Babies rarely give up their bottles easily — which is one reason why so many tots continue to use one for long past the recommended 12 months of age.
But as comforting and mess-free as bottles are, there are good reasons to kick the habit by the time they turn 1. Older babies who are still drinking from bottles may be filling up on liquids and skipping solids — something that could hinder their ability to take in important nutrients.
If your baby takes the bottle to bed with her, she may also sip from it while lying down, which (hard as it may be to believe) can increase her risk of ear infections. At night, give baby some water in a sippy cup rather than milk, which if baby drinks it after brushing, can leave sugar that sticks to the teeth, inviting bacteria and cavities.
Still, convincing your little one to kick the habit can be a struggle, especially because, like so many other attachment objects, the bottle has been a source of comfort for many months. Just remember that the weaning process is, well, a process — and that starting it when she’s a year old will be much easier than trying it when she’s closer to 2.
Once you think your child might be ready, use these strategies to help smooth the transition.
When should you wean baby off the bottle?
Pediatricians and pediatric dentists say that babies should break the bottle habit at 12 months — and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends complete weaning from the bottle by 15 months to 18 months at the latest, unless otherwise recommended by your doctor.[1]
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It’s a good idea to start introducing a sippy cup with water between around 6 months and 9 months at mealtime.
How to wean a baby off the bottle
Quitting the bottle cold turkey may work for a few babies, but for most, a gradual transition is best. That means phasing out one feeding session at a time (morning or midday bottles may be easier to drop than evening ones) as you encourage your baby to drink from a sippy cup or open training cup. Then wait a few days or a week before you replace the next bottle.
Weaning off the bottle schedule
If your baby drinks three bottles a day, you can try this schedule:
Week 1
- Offer a cup in the morning instead of a bottle
- Offer an afternoon bottle
- Offer an evening bottle
Week 2
- Offer a cup in the morning
- Offer a cup in the afternoon instead of a bottle
- Offer an evening bottle
Week 3
- Offer a cup in the morning
- Offer a cup in the afternoon
- Offer a cup at dinner instead of a bottle
Week 4
- Offer a cup in the morning
- Offer a cup in the afternoon
- Offer a cup at dinner
Tips for transitioning to a cup from a bottle
Here’s how to encourage your tot to drink from a cup — and leave the bottle behind.
- Time the transition well. You’ll do your baby (and yourself) a big favor by choosing the weaning moment wisely. Remember, your child’s bottle may be a big source of comfort, so don’t begin the process if your little one is sick, tired or hungry, or if there’s been a big life change (i.e. a shift in her babysitter or day care situation, a new sibling, or a move to a different house).
- Take it slowly. Put less breast milk or formula (for babies under a year old) or cow's milk (for babies over 1 year) in your little one’s bottle and put the remaining liquid in a cup. Over time, decrease the amount of liquid in the bottle while increasing the amount of milk that she drinks from the cup. You might also try only serving water in the bottle, one feeding at a time, which may make your baby bored enough to give up the bottle entirely — but don’t be surprised if it doesn’t do the trick. Weaning from the bottle can be a slow process, and may take a month or more before it sticks.
- Pull up a chair. Once your little one is sitting up in a high chair, try offering her some breast milk or formula out of a sippy or training cup at regular mealtimes. Be encouraging; phrases like “Wow, look at my big kid!” can’t hurt, and with your continuous support, your tot will get used to eating meals at the table just like her parents. Speaking of parents, go ahead and take a sip from your own cup too. Babies love to do what you do, so lead by example — and make sure you say, “Yum, that tastes good!”
- Hide the bottle. Out of sight, out of mind. Stashing that treasured bottle out of sight after she’s gotten relatively used to drinking from a cup may help your baby yearn for it less. Keep an assortment of tempting cups (brightly colored or graced with favorite characters) handy and in plain view. The American Dental Association recommends training cups designed to shift little ones from sucking to sipping.[2] Look for a two-handled cup with a snap-on or screw-on lid, a weighted base for table-top support and a spout, but no valve.
- Summon the Bottle Fairy. Tell your child the Bottle Fairy is coming to take those baby bottles and give them to a newborn who really needs them. You can make it fun and have your tot draw a picture for or write a note to the fairy (with your help). And if it’s not too difficult for your little one, leave the bottles out. In the morning, they’ll be gone, and your sweetie can begin to move on knowing she’s helped another baby somewhere out there.
- Be extra affectionate. Once you start weaning, you’ll need to replace the reassurance she got from her bottle with lots of extra love from you — that is, more hugs, more playtime and maybe an extra story at bedtime.
What should you do if your baby refuses a cup?
Your baby probably won’t take to the sippy cup or training cup without putting up a fight, so be patient. Reward your child for a job well done with plenty of praise (“You’re drinking out of your big-kid cup!”) and remember to keep criticism to zero. It can be hard for your child to adjust, but on the flip-side, it’s a chance for your tot to grow and try new things.
Keep in mind that the weaning process can take weeks — or even months — to complete, so hang in there.
If you haven’t been able to make any progress in transitioning to a cup after about a month or so — or if your child is 2 years old — call your doctor, who may be able to offer guidance that will help you make the transition.
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