How and When to Stop a Bottle

All you need to do is simply keep the bottle out of your child's reach and sight. The moment he sees the bottle, he is likely to throw tantrums.

Your baby may cry for a day or two and as soon as he realises that he will not get the bottle. But when he starts feeling hungry, he will give up automatically.

As soon as your baby is able to sit, you need to stop the bottle.

How and When to Stop a Bottle

As soon as your baby is able to sit, say when he is around eight months old, you need to stop the bottle. All you need to do is simply keep the bottle out of your child's reach and sight. The moment he sees the bottle, he is likely to throw tantrums. Your baby may cry for a day or two and as soon as he realises that he will not get the bottle this will stop. Even when he is crying, remember when he starts feeling hungry he will give up automatically.

No Sipper Mamma

Even if you get her a sipper with a straw, the straw can attract bacteria easily and infections can build in more quickly. Especially if she is busy sipping it often and there is a constant contact with the straw and saliva.

The best alternative is feeding your child using a stainless steel bowl and spoon or a silver bowl or spoon. Make sure the the spoon has blunt edges so it doesn't cut or hurt the gums.

The only disadvantage of soft plastic is that you will not be able to sterilise it just as you can do with a stainless steel utensil. At the most you can wash it with very warm water.

So get your child off the bottle habit and try to feed your child using a bowl and a spoon as soon as possible to safeguard his teeth.

(With Inputs from Dr. P.V. Vaidyanathan, paediatrician and child specialist, Mumbai and Dr. Anil Bhide, dentist from Speciality Dental Care, Mumbai)