How old to hold own bottles?

[OneBabyBoy]

How old was your DS/DD when they started holding their own bottles? Or at least showing interest in starting. My mum says my DS should be doing it by now. He's 8 months. He just doesn't show any interest in holding it himself at all.

[HoopDeeDoo]

DS1 didn't hold his own bottle until his brother came along and my tummy was too big for him to be lying in my arms with this 14 month + toddler drinking his bottle. He liked his cuddles while drinking his bottles, just like a BF baby does. I wouldn't worry about it - every baby is different - DS2 wanted to hold his own bottles as soon as his hands were big enough

[M O P]

I think it all simply comes down to: they are all so different!
But for your record, my son was given a bottle from 6-7 months old and he always wanted to hold it himself. He also doesn't like us to hold his hand when he walks though either.

[Jax Tellers Old Lady]

I didnt start getting Ds to hold his own until after her turned one. I just didnt want to give up those cuddles. Now he wouldnt let me have a bar of trying to feed him his night bottle. Its all up to you when you want to start.

[Tabby]

DD was holding hers at 5 months but prefers to cuddle feed more which I enjoy also so I dont push her to keep holding on her own. ( she usually lets go and lets me ) Theres plenty of time for that later :D
Also totally agree with Kazza here that they are all different

[Minke]

My 14 month old can hold his own bottles, he just chooses not to :D We tried to get him to probably from around 9 - 10 months, but he refused (mind you if he found his big sisters drink bottle he had no problem holding that :rolleyes: ). What can i say - i'm a sucker for my smooshy cuddly boy (and very sorry to the woman who marries him... :o )

[Coffee]

DS 1 was about 4 mth old, when he started holding his bottle by himself and DS 2 was about 6 month.

DS 1 wanted to hold it from around 3 month but he wasn't strong enough to do it, so we still had to support him.

With about 4 mth he could do it, when he was lying on the floor or in the cot.

DS 2 wasn't interested at all. He rather was being fed than feeding himself. :)

[nemosmum]

My son was holding a cup and drinking water just after he turned 6mths, he has always been very co ordinated

I found handles helped maybe purchase some of those ones that fit onto the bottles and see how he goes:)

[Seekrit]

He was 6 months before he even saw a bottle, and only held it himself when I gave him a sippy cup with handles around 9 months

[jojelu]

basically since 2months DS wanted to hold his own bottle- he sttled for having one hand on it (as i still wanted that closeness while feeding)

now @ 6months his been hlding his own bottle for 1.5months, we have the lil handles on it! he loves it!

it just depends on ur bubs they are all sooo different so dont stress!

[HollyHotLips]

My DD wanted to hold it from about 3 weeks old!!!!! She always has her hands on it when being fed but obviously not strong enough to actually hold it yet.

[Zada]

about 5 months DS held his bottle up enough to keep drinking

[pookiesossige]

Ronan started having bottles at 4 months old and by 4.5 months he was holding his own bottles himself. At 5 months of age he was crawling around with them and stopping for a drink whenever he wanted. It was a crack up to watch!

However, every evening he let us hold the bottle and feed him as he dozed off. I'm so glad he did... I have beautiful memories of peaceful, cuddly evenings feeding him- right up to about 18 months of age :yes:


Off-topic, however I just feel I should mention that often no 'bad habits' are set when it comes to how you choose to feed your baby- despite what the MCHN might say. Ronan was more then happy to go to sleep later on, on his own, without being fed to sleep in our arms- and without one single cry involved. I'm so glad we did it!

[SuperWoman]

DS started holding his own bottle 1 day after his 1st b'day.

[mum2bubba]

Hayley was about 8 months when she could hold her own bottle but I fed her anyway coz I loved the closeness/bond we had.

[mum2blueeyes]

It varies widely. My little man has only just started holding his bottle himself in the last week or so (he still sits on mummy's lap to drink it though LOL!), and he's just turned 1.

Don't stress about it, your little one will start doing it in their own good time. To be honest, they have bottles for such a short time in their lives anyway, why rush it? It's a lovely way of connecting and having a bonding session/bit of close time with your little one anyway.

[workin'mumof2]

DS started touching the bottle since 3-4months and now if i know hes not dsue for a nap i try and get him to do it and it works, as i try and hold it less and less. But sometimes both dh and i just want to have a cuddle so we hold it for him. he is now 9.5months

[filmgirlgail]

Alex has only started doing it in the last couple of weeks and he's 11 months. They all do it in their own time.

[Funtimes]

ds is just over 8mths and just started showing his interest this week. he holds it for a short while, has definatly got it figured out but then he just lets go so I still hold it for him for the majority of the time, so he is still on my lap to be fed.

[alanasmum]

As other mums have said, all babies are different. Personally, I don't see the rush or the need to push. They will do it when they are ready. DD is 13 months and has shown no interest at all in holding her own bottle and that's aokay with me. She's very independent in other ways, she just likes a cuddle when she has her bottles.

[cwsmum]

Both my kids were around 9-10mths when they started to hold their bottles, it was around this time that they both started to drink from a cup and hold that themselves too.

I wouldn't worry about bub not holding the bottle. I know a mum who never taught her kids to hold the bottle, she held them and fed them til they stopped having bottles (not sure how old they were, I know one of them was about 18mths.) Even tho they never learnt to hold the bottle they did learn to drink from a cup and hold that themselves.

[kylie80]

My DD had just turned 1 and refuses to hold her own bottle.

[EskimoMumma]

DD1 held her own bottle between 7 and 9 m onths.

DD2 has been holding her own bottle from 4months on and is now nearly 6!

DS was around the 7 month age :idea: