In layman's term, weaning off of bottles mean when your baby starts using cups instead of bottle-feeding, similar to an adult. This is a crucial and gradual step for your baby to start consuming solids and move on from breast milk or formula.
Weaning your baby takes patience and understanding from both you and your child.
When does my baby need to start this transition?
Let us to make it easy for you!
- Consult with your pediatrician.
- It is recommended to start this transition when your baby is about 6 months.
- You and your baby can practice and learn this skill of cup drinking when they are of the age range of 6-12 months.
Baby bottle tooth decay happens when your child drinks from a bottle too long, and the sugar from the milk or juice sits on your child’s teeth. This can eventually lead to cavities and decay. After drinking all day from a bottle, eating a meal would be the last thing your child would want. Their tummy would be full, and they'll get all of their calories from the milk. This overload of calories can lead to toddler obesity.
There are so many options available for the transition, in the market. What's the best option for my baby?
Feeding therapists and swallowing specialists recommend 2 kinds of cups over every other kind.
- Open Cup
- Straw cup
Drinking from an open cup or a straw is a lifelong skill i.e. your baby will use these skills in adulthood too, unlike sippy cups and 360 cups. Despite popular advertising claims, both sippy cups and 360 cups encourage a way of drinking that is not ideal for your baby’s oral-motor skills development.
Pro-Tip: Make sure you choose a soft rimmed cup, something made of silicone so that plastic is avoided and you have a flexible, soft, and durable material to work with. Our favorite open cup has to be EIZZY BABY OPEN CUP.
How do I introduce open cups to my baby -
Spoiler alert - Drinking from a cup is a skill that takes time, effort, and absolute patience, from both you and your baby.
- Start Small - Put a small amount of breast milk, formula, or water (1-2 oz at most) in a cup. Introduce the cup to your baby by bringing the open cup to the table at mealtime.
- Demonstrate Excitedly - Sit down, smile at your baby to catch their attention, and then show them how to take a sip by demonstrating it. (It's important that you demonstrate using the same-looking cup. If you are comfortable with it, you can use the same cup or you can purchase one for yourself.)
- Encourage your baby - You do not want to bring the cup to your baby's lips right away. Encourage them instead. Start by simply offering the cup to your baby. Hold it in front of them, and let your baby reach out for it. Let them reach out and grab it, and then assist in getting it to their mouth.
Pro-tip: Shop for an open cup with your baby and make them excited on the notion that they get to choose their preferred color. EIZZY BABY OPEN CUP.
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