How to wean your baby off the bottle

Sooner or later, every parent faces the problem of weaning their child off the bottle. If the baby was exclusively breastfed, the process of switching to cups and glasses goes smoothly. But children, accustomed to bottles during artificial feeding, categorically refuse to change their pacifier toy, which also comes with food. What to do in such a situation? At what age is it best to start weaning?

How long does it take to wean your baby off the bottle?

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

According to psychologists, weaning off the bottle must be carefully planned. Not only age plays an important role, but also the emotional state of the child. Based on these factors, it is necessary to select a convenient time.

The main signs that indicate that your baby is ready to give up the bottle are:

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

• Resistance to stress. Manifestations of the sucking reflex are a way for a child to self-soothe. Accordingly, as soon as your baby finds other ways to help him cope with stress and anxiety, you can gradually begin weaning off the bottle.    

Parents should also remember that prolonged use of a bottle can lead to changes in the bite and cause dependence on the pacifier, even if there is nothing in the container.

How to wean your baby off the bottle

It is very difficult for children to give up a habit that has already become established. Often this process is very painful: babies cry, hysterical and are capricious. Therefore, parents must find an individual approach to their child. The following tips will help you cope with such serious changes in your baby’s life:

• Weaning off the bottle should not coincide with other dramatic changes in the child’s life (moving, long separation from parents, having another child, etc.).
• The process must be gradual. First, you should not take the bottle on walks, then hide it at home for a while, offering an alternative - a beautiful and bright mug.
• You can choose an alternative option for your child - a sippy cup. Visually, it is very similar to a bottle, but you have to drink it like from a cup.

• Beautiful children's dishes with their favorite characters will not only teach you to drink in a mug, but will also help your baby eat porridge with a spoon from an attractive plate. This way, the baby will understand that you can eat not only from a bottle and this process will 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 regular water into a bottle, and compote into a cup. After trying both drinks, the baby will understand that the compote tastes better.
• If the baby is not very jealous of his things, you can arrange a demonstrative refusal of the bottle. To do this, you need to go to a place where there is a small child and give him a bottle. It is important to praise the child for such a generous gift so that he understands the importance of his action.
• You can also help your child with your whole family. To do this, it is enough to buy everyone the same mugs and drink only from them. But it is important to avoid drinking juices and carbonated drinks from bottles, as the baby will repeat and the weaning process can take a long time.

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

How to wean your baby off the nighttime bottle

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

To prevent your child from experiencing stress, you need to follow these recommendations from psychologists:

• weaning off nighttime bottle feedings is the last thing to do;
• create comfortable sleeping conditions so that the child does not feel hot or thirsty;
• offer the baby an alternative - drink through a beautiful straw;
• do not give your baby food for dinner that causes thirst: salty, pickled, flour, 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 the 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 achieve whatever they want with their whims. You need to be patient a little and show the baby that there are no less interesting containers than bottles. With persistence for 2-3 days, you will still be able to wean your child off the bottle once and for all.