Health
Weaning your baby from breastmilk or bottle to a cup
When your baby can sit up on their own (anytimeafter 6 months) and/ or is playing with the breast or bottle nipple,without sucking, they are probably ready to wean to a cup.
Start by giving your baby a trainer cup,which has two handles, a snap on lid and a spout for drinking.
At first, give your baby the cup to play with for a few days.Watch how he puts the spout in his mouth and tries to suck.
Next, put water in the cup and offer itat one meal a day for a few weeks. Don't get discouraged if hetreats the cup as a toy. Be patient, he will some day drink allof his liquids from this cup.
Finally, put milk (breast milk, formulaor whole milk if the baby is at least 9 months old) or juice inthe cup. Start with the noontime meal and then substitute thesupper breast or bottle-feeding and finally the bedtime breastor bottle-feeding.
Weaning to a cup will not happen overnight.Six months pass before your baby is willing to take all his liquidsfrom a cup. Start the process early and keep at it.
It is generally recommended your baby "beoff the bottle" by 18 months of age. At this time your baby'ssolid food needs are greater than his liquids. A bottle after18 months may cause dental problems. Also, babies tend to drinktoo many fluids if they are still on the bottle after 18 months.
Once you have weaned your baby, stick toyour decision. Do not offer the bottle again.
Some things to consider for bottle safety: Limit bottle drinkingto quiet times, when they are sitting down or being held. Do notlet your baby carry his bottle around while playing. The milkor juice can carry germs if it is out of the refrigerator fora long period of time.
Also, a baby should not be given a bottleto take to bed. Drinking on and off throughout the night may causetooth decay.
For more information on this and other relatedtopics, the following session are being held:
Breastfeeding (2 June from 1:30 to 2:30p.m. at World Gym Islander Complex) Topics to include: Learn properbreastfeeding technique (video included); What to expect whenbreastfeeding; How to prevent and overcome breastfeeding difficulties;Breastfeeding and going back to work; Breastfeeding and allergyprevention and How to tell if your baby is getting enough breastmilk.
Introduction of Solid Foods for Infants(9 June from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at World Islander Complex) Topicsto include: Recommended introduction of solid foods for propernutrition and development, Food allergy prevention guidelines,Baby food recipes, Weaning to a cup and Recommended supplements.
Please call 946-8749 to register.