Baby Formula - Cup Training

Begin cup training when babies can hold their heads steady while sitting up usually at 6 to 7 months. Begin by holding the cup with your hands around the baby’s hands. Also, put only a small amount of liquid in the cup. To avoid spills, use a special cup that has a spout at the top and is weighted at the bottom. Continue to give most of the formula from the bottle or breast to make sure the baby gets enough. But give juice and some milk and water from a cup. By the end of the first year, the baby should be able to take most liquids from a cup. Some babies are ready to give up the bottle by 8 or 9 months, and others are not ready until 15 months. Watch for these signs: playing with the bottle, looking around while sucking, or not taking the bottle when given other foods. In weaning, offer milk for one feeding from a cup. If the baby does not finish, give the rest from a bottle. Continue offering milk from a cup when the baby is hungry. Many babies can be weaned completely when they are about a year old. Some will want a bottle at bedtime until they are 2 years old. Do not give babies a bottle every time they cry.