Question
When should I start trying to get my baby to use a cup?
Answer
If you have chosen to bottle feed your baby or you are cutting
back on breast feeds, from six months onwards it is a good idea to
get your baby used to drinking from a cup. Comfort sucking on
sweetened drinks from a bottle is a major cause of tooth decay in
young children. Also, sucking on a bottle can become a habit that
is hard to break in some babies.
Try these tips to get your baby drinking from a
cup:
- Start by giving your baby sips of water from a cup with their
meals, as well as between meals if you are bottle feeding
- After that, you can try cutting out a bottle feed at one meal
in the day and using a cup instead
- Do this until eventually your baby is taking all their milk
from a cup
If possible, aim to have your baby weaned off their bottle and
using a cup by their first birthday.
What kind of cup should my baby use?
An open cup or a free-flow cup without a valve will help your baby
learn to sip and is better for your baby's teeth.
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