Your baby may not consider it much of a present, but you should aim to eliminate bottle feedings by your little one's first birthday. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents to ensure bottles are history by age 15 months. The process of going from bottle to cup likely has setbacks, but don't give up on the challenge. Your baby's dental and overall health could be affected if you allow bottle feeding to continue for too long.
Introducing the Cup
Babies have their first year of life to enjoy the bottle, but you can introduce your child to drinking out of a cup at age 6 months. This allows your baby to get familiar with holding and using a cup, although at this age you shouldn't expect him to effectively use the item. Choose cups that have a lid with a spout; avoid "no-spill" cups as these don't encourage your child to adapt to sipping rather than sucking. Giving your baby a cup with handles on each side will make gripping easier. Your baby should be able to comfortably handle drinking out of a cup by age 12 months.
Eliminating the Bottle
Taking away a major source of comfort from your baby is often a challenge. Don't completely eliminate bottle feedings in the beginning; transitioning from bottle to cup should be a gradual process. Start out by eliminating just one bottle feeding a day and offering words of encouragement. It's typically easiest to begin with cutting out the morning bottle. If the first round is successful, continue to eliminate another bottle feeding each week. In addition to water and small amounts of fruit juice, it's important to offer milk in the cup so that your baby doesn't associate milk only with bottles. The nighttime bottle should be the last one to drop. Maintain normal bedtime routines, such as story time, to help keep your baby calm.
Bottle Mouth
Bottle mouth is a major concern when it comes to your baby's dental health--especially if you allow him to drink sugary fluids throughout the day. Your child is at risk for cavities as soon as the first teeth emerge. The American Dental Association cautions that at-will and bedtime bottle feedings are among the leading causes of early childhood cavities. Nursing bottle caries are most common in babies who still use a bottle between the ages of 1 and 2, according to the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. White spots or brown discolorations on the teeth are indicative of this condition.
Nutritional Concerns
Bottle feeding past 12 months is linked to low iron levels and obesity in children. Researchers behind a November 2006 study in the "Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine" suggest that children who remain bottle fed between ages 1 and 3 are at risk for iron depletion. Kids at this age who still use the bottle are more likely to consume excessive amounts of milk, preventing adequate intake of iron-rich juices and foods. These children are also less likely to have mastered the feeding skills needed to eat an appropriate diet. Another study, released online in "The Journal of Pediatrics" in May 2011, found that bottle feeding at age 2 is associated with obesity at about age 5. High caloric intake due to excessive milk drinking could be the culprit.
References
- KidsHealth: Stopping the Bottle
- The Infant Feeding Series; From Bottle to Cup; 2007
- American Dental Association: Statement on Early Childhood Caries
- Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh: Nursing Bottle Caries
- "Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine"; Iron Depletion Is Associated With Daytime Bottle-feeding in the Second and Third Years of Life; Trenna L. Sutcliffe, MSc, MD, FRCPC, et al.; November 2006
- "The Journal of Pediatrics"; Study Suggests Prolonged Bottle Feeding Increases the Risk of Obesity; May 2011
