Transitioning from the baby bottle can be challenging because babies become attached to the bottle . Apart from providing nourishment, most children use the bottle as a means of comfort and security. It’s  however important for parents to wean the baby off the baby bottle by the end of the first year   to get them more comfortable with the cup. The longer you wait, the more attached babies are to the bottle and the more difficult it is to transition.

Tips to help your baby transition from a baby bottle

It is recommended by most doctors  that you start introduce  your child to the cup around 6 months. You can start with sippy  cups to prevent spills. When you switch to a sippy  cup, use it for all liquids and then change to an open cup as soon as your child can manage it, usually before age 2.

It is recommended that you change your baby from formula to cow’s milk by age one. This is therefore a good time to offer milk in a cup rather than baby bottle.

If you are breastfeeding , you can still continue but you may want to offer breastmilk  as well as water in cup.

NOTE

Toddlers need to drink only when they are thirsty. If you let your  child hold the cup the whole day, she will end up over drinking. You should also note that drinking milk, juices and soda can lead to tooth decay. Do not let your child go to bed with a bottle or sip cup.