Weaning 1 Year Old off of Bottle

Hi P., I agree with the cute cup ideas etc. I just wanted to mention that in 32 years of parenthood and having had a home day care for years I have found that a huge percentage of children have issues with milk. I would not give my child cows milk. I have heard nutritionists say, and it is true, cow's milk is for calves. I understand goat's milk is better, but I'd just stick with diluted juices and water. Calcium is found in green leafy vegetables and even orange juice can be purchased with added calcium. Milk is not nessesary and does NOT do a body good. Good luck! c

Hi P.,
I put all my daughter's sippy cups in the bottom drawer. That way she can reach them. I let her pick out which one she wants to use (a lot of times she pulls two out of the cabinet :-) ).

A lot of it depends on your child. My daughter is 16 months and she will still only drink water or juice out of a sippy. She will only drink milk out of a bottle, and throws a fit if I try to put milk in a sippy instead of a bottle. I figure what's the harm? She doesn't take a pacifier, and she doesn't go to sleep with a bottle (although I still nurse her to sleep for naps/bedtime; she goes to sleep at the sitter's without a bottle or nursing). I think she prefers the bottle for milk because she likes to walk around with the nipple clamped between her teeth so she has both hands free.

Eventually, she'll get the hang of it. But try letting her pick out which cup she wants to use and see if that works for her.

Try introducing it at meals with her formula. I gave my son formula until he was fully on a milk alternative. This should be a slow and steady process. You can start taking away feedings if she's still taking a bottle at night, then start with those. Also, you may want to leave her access to the cups or leave one where she can see it and use it at her leisure.

It took my son 2 months to get really good with a cup...so, just be patient and loving (which it sounds like you are already).

Good Job!

Hi P.,

I would try to find a real "fancy" sippy cup that she would want to hold and play with. Just have her play with it and pretent to help her drink from it. I did this with our daughter and a toothbrush and before you knew it she wanted to do it all herself :) I can't give advice as to the formula issue. My daughter never took to milk after breast milk. BUT she eats yogurt at every meal along w/lots of cheese. This was ok'd by her Dr. Good Luck!

Sincerely,
S.
http://www.ContentMommy.com

I switched my son from formula to milk at 12 months. I started by adding milk to the formula instead of water - or diluted. I kept reducing the amount of formula that I gave him until it was just milk. I started to give him a bottle only at nap time and bed time. We are still there at 18 months. He only drinks from a sippy cup during the day for juice/water/milk. This works well for us.

Hi P., I started introducing my babies to the sippy cup as soon as they coul sit up, at 9 months they I only gave them one bottle a day, that was in the morning while i was getting their cerea l ready, when they reached a year old, I packed all the bottles away, it was a smooth transition for all 3 of my now grown children. It's better sweetie to introduce the cup before the weaning, that way there's no issues, I shared that with you so in the future you may want to try something different. J. L.