she excepts she's getting the cup keep it that way for a few weeks and then transition another of her bottle times to a cup and stick to it until all bottle times are gone. You just have to be consistant and it will work and she'll adjust. Good Luck!
