- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- babies today articles
- babies today q&a
- toddlers today articles
- toddlers today q&a
- breastfeed.com articles
- breastfeed.com q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
No More Bottles
Transitioning from Bottle to "Sippy" and from "Sippy" to Cup
By Lisa A. Goldstein
Cammie Henderson of Belmont, Mass., experimented with putting water in a sippy cup before both of her daughters were 1 year old. Her older daughter switched without question from formula to whole milk, and from bottle to sippy cup. "Our second daughter transitioned to a sippy cup by 13 months," she says. "For her, it was a gradual transition over the month that included a 50/50 formula to milk mixture eventually becoming all whole milk. Now at 13 c months, she is quite happy with her whole milk in the sippy cup."
Often, "the parent has to be consistent and willing to supervise cup feedings, because this does require more time and patience," Dr. Frazier says. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that toddlers be completely weaned from the bottle by 15 months old. "Delayed bottle feeding can cause negative health implications such as obesity, cavities, ear infections and anemia," Dr. Frazier says.
Around 10 to 12 months old, you can try to introduce an "open cup," Holtzman says. "Try a few different types of cups to see what works best for your baby: a 6-ounce plastic tumbler, a shot glass, a heavier cup with a weighted bottom," she says. "Offer the cup and assist or let your baby take a drink, and assist him with placing the cup back down on his high chair tray. Once it's placed down, take it off the tray out of his reach so he won't knock it over accidentally. Continue offering the cup every few minutes during the meal ... to practice coordinating the drinking from an open cup, holding it and placing it down."
Pay attention to your child's behavior, Hallas says. If behavior is normal, then the transition is fine. If you notice a change (i.e., more crying), then slow down the change process. "All transitions should be gradual, to give your child time to adjust," Hallas says.
|