For many bubs, bottles represent more than just a way to get rid of hunger. Bottles also provide a level of comfort to your baby too. And if your bub is particularly attached to their bottle, transitioning to a sippy cup can prove to be rather difficult.
Most pediatricians recommend weaning baby off the bottle at around 12-24 months, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do it sooner. If your baby can sit up and support their head on their own comfortably, they can handle a sippy cup.
1. Start with a sippy cup that has a silicone spout
A sippy cup with a silicone spout, like our Omababy HeorShe Dental Care Sippy Cup, is a great first choice. The soft and flexible spout closely resembles the nipple on a bottle, making this sippy cup ideal for beginning the transition.
This sippy cup comes with the added benefit of being a teething remedy for little mouths. Designed to evenly distribute pressure while drinking and reduce the risk of teeth misalignment.
2. Pick the right time to transition to a sippy cup
If your baby is experiencing other big life changes, like the addition of a new sibling or a house move, now may not be the best time to wean them off their bottle.
Transitioning from bottle to sippy cup is a big change for your bub, and they’ll be more receptive to building the new habit when they feel secure and calm.
3. Take it slowly - don’t switch to a sippy cup too abruptly
Tossing out the bottle in favour of the sippy cup in one fell swoop is a recipe for tears and tantrums. Instead, transition your baby from bottle to sippy cup gradually.Start by just letting them play with an empty sippy cup and get used to the feel of it.
Then you can start replacing one meal per day with the sippy cup before moving on to two meals per day and so on.
4. Understand why your baby is attached to their bottle
If your baby is showing zero interest in the sippy cup it’s important to figure out why they’re so attached to their bottle. If it’s comfort your baby is seeking, try giving your baby some extra cuddles and coddling.If you find they’re reaching for the bottle when they feel bored, try having a little more playtime with bub. This may help make the transition to sippy cups a little easier.
5. Celebrate sippy cup wins!
By celebrating every time your baby uses the sippy cup, they’ll be much more likely to be receptive and not rebel against it. Telling your bub you’re proud of them and they’re becoming a big kid now will help them to feel like they’re part of the process.Purchase your Omababy Sippy Cup today!
Transitioning your baby from bottle to sippy cup can be a slow process, and it’s unlikely to happen overnight. But with the right sippy cup on hand, weaning bub will be that much easier.Check out our HeorShe Dental Care Sippy Cup and our Wheat Straw Sippy Cup.