Weaning From The Bottle
Weaning from the bottle to the cup should always be done gradually. Trying to wean fast will make your child angry, clingy, and miserable.
- First: Reduce bottle-feedings to 3 or 4 per day. Also don't allow your child to carry a bottle around during the day. After you cut back on the number of bottles and your child comes to you for one, offer extra holding and snuggling instead.
- Second: After your child has adjusted to 3 or 4 bottles per day, start offering milk in a cup before each bottle. He will probably take some from both.
- Third: Once he is accustomed to drinking milk from a cup, eliminate the bottle-feedings in the following order: lunch first, dinner second, morning third, and bedtime last. Eliminate these bottles at 3 or 4 day intervals, depending on your child's reaction. Replace each bottle-feeding with cup-feeding and extra holding.
- Fourth: When it comes time to give up the last bottle of the day, do it over the course of a week. Each day, reduce the amount of milk offered in the bottle. He can always drink extra milk from the cup.
- Finally: On the last day, ask your child to help you deliver the bottles to someone else's baby.
If you have other questions about weaning, consult your healthcare provider.
Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information.
Author and Senior Reviewer: Barton D. Schmitt, M.D. FAAP
Last Review: 6/1/2008
Last Revised: 7/24/2006 7:29:55 PM
Copyright 1994-2008 Barton Schmitt, M.D. Parent Advice Messages
