- 1. Making the cup an achievement
- 2. Create a good environment
- 3. Remove the glass gradually
- 4. Choose your favorite glass
- 5. Give the bottle to those who need it
- 6. Be firm and don't go back
- 7. Program yourself
Parents should start removing the bottle as a way of feeding the child between the first and the third year of life, especially when she stops breastfeeding, to avoid further dependence on the child with the habit of sucking to feed.
From the moment the baby is already holding the plastic cup and drinking without choking, even with the supervision of the parents, the bottle can be removed and progressed to feeding only in the cup.
Here are 7 tips to make this process easier.
1. Making the cup an achievement
A good strategy is for parents to talk to the child and make it appear that the passage from a bottle to a glass is actually an incredible achievement for them.
It must be said that the child is growing up and becoming an adult, thus earning the right to use the cup like other large, independent people. Thus, she will feel encouraged to make the switch.
2. Create a good environment
To encourage the child, a tip is that the family is always at the table, especially during main meals and breakfast.
Parents should talk, tell stories and create a pleasant environment, where everyone is grown up and uses cups and plates instead of lying on the bed or on the couch alone with the bottle.
3. Remove the glass gradually
So that it is not a shock to the child, the ideal is to remove the glass gradually, starting by using the glass during the day's meals and leaving the bottle for the night, if it is necessary to use it.
When using this tactic, it is important to remember not to take the bottle for walks or visits with family members, as the child must understand that he now uses his own glass.
4. Choose your favorite glass
To further involve the child in the transition process, a good tip is to take him to choose the new cup that will be his alone. Thus, she will be able to choose the cup with the photo of her favorite character and with her favorite color.
For parents, the tip is to choose light and winged glasses to help the child hold it. Those with beaks with holes in the end are a good option for the beginning of the process.
5. Give the bottle to those who need it
Another strategy for the baby to dispose of the bottle is to say that it will be given to younger children who still do not know how to use the cup or to some child character, such as Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny.
So, when she asks for the bottle back, parents can argue that it has already been given to someone else and that there is no way to get it again.
6. Be firm and don't go back
As much as the baby accepts the removal of the bottle well, at some point he will miss her and throw a tantrum to get her back. However, it is important for parents to resist the child's suffering, as bringing the bottle back will make him understand that he can get everything he wants back, despite the commitment to dispose of the object.
So, respect the decisions and commitments so that the child also develops this sense of responsibility. Be patient, she will stop tantruming and overcome this phase.
7. Program yourself
Parents should plan and have a goal for their child to stop using the bottle, which is usually indicated for 1 to 2 months until the cup really prevails.
During this period, the different strategies must be used, remembering not to go back to each step taken in this process.
Now see tips on how to make your baby sleep through the night.
