| Pediatricians and child experts say that babies | | | | hampered because he has turned to the bottle |
| have to be weaned from their bottles starting at | | | | for security and unless he loses it, he could be |
| 12 months. At this stage, children can already sit | | | | teased about it. |
| down by themselves, sit up, walk and hold a cup. | | | | However, don’t despair if you haven’t |
| Introducing him to a training cup in place of his | | | | started him on the weaning process or have been |
| bottle by this time will more likely result in him | | | | unsuccessful in the past. Experts suggest s few |
| permanently leaving the bottle, than starting the | | | | things to help motivate your child to lose the |
| weaning process at around age 2. | | | | bottle. |
| Since toddlers 2 and 3 are more active, they will | | | | 1. Slowly decrease the amount of milk you put in |
| have the tendency to carry their bottles around | | | | his bottle. As he starts to get hungrier, feed him |
| while doing activities drinking from it from time to | | | | more solid foods. |
| time. Others still look for their bottles before going | | | | 2. When he asks for his bottle, hand him his |
| to bed at age 4. Once you’ve let your child | | | | training cup instead. Keep repeating this until he |
| reach this age still on the bottle, there will be a big | | | | gets used to you just giving him his cup. |
| struggle to be able to get her off it. | | | | 3. He will likely throw a tantrum when you do this |
| Hence, it’s best if you start him early on | | | | so think of ways to calm him down. Hug him and |
| cups. In addition, doctors suggest that there are | | | | soothe him with your voice. |
| other consequences of staying with the feeding | | | | 4. Use the reward system to coax him into giving |
| bottle long after the appropriate time. | | | | up his bottle. Each time he asks for his bottle and |
| EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM FEEDING BOTTLE USE | | | | accepts his training cup instead, congratulate him |
| 1. The acidity of the bottle when the milk has | | | | on being a responsible grown little boy. |
| been drunk will cause cavities in his teeth. Since | | | | 5. Since he associates his bottle with some sense |
| toddlers have the tendency to nibble on their | | | | of security, give him another security thing like a |
| bottle teats even after they’ve finished the | | | | blanket, a new stuffed toy or a candy pillow. |
| milk, the acidity found here will ruin their teeth. | | | | While you are trying to wean him and using this |
| 2. The prolonged use of the bottle can ruin the | | | | kind of exchange deal, keep her old blankets, |
| shape of his mouth and distort the alignment of | | | | pillows or stuffed toys first so she’ll only |
| his teeth. | | | | focus on one security thing. |
| 3. He will have the tendency to rely on his bottle | | | | Remember that bottle weaning is essential not |
| whenever he gets hungry thus he could be | | | | only in helping your child develop his independence, |
| missing out on a lot of other important vitamins | | | | social skills and his sense of authority; but is also |
| and nutrients found in healthy foods. | | | | important for him health-wise. |
| 4. His social interaction skills could be slightly | | | | |