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Enjoying motherhood in the full swing will come to an end when your little one grabs his first bottle. Exclusive breast feeding is recommended till the baby is six month old. However, this may be practical only for a few mothers. Mothers producing less milk and working mothers tend to move to bottle feeding sooner than stay at home moms who have sufficient milk. If you fall in the second category, you might be interested to know that many mothers move directly from breast milk to a sipper or cup once the baby is 1-1.5 years, without ever giving their kids the bottle.
In any case, a majority of the moms at some point or the other introduce bottle feeding to their kids. And just as you and your baby become comfortable with the bottle-routine, it will become time to wean him off it and introduce sippy cups and glasses. This might be quite a task!
Although it might take a bit of a time in the initial days, your baby will get used to the bottle feeding eventually. In time, the bottle will give him the same comfort and security he experienced while having your milk. He will start developing a bond with it as the bottle’s nipple gives a similar feel as his mother’s nipple. And more importantly, your baby can suck in milk much faster from a bottle than from your breasts – so don’t be surprised if you meet with resistance when you try to wean him off it.
The recent studies show that 9 months is the optimal age to wean babies from the bottle. Many pediatricians suggest that when a baby becomes capable of sitting up alone, holding his head up, and opening his mouth for a spoon, he is ready to add a cup to his mealtime. Infact, doctors suggest that by the time your baby is 18 months, he should have been weaned from the bottle. Some may say 2 years is the maximum age, but most pediatricians agree that the sooner you wean your baby from the bottle, the better.
It is important to stop your child feeding from the bottle at the right time. This is because of the following reasons:
Now that we all agree that prolonged bottle feeding puts your baby at a disadvantage, let us look at:
Helping the baby get over the bottle in the right time with the right tactic is important. It is imperative that you start to break the habit sooner because as the child grows up, you may not be able to apply the same simple tactics that would work when he was 12 months. Here are eight simple tips to wean your baby of the bottle.
We always want our child to be happy. But all the things that make them happy may not be good for them. Even if they throw a fit for their needs initially, we should be consistent in our stand. That way we make their health and future bright.
Read about weaning the baby from the breast here.
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