Babies and toddlers may resist abandoning the baby bottle because it provides a sense of comfort, as well as refreshment and nourishment. KidsHealth notes that children can begin the transition to a sippy cup when they're 6 to 12 months old, depending on their physical coordination. If your child refuses to drink from a sippy cup or protests loudly when you take her bottle, use a variety of motivational ideas to help her make the switch.
Step 1
Let your toddler pick out his own sippy cups so he'll feel involved in the process. The NetWellness website of the University of Cincinnati, Ohio State University and Case Western Reserve University suggests finding cups featuring your child's favorite cartoon characters to make them appealing.
Step 2
Transition your child slowly from bottles to toddler sippy cups. Rather than switching to cups at all of your child's meals and snacks on the first day, KidsHealth recommends removing one bottle a week, starting with the first bottle of the morning. If your toddler protests, assure her that she'll still have bottles at lunch, dinner, during snacks and before bedtime. Eliminate the second bottle a week later and continue the plan in the following weeks, until you've ended the process by cutting out the last bottle before bedtime.
Step 3
Make the contents of your toddler's bottle less appealing to encourage him to choose the sippy cup. If you're attempting to eliminate the bottle at lunch, for example, KidsHealth suggests watering the milk down a little more each day over the course of the week until you're serving a bottle that contains 100 percent water. Each day, also offer your child a sippy cup filled with 100 percent milk, and he may choose it for its delicious taste.
Step 4
Give your toddler a comfort item that she can cuddle for security, particularly when it's time to eliminate the bedtime bottle. "Parents" magazine recommends offering a stuffed animal or a blanket during the transition to cups. Help your child accept the new object by holding it at the same time that you're holding her when you provide comfort.
Step 5
Maintain your patience when your toddler asks or cries for a bottle. NetWellness suggests being firm and offering comfort, but avoiding a power struggle. Ignore your child's repeated requests for a bottle and continue your plan to switch one bottle for a sippy cup each week.
Tips and Warnings
- Continue the process of switching sippy cups for bottles without worrying that your child isn't getting enough to drink, even if he initially refuses the sippy cup. "Parents" magazine stresses that if your child is thirsty, he will drink from cups rather than going without.
- Avoid putting your toddler to sleep with a sippy cup filled with milk, fruit juice, formula or beverages other than water. Prosthodontist Alan Carr, D.M.D. states in an article for MayoClinic.com titled, "Baby Bottle Tooth Decay: Can Bottle Feeding My Baby Cause Cavities" that the liquids can lead to tooth loss, cavities and infections because the sugary drinks will sit on your child's teeth throughout the night.
Things You'll Need
- Sippy cups
- Comfort item
