Simplify the transition from bottle to cup with a little creative thinking.
For me, feeding my baby is all about love. I love our talk time together, even when no words are spoken. I love cuddling. Most of all, I love having a baby who depends on me for everything. The bottle was a source of comfort for me as well as my baby. Karyanah-Faith is my last child. When the doctor suggested weaning her to a cup at six months, I resented the idea. After all, that meant my baby was growing up. So whats wrong with keeping a child on a bottle until two or older? After days of sulking, I realized I was being selfish. Im a mother, and mothers help their child reach milestones. They celebrate independence, not foster dependence. And they always protect their child. I realized that my child was depending on me for everythingincluding knowing how to protect her teeth from baby bottle tooth decay. So I started the transition from bottle to cup. First, I gave her empty cups to play with for a few days. No need to buy special cupsregular cups work. I first introduced the cup at the midday meal. (Karyanah-Faith still loved
to be cuddled when she first woke up and at bedtime.) I still held her in my lap while offering the cup. It wasnt a big deal. I just keep offering the cup every day. After a few weeks, I introduced it at breakfast and then dinner. One day, at around 14 or 15 months, she was off the bottle. It was probably more traumatic for me than her. I did learn a few tricks that made the transition easier. Simple things like squiggly straws take the focus off the cup. Songs like For Shes A Big Girl Now (sung to the tune of For Hes A Jolly Good Fellow) make it an adventure. And we revert to the bottle during stressful times like when Karyanah-Faith was sick or changed daycare. Im proud that my child has made the transition from bottle to cup. Being bottle-free means I dont have to worry about rotten teeth or getting too much milk. And best of all, when Karyanah-Faith hits the terrible twos well have one less thing to fight aboutuntil we start toilet training.
Karlenes tips for easy bottle to cup transition.
at night. weaningbut never in the bottle.
Karlene and Karyanah-Faith
For more information about infant oral health please visit: http://www.ct.gov/dph/homebyone Cover photography by Michael Young www.yamstudio.com Reprinted with permission of the Massachusetts WIC Program

TH20 12/06