Feeding time with baby, whether you bottle or breast feed, is a bonding time between baby and mom or dad. Parents are always a little sad when the time comes to wean, but it can also mean that baby is growing and moving on to bigger and better things. Whether you are looking forward to weaning babies from bottle or breast, or if you are not so sure you are ready, there are some things you can do to make the transition easier for everyone.
Weaning babies starts long before the time when most doctors recommend you wean. Most will say that babies should have breast milk or bottled formula for at least twelve months. Some moms want to breastfeed longer, and they can as that is a personal choice. Whatever the case, you have to start some things that are related to weaning babies long before they are one year old. Children should start taking some drink each day from a sippy cup as soon as they can hold on and tip it back to their lips safely. They will need plenty of practice before they take all fluids this way.
Babies should be interested in sippy cups before they use them, but that is usually not a problem. You may have noticed that your baby was interested in watching you eat long before you tried to give them cereal for the first time. This is one sign they are ready to eat some calories from a spoon. They will show interest in how you drink before the time comes for weaning babies from bottle or breast. Their natural curiosity and need to mimic what you do will have them wanting to try sippy cups long before it is time to wean. Allow them to experiment and learn as early as they are safely able to do so.
Parents getting closer to weaning babies time should do all they can to encourage more and more times drinking from a big girl or big boy cup. This means that when it comes time to drop the bottle or put away the breast, baby is not left with a cup they do not know how to use or are not comfortable with using. This can go either way if you have other children, however. If your baby has an older sibling that uses cups, weaning babies can be easier. On the other hand, if you have a new baby, they may feel jealous and weaning may take longer.
Be as patient as you can when weaning babies from the breast or the bottle. Some babies give up each rather quickly, and some will hang on as long as they can. Do not feel bad if they do not wean as quickly as you think they should. You may have to come up with some creative ideas to get them to throw away the bottle for good. When it seems nothing you do is encouraging weaning in your baby, talk to your pediatrician about some ideas and suggestions to get the job done.
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