Babies rarely give up their bottles easily — which is one reason why so many of 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 age of 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 can increase her risk of ear infections.
Still, convincing your little one to kick the habit can be a struggle, especially because, like 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 1 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 at the latest.
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.
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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 take to her 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, her bottle may be a big source of comfort for her, so don’t begin the process if she’s sick, tired or hungry, or if a change in her routine (new babysitter, shift in day-care schedule or after a move) has her stressed.
- Take it slow. Put less breast milk or formula (for babies under 1 year) or cow's milk (for babies over 1 year) in your little one’s bottle and top off each feeding with a cup. Then, slowly 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 may be slow business, and could take a month or more.
- 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 cup or training cup at regular “mealtimes.” This will help her get used to eating her meals at the table — just like her parents! Speaking of her parents, go ahead and take a sip from her cup, too. Babies love to do what you do, so lead by example — “Yum, that tastes good!”
- Hide the bottle. Out of sight, out of mind. Stashing that treasured bottle out of sight 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, and experiment with different sipping options — some kids love straws, while others prefer spouts.
- 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 her sippy cup or training cup without putting up a fight, so be patient. Reward her for a job well done with plenty of praise (“You’re drinking out of your big-girl cup!”) and don’t criticize her when she clings to her bottle.
And remember 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 help you make the transition.
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