The process of teaching your child to feed from something other than the bottle is called weaning.
Studies show that children being bottle fed longer are more likely to suffer from tooth decays.
As parents, we don't want that to happen.
So, it is important to not allow your child to be bottle fed in a long period of time.
Parents need to decide when they will wean their child.
Parents should remember you're your child can get more nutrients in solids than in bottle feeding.
Most importantly, children who stay in bottle feeding longer may have difficulties in maintaining right feeding skills.
Weaning from bottle feeding is not done abruptly.
It has to be done gradually.
Most of the time, it is easier said than done.
Once parents decide to wean your baby from bottle feeding, the most essential part of the whole process is consistency.
So, when is your child ready for weaning? In my own experience, I have started weaning my daughter when she was eight months old.
I let her try drinking milk from a cup at eight months and she was totally weaned from bottle feeding around one and a half years old.
My partner and I decided that it was time to wean our daughter when she was starting to sit on her own.
In weaning, make sure that your child is not in a bad mood.
Start substituting the bottle with a sippy cup at one feeding during the day.
Choose a feeding time when your child usually drinks just a little amount of milk, rather than a major mealtime.
Always remember that routine is the key to success.
Slowly introduce the cup at another feeding time, gradually decreasing the number of bottles the child receives.
Do not forget to be patient all the time.
Help your child in holding the cup properly and assist him/her in drinking.
Choosing the right cup for weaning is very important.
You should choose a cup that is non-drip and can be easily gripped by your child.
Choose a cup that can also be used as a feeding bottle.
And of course, it should be BPA free.
I have always used the Drinky cup from Chicco and I can highly recommend it to all mothers who plan to start weaning their child from bottle feeding.
You might be asking what you can do to make weaning easier on your baby.
I suggest that during the process of weaning, offer your child other comforts such as a soft blanket or his/her favorite stuffed animal or play soothing music to relax him/her.
Try spending extra time cuddling with your child during the weaning process.
You can also buy cups with colorful handles and beautiful cup designs to amaze your little one.
And lastly, be a positive role model and drink from a cup with your child.