Swapping bottles for cups

[Wivi]

Hi - my boy has just turned one. He has three bottle per day of 180mls each. He is changing from formula to cow's milk now. He eats solids well.

I would like to know how to change the bottles to drinking the milk from a cup. He doesn't hold his own bottle and he will drink water from a cup, but he really is only good at this if he is really thirsty - like on a hot day.

Any tips would be appreciated.

Thanks

Tania

[the pero clinic]

Dear Tania,

Given that your little boy can drink from a cup if he’s thirsty enough, it sounds like he is just attached to his bottles and to you feeding him – rather than an actual difficulty with cup drinking. A 12 month old should be able to drink from a spout sup without difficulty, and drink from an open cup with occasional spills and dribbles, if they have had practice at it for a few months. So, if it is new to your son, expect that is will take some time and getting used to.

There are a few different strategies that you could try, to move him from the bottle to the cup. As he is still content for you to hold the bottle for him, you could try holding your son on your lap (or however you would normally bottle feed him) and giving him the milk from a spout cup. Encourage him to hold the cup under your hands – gradually reduce the amount of assistance that you give, and gradually move away from holding him, to him sitting by himself.

You could also try to make cup drinking a new and fun experience by having a picnic outside on a warm day. Let your little one watch you enjoy pouring yourself some milk or water and drinking from a cup (spout or open cup). Do not offer him a drink – wait until he asks for it. Then let him have a go at doing it by himself. As you are outside, the spills won’t matter at all.

Finally, the bottles could just go ‘missing’ from your home and be replaced with a few different colourful cups and spout cups. You will obviously still need to give your son assistance in learning how to drink from them, but he can choose which cup he will drink from.

Figure out which strategy/ies might suit you best and go from there – just remember to be patient with him and yourself. It is a time of adjustment for you both.

the pero clinic