Transitioning from bottle to cup
*Note: This is not medical advice. Always check with your baby’s pediatrician and/or other medical provider(s) when making changes to your baby’s feeding schedule or needs. The information provided here is meant for general informational purposes only and is targeted towards the general pediatric population.
One of the most frequent questions I get asked - how do I transition my baby off the bottle?!
I totally get it. The transition away from the bottle can seem like one of the biggest transitions you and your baby will go through. There’s something bittersweet about this transition, am I right? It can feel like a hallmark of the baby stage coming to an end and the toddler stage officially beginning.
Let’s go over a bit of background and then we’ll get into the steps of the actual transition.
First off, when and why do we want to transition from the bottle? Well, starting around 12 months old, we want the main source of calories and nutrition to be solid foods, as opposed to breastmilk and/or formula. This is a gradual process rather than a hard and fast transition. Some babies will show a natural increased interest in food and a decreased interest in their bottles. Others may need a bit more guided weaning.
In addition, prolonged bottle-drinking can have a negative impact on dental health and tooth development. Particularly bottle-drinking that occurs at night, without brushing your toddler’s teeth afterwards, can contribute to tooth decay. Therefore, if your toddler does drink from a bottle past 12-18 months, it is important to always brush their teeth before a stretch of sleep.
*Note: It is always okay to continue to nurse your child after 12 months of age. Nursing at the breast is a different oral-motor pattern than bottle-drinking, and therefore does not lead to the same negative dental effects. You can continue to nurse your child for as long as you’d like.
Ideally, we want your toddler to be weaned from the bottle by 14-15 months (18 months at the absolute latest). So, how do we get there?
I recommend you start to think about the transition beginning around 11-12 months. This gives you ample time to learn and prepare in advance, since the entire transition typically takes a few months from start to finish.
Decide whether you will want to offer whole milk, a milk alternative, or no milk at all after transitioning from the bottle. This will help you have a goal in mind (More on milk options in my 12-18 Month Comprehensive Routine Guide)
Follow your baby’s lead if they typically begin to drink less at one bottle-feed (this is typically one of the middle-of-the-day bottles) and offer fewer ounces for a few days. Eventually replace this bottle with a snack. You can do this for all of the middle-of-the-day bottles.
Usually, the first morning bottle and bedtime bottle are the last two to go. You can keep the bedtime bottle as the final one to go, as long as you move it to the beginning of the bedtime routine and make sure to brush your baby’s teeth before sleep.
If desired, begin to offer your milk of choice in a cup at mealtimes/snacktimes (sticking to a set meal/snacktime schedule is very important at this age).
No two families navigate this transition the exact same way and that is okay! Let this post be general guidance and help you feel more confident in making choices for your baby and your family.
If you want more guidance on this transition from bottle-to-cup (and the transition from breast milk/formula to whole milk or a milk alternative) and how to incorporate these changes into your baby’s routine, check out my 12-18 Month Comprehensive Routine Guide! It includes an entire six-page section on these transitions with step-by-step outlines to make it EASY for you to follow.
If you’re currently going through this transition, comment below with questions or send me a DM on Instagram! I love to hear from you guys.