We had our 1 year well check and the Pedi said it is now time to remove all bottles and switch to sippy cups exclusively. He cited research that links prolonged bottle use with increased ear infections and tooth problems. It seems so soon, I mean they are just starting to cruise around the furniture...not even walking yet and they were only 29 weeks. They take water from the sippy cups but they really just chew on them. He also said it was time to switch to whole milk.

So my questions, 1) when did you switch to exclusive sippy cups?- what brand do you prefer? Currently using Nubby 2) did you slowly introduce whole milk? 3) did your little ones eat most food on their own? (they have also started to reject my spoon feeding).

Thanks so much!

We haven't switched to sippy cups yet, and my girls are 16 1/2 months actual (14 adjusted). My pedi knows they are still using bottles, and didn't tell me to stop. I did try two months ago; one would not take it in her mouth at all, the other would sometimes put it in, but would never drink, just chew. After three days of no drinking, I gave up. I was getting frustrated, and decided I had better things to worry about. I will try again in the next few weeks.

I switched them to whole milk at one year actual. My pediatrician said since they were gaining weight well and were on the chart, they didn't need the extra calories from formula. I changed them gradually, just to avoid any stomach upset. One I switched more slowly, because I had more of her formula left and didn't want to waste it.

My girls are 50-50 on whether they will eat on their own. They usually let me start feeding them; sometimes I can get the whole thing in, other times they want the spoon. Depending on what we are eating and the kind of mess it will make, I'll let them have it (potatoes are okay, yogurt not, too drippy). For the "not" foods, I will help them hold the spoon so I can control the waving, but sometimes they don't like that. So when they're in super "I won't eat if you feed me" mode, I'll give them foods they can eat easily themselves and not make too much of a mess - pancakes, cereal, cheese, meat, etc.

Amy

Mom to Julia, ^Caitlin^ & Gabrielle



http://onealaskanmom.wordpress.com

My pedi said the same about giving up bottles. We started giving whole milk (cold turkey) in Playtex straw sippy cups exclusively at meal times once they turned 1 and they do well, but most of the time don't finish the entire cup. Just to be on the safe side (to make sure they get enough liquids), they get a bottle of milk right before they go to bed. It gives me peace of mind and transitions them nicely to 'sleep time'. I know we will have to cut that out soon. BUt I figured they were 2 months early, so we have at least 2 months leeway.
My three love to eat and they exclusively self-feed all their meals, all chunky stuff that's easy to pick up (bananas, crackers, cheese, veggies, bread, muffins etc.). Now we are slowly introducing the spoon for self-feeding things like mashed potatoes. I am still waiting with the runny stuff like applesauce and yogurt...
HTH
Petra
DS 08/02
DD 05/04
BBG 05/09 32.1 weeks

since 2 of my girls are still tiny (<3%ile, 4%ile, 20%ile), we will be staying on formula until 12 months corrected, then switching the bigger girl to whole milk. I think the other two will go to whole milk with formula added to it to increase the calories, but we'll see how well they grow in the next two months.

We still do bottles morning and night, but drink a little milk from a cup at meals (a variety of kinds: Nuby, the cheap plastic sippy cups, straw cups, regular open cups). they will not eat anything from me and haven't for the last few months. I might be able to get 2 ounces of yogurt into the three of them combined, but generally if they can't pick it up and feed themselves, they won't eat it. Isn't that a fun stage??? BTW, at our 12 month check up, the info they gave said to stop the bottle by 15-18 months.


Brenda
mom to GGGs born at 32w4d

Our babies are 13 months and have thankfully been bottle free for almost a month and a half. we started with the very soft nipple cups, we bought the walgreens brand they were like 3 for $5 a deal to say the least. Now they are taking the regular hard spout gerber cups and life is good! They have been drinking whole milf for almost two months. They are eating awesome!! We started by offering them the cups at meals and eventually they got it. good luck!

=""


Timmy 4lbs 15 oz 15 days Nicu
Caylee 5lbs 3 oz 2 days Nicu
Joey 5lbs 7oz NO NICU

Born at 35 weeks 1 day May 26, 2009

eistriplets.blogspot.com

We switched 2 of our 29 weekers over to sippies at 12 months, cold turkey. Took a few days, but they adjusted.

Our third has some feeding issues and is still on a bottle

Crystal
http://familycernanec.blogspot.com/

I bought the Avent sippy cup tops and have high hopes!

I took my boys off the bottle and formula at 10 months. I do give them a vitamin which our doctor suggested. I took one bottle away per week and traded it with a sippy. I started with the morning feeding giving them a sippy and once they did that a week went to morning and lunch sippy and so on until all bottles were gone. I started the boys on a soft nipple sippy cup made by NUK. I let them use the soft nipple sippys for about a month or two and now we are on Avent hard top sippys. They have also started drinking out of open cups with my help.

We do about half and half on me feeding them and them feeding themselves. It depends on how much they are playing and feeding the dogs then I will take over and feed them. Good luck!

Tina
BBB 33 weeks 7-2-09
Lawson Wayne - 4.8
Jackson Edward - 3.2
Carson James - 3.7