How to wean a baby from a bottle

Sooner or later, every parent is faced with the problem of weaning the baby from the bottle. If the baby was exclusively breastfed, the process of switching to cups and glasses is calm. But children, accustomed to bottles during artificial feeding, categorically refuse to change their dummy toy, with which food is also poured. What to do in such a situation? What is the best age to start weaning?

What time do you need to wean the baby from the bottle

Scientists have shown that children who refuse to eat from a bottle at the age of 1.5-2 years often suffer from obesity. Moreover, the first signs are noticeable as early as 5 years old. The study also involved babies who, after 1 year, do not use a bottle at all as a container for food. These children are more active and not prone to overeating, respectively, to obesity.

According to psychologists, bottle weaning should be carefully planned. An important role is played not only by age, but also by the emotional state of the child. Based on these factors, it is necessary to choose a convenient time.

The main signs indicating that the child is ready to give up the bottle are:

• The child's ability to sit independently, hold a spoon and a cup (approximately at 10-12 months). Of course, the baby is unlikely to be able to neatly eat on his own, but drinking from a plastic or any other light cup will not be difficult.

• Resistant to stress. The sucking reflex is a way of calming the child. Accordingly, as soon as the baby finds other ways to help him cope with stress and anxiety, you can gradually start weaning from the bottle.

Also, parents should be aware that long-term use of the bottle can lead to changes in the bite and cause dependence on the nipple, even if there is nothing in the container.

How to wean a baby from a bottle

It is very difficult for babies to give up a habit that has already been established. This process is often very painful: babies cry, hysterical and are capricious. Therefore, parents should find an individual approach to their child. To cope with such serious changes in the life of the crumbs, the following tips will help:

• Bottle weaning should not coincide with other cardinal changes in the child's life (moving, long separation from parents, the appearance of another child, etc.).
• The process should be gradual. First, you should not take the bottle for walks, then hide it at home for a while, offering an alternative - a beautiful and bright mug.
• The child can choose an alternative option - a drinking mug. Visually, it is very similar to a bottle, but you have to drink like from a cup.

• Beautiful children's dishes with favorite characters will allow you to teach not only to drink in a mug, but also help your kid eat porridge with a spoon from an attractive plate. Thus, the baby will understand that you can eat not only from the bottle and this process does not become less interesting.
• It is important to give the child freedom of choice, but at the same time, controlling the process. For example, you can pour plain water into a bottle, and compote into a cup. Having tasted both drinks, the kid will understand that the compote is tastier.
• If the baby is not very jealous of his things, you can arrange a show refusal of the bottle. To do this, you need to go to a visit where there is a small child and give him a bottle. It is important to praise the baby for such a generous gift so that he understands the importance of his act.
• You can also help the child with the whole family. To do this, it is enough to buy the same mugs for everyone and drink only from them. But it is important not to allow the use of juices, carbonated drinks from bottles, as the baby will repeat and the process of weaning can be very delayed.

There is no point in waiting for an instant result. The older the child is, the more difficult it will be to cope with changes in his habits.

How to wean your baby from a night bottle

If during the day children periodically simply forget about bottles, then at night the problem becomes more urgent.

So that the child does not experience stress, you need to follow the following recommendations of psychologists:

• weaning off night bottle feeding is the last thing;
• create comfortable conditions for sleeping so that the child is not hot and thirsty;
• offer the baby an alternative - drink through a beautiful straw;
• do not give your baby food that makes you thirsty for dinner: salty, pickled, starchy foods, etc.;
• give only water to drink;
• try to switch the child's attention to toys, a song, a fairy tale, etc.;
• cut a large hole on the nipple of the bottle through which water will simply pour out.

Of course, at first glance, it seems that following these recommendations is very simple. But kids, showing their character, begin to manipulate their parents and whims to achieve everything they want. You need to be patient a little and show the baby that there are no less interesting containers than bottles. Having shown perseverance for 2-3 days, it will still be possible to wean the child from the bottle once and for all.