Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 10.0
Spanish version

Your baby can become dependent on the bottle, especially between the time he is 6 to 12 months old. This is no great disaster, but can make the transition from the bottle to the cup longer and more difficult.

You can aid the transition from bottle to cup in several ways:

1. Take advantage of the fact that by the time they are 6 months old, babies are interested in their surroundings and don't give their undivided attention to their bottle. Use this interest in things new to introduce your baby to milk in a cup.

2. Offer the cup with 1/2 oz. of milk to your baby and allow him to experiment. Remember that this is for learning and not eating; during the first few months of using the cup your baby will probably not take more than one sip at a time.

3. Do not give the bottle to your baby in bed; not only may it cause tooth decay and earaches, but your baby may equate the bottle with security and comfort and therefore be reluctant to give up the bottle.

HINTS FOR WEANING FROM BOTTLE TO CUP:

• Use a cup that has two handles and a screw-on lid with a spout.
• Once you begin weaning from the bottle, use the cup with every meal. In the beginning, end the meal with a bottle; as the baby gradually takes more and more milk from the cup you can eventually discontinue the bottle. (The baby should be taking 4 oz. from the cup before you do this.)
• Be sure to offer milk in the cup as well as fruit juice; the baby needs to learn that milk comes in containers other than bottles.
• Use iron-fortified formula until your baby is at least 1 year old to prevent iron-deficiency anemia.
• Drop the bottle for the least preferred feedings--the evening meal is usually favorite and is generally the last bottle-fed meal he is willing to give up. (Some 2-year-olds still demand their bedtime bottle.)
• Expect setbacks due to colds, teething, etc. Be patient and gradually reintroduce the cup.
• Babies are least likely to accept a new idea around the age of 10 to 15 months; unless you feel comfortable with the longer weaning period which comes from allowing your baby to gradually lose interest and wean himself, you should begin weaning before then.
• If your baby is taking from 16 to 20 oz. of milk by cup, in addition to three meals of solid food, and doesn't appear to miss the bottle, he can be considered successfully weaned.