The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a baby be done with the bottle and using a sippy cup by 15 months of age. The two main reasons for making the transition a priority are the heightened risk of tooth decay associated with bottle use and concerns about whether a baby relying only on formula is getting sufficient nutrients without having enough solid food as part of his diet. Doctors follow certain guidelines, but ultimately the child's readiness goes a long way toward determining when a 1-year-old is ready to give up the bottle.
Considerations
Before you become too worried about whether your baby is ready to be weaned from a bottle or whether your baby is too old to still be drinking from a bottle, remember that every child has his own timetable for potty training, walking, talking, reading and everything else. While it's important to try to transition your child from a bottle to a cup, you shouldn't let a the advice from a doctor, friend or relative get you too stressed about your baby's personal schedule. What's most important is that your baby is happy and healthy. If he hangs onto a bottle for a few months longer than is recommended, but is healthy in every respect, you have nothing to worry about.
Signs of Readiness
Your baby will let you know she's getting ready to move from a bottle to a cup when she can sit up on her own, eat with a spoon, show interest in solid foods and follow a routine for mealtimes. If you let your baby handle and play with an empty cup starting as early as 3 to 6 months, she will be more comfortable using a cup for a drink a few months later.
Transition Tips
Little strategies can go a long way in making your baby more accepting of a cup when he's used to a bottle. For example, choose a sippy cup that has a soft, flexible tip that is similar in feel to the nipple on a bottle. Also, use the sippy cups for breast milk or formula, not just water or juice. This helps the baby understand that breast milk and formula don't just come from a bottle. And as much as possible, reserve bottles for nap time and bedtime. Too many bottles at other times may make him full and unwilling to try a cup.
Timing is Everything
When you first introduce a cup, do so at the same meal time every day, but make it during a time when your baby usually has a little to drink, as opposed to the last big meal before bedtime. When your baby becomes more responsive to the cup, slowly start to substitute the cup for the bottle at other times during the day. And don't introduce the cup during times of stress, such as the arrival of a new sibling, a move to a new home, being on vacation in a new location or when the baby isn't feeling well or is otherwise upset.
