{"id":22797,"date":"2024-04-16T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-16T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mommy-diary.com\/?p=22797"},"modified":"2024-04-16T22:44:06","modified_gmt":"2024-04-17T05:44:06","slug":"how-to-transition-a-toddler-from-bottle-to-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mommy-diary.com\/how-to-transition-a-toddler-from-bottle-to-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Transition a Toddler From Bottle To Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Every child reaches a new milestone at their own pace, but there are ways to help your little one achieve a new task with confidence. One of those crucial<\/em> moments is transitioning your toddler from using a bottle to a regular cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The American Academy of Pediatrics and<\/em> the Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends weaning from breast or bottles between 12 months of age and 24 months of age. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there are several reasons for this transition, the most pressing is that drinking from a bottle for extended periods can cause an increased risk for baby bottle tooth decay, oral development issues, and other associated infections due to laying down while drinking from the bottle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On top of all of those reasons, mastering this new skill in early toddlerhood will continue to encourage \u201cbig kid\u201d behavior over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I go through this process with my youngest child and have been through the bottle-to-cup transition three times prior, I thought I\u2019d share some essential tips on making this new milestone as smooth as possible for your toddler (and mom and dad)!<\/p>\n\n\n

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How To Transition a Toddler From Bottle To Cup<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Start Early and Be Consistent<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Whether your baby is bottle-fed or breastfed<\/a>, as you start introducing solid foods around six months old, offer them a small amount of water in an open cup to get them used to the motion of drinking and the association of drinks with meals. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A good rule of thumb is to offer sips in a 1, 2, or 3 count, and then pull the cup away, repeating as needed between bites. You\u2019ll be surprised at how quickly your baby will catch on to this new way of taking in liquids just by offering drinking water often.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Open-mouth<\/span> cup drinking promotes good oral development as it causes your baby to use their jaw, mouth, and tongue differently than a bottle does. Thus further developing those oral motor skills your baby will need when eating solid foods later. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also try offering breast milk or formula in a cup with meals too. And, just like with anything, consistency is vital. The more you practice this new mealtime activity, the smoother a complete transition away from the baby bottle will be down the road.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Swap Out With a Sippy Cup<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The longer you wait to transition from the bottle after your baby turns one, the more difficult it will be to remove the attachment they\u2019ve formed to it, much like a pacifier (a whole different topic!). <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To help ease into the transition, around 12 to 18 months old, you can start by switching out one milk bottle per day with a spill-proof cup option or a silicone spout sippy cup. <\/span>You can do this at the same time you switch from breast milk or formula to cow milk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduce a cup with a straw and lid to promote drinking that encourages good oral development. This change may take your child a bit to adjust to, but by slowly swapping out other options for a bottle, the complete weaning transition will be a breeze.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Sippy Cup for Bottle Transition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Sippy cups and straw cups are great transition tools for toddlers. Providing a spill-proof option as they learn to manage the regular cup-to-mouth motion slowly and smoothly. Sippy cups, like any cup, should only be offered with meals or when your child expresses they are thirsty. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allowing your little one to drink from a cup and walk around with it will encourage overdrinking, and an attachment can be formed, much like with the bottle. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve linked a few of my go-to sippy cups, straw cups, and spill-proof options found on Amazon.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n