Bottle Weaning: Why, When, and How

As promised, I’m back today to talk about bottle weaning. On Friday, I shared one of my tips on how to get your newly minted one year old to happily drink whole milk. Bottle weaning is a conversation I have at least twice a day in clinic. It’s a common concern among parents and pediatricians alike.

So why the concern about bottle weaning?

It makes common sense that eventually our budding toddlers will no longer need that bottle for nourishment. In fact, prolonged bottle use can lend itself to iron deficiency anemia should a child walk around drinking milk from a bottle all day long. That excess milk replaces other essential dietary needs, namely those high in iron.

Another concern is cavities. A child attached to a bottle and using it as nighttime comfort (aka the bottle is in bed with him) is at risk for dental caries due to sugars in milk coating those new baby teeth and not getting brushed off.

Finally, a child mainly drinking from his bottle throughout the day and/or taking it to bed with additional milk may be at risk for developing obesity due to extra and unnecessary caloric intake.

So now we know the concerns about the bottle…when should the bottle be weaned?

Ideally, by the time a child turns 1, she will have given up that bottle in favor of a sippy cup. I say ideally, because we all know that children don’t read our books or always acquiesce to our imposed timelines. Here’s my take on the age issue: take these recommendations with a grain of salt. Some children will easily go from bottle to cup by age 1. Others? They’ll be approaching their second birthday and still have a bottle of milk two times per day.

What is most important is this: what is your child’s temperament and needs? What is your parenting style and how do you feel about the bottle? Also? Is bottle feeding with milk a time of bonding and cuddling for you and your child? Have you taken the above concerns into consideration?

I have to admit, with my first, he took a morning and evening bottle until he was 23 months old. It was a quiet time for us. We cuddled and connected. I cherished those quiet moments with him especially since he was an incredibly active toddler hardly willing to slow down otherwise.

If I had been a successful breastfeeding mother, these would have been our nursing sessions. A source of comfort that is important in their young lives. That being said, yes, toddlers grow and do need eventually to be weaned. Know the recommendations (12-18 months) and know your child. Take into account the concerns about the bottle outlined above and make a decision about the timing of bottle weaning that is in the best interest of your individual child and yourself.

I knew it was time to be done with the bottle when my son no longer wanted to sit on my lap and have his milk with me. He preferred to hold it himself. That’s when I knew he was emotionally and physically ready for that sippy cup of milk. As for my daughter? She clearly craved that independence at 18 months old, so that’s what we did.

A word of caution on bottle use: pitfalls to avoid…

• Please don’t put anything other than milk or water in your child’s bottle.
• Don’t allow your child to carry a bottle around with him all day. Set aside 2-3 times a day when your child has his “milk time”.
• Never put your child to bed with a bottle of milk, she will be at risk for cavities and ear infections.
• Make sure your child is introduced to the sippy cup at 6 months old. Offer water and milk in a sippy cup at mealtimes so your child becomes accustomed to using it.

Okay, so the time has come, time to say bye-bye bottle. How?

• Go cold turkey. This actually worked with my son. I mean he was 23 months old after all and was ready to move on. I simply said, “okay, looks like you’re a big boy now and ready to use a cup all the time”. He was completely okay with that.
• Time it with the transition to whole milk. Many parents find success in weaning from formula or breastmilk at one year of age and going straight to a sippy cup with whole milk. If you think this will work for you and your child, give it a try! You may be pleasantly surprised.
• Do it gradually. More often than not, a child accustomed to his bottle for “milk time” will need some time to get used to the idea. Start by decreasing the amount of bottles per day. Skip the midday bottle for a few days, then the morning bottle, and finally the evening one. He may be cranky for a day or two but find other ways to comfort and console him. If he’s old enough, why not reward him at the end with a special prize for saying good-bye to his last bottle.

Remember, only you know your child. Don’t let the guilt get to you if your otherwise healthy 15 month old still craves a morning and evening bottle. Be aware of the bottle pitfalls and avoid them. Otherwise, enjoy these fleeting months with your child because I can guarantee you, soon she won’t be saying “mama, baba, baba”, she’ll be looking you straight in the eyes and demanding, “Mom, keys please”.

How old was your child when he/she said good-bye to the bottle? Was it easy or a challenge? Did you feel guilty about your child’s bottle use? What tips can you share about bottle weaning?