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Helping
Baby Kick the Bottle
Quick tips to
help your toddler say bye-bye to the bottle.
Any parent who
has witnessed the love affair between baby and bottle knows security
is a bottle's main appeal. But most pediatricians recommend that parents
start weaning their child off the bottle at around 12 months, for
a host of reasons. The two major ones are:
1. Prolonged bottle drinking can damage baby teeth. Mobile toddlers
tend to tote their bottles around, drinking on the go, as opposed
to infants, who are usually fed in a parent's arms, with the bottle
being removed as soon as the feeding session is over. If the bottle
contains anything other than water, what you have is an acidic solution
that is washing over the teeth and decalcifying them, which can lead
to cavities, says Art Nowak, MD, a professor in the departments of
pediatric dentistry and pediatrics at the University of Iowa.
2. Bottle drinkers
tend to ingest more milk--typically up to 32 ounces a day, according
to Suzanne Corrigan, MD, a pediatrician in Irving, Texas. Toddlers
only need two to three servings of dairy a day, equivalent to 16 to
24 ounces of milk. While milk is a healthy food, kids who drink too
much of it may not want to eat enough solid food, missing out on important
nutrients like iron.
By the time they're
a year old, kids have the motor skills to sit up, hold a cup, and
drink from it, so they no longer need a bottle, at least not for nutrition.
One-year-olds are much less stubborn, have a shorter memory, and are
more interested in pleasing their parents than a child just six months
older. But if you've missed this window and your toddler is strongly
attached to his bottle, don't despair. You can get him off of it.
On the following pages are some strategies to try.
Before the Big
Switch
By the time babies are between 9 and 12 months old, they're often
ready to make the switch from bottle to cup. At this age, they're
more interested in what's going on around them than they are in sucking
on a breast or bottle. But phasing out the bottle this early means
planning ahead. Here are some tips:
Starting at 6
months, let kids occasionally drink from a sippy cup, so when you
eventually do get rid of the bottle, your child will already be acquainted
with the cup, suggests Corrigan.
Let babies get
used to a cup while they're in the tub. They can pour water out of
it, drink from it, or even make a mess with it.
Don't always
offer juice in a cup and milk in a bottle. Otherwise your child may
refuse to drink milk from a cup when you get him off the bottle.
If you breastfeed
exclusively until baby is 9 to 12 months, simply skip introducing
the bottle entirely. At this age, babies have the necessary coordination
to drink from a cup.
The Gradual Phase-Out
This moderate approach works best with younger toddlers. Over a period
of about a month:
Decrease the
bottles you offer, one at a time, and replace them with cups of milk
or snacks.
Water down the bottles of milk that you serve but give your child
undiluted milk in a cup.
Phase out the least important bottles first (usually the midday ones).
During this transition, these creative ideas may ease the process:
Let your child
pick out a special new cup, or decorate one that you already own.
Try using a funny straw--it may make cups more appealing.
If you wean your 12- to 15-month-old gradually, chances are he'll
be able to give up even the bedtime or morning bottle without a fuss.
Going Cold Turkey
For a child who is strongly attached to her bottle as a comfort object,
a gradual approach may be too agonizing. And she may already be down
to just one or two daily bottles. A sudden withdrawal can be painful
for everyone, but it may be the most effective method. Here are some
ideas to ease the process:
Get your child
used to the idea of no bottles before you actually phase them out.
About a week before the big day, tell him that now that he's such
a big boy, it's time for him to give up his bottle. Remind him every
day that soon he's not going to have bottles anymore. Then physically
remove the bottles from the house and let him see that they're not
around.
Let your child
participate in the process. Explain that you understand how hard this
change might be for him. The fact that you can talk about what's happening
and why is one of the advantages of weaning an older child.
Offer him a reward,
such as a snack that he loves, for making it through a day or night
without his bottle.
Have a cup of
water or juice ready for the time of day when she seems to demand
the bottle most.
Talk with your
child about replacing the bottle with a soothing object. For instance,
suggest that she hug the teddy bear whenever she misses the bottle.
Getting your child off the bottle usually involves some trial and
error--and sometimes tears. But here's the good news: Once you decide
on a plan and stick with it, you will get results.
Your
should know:
The
information on this Web site is designed for educational purposes
only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical
advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose
or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your
pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any
questions or concerns you might have regarding your or your child's
condition.
Rebornne Baby. American Baby
