When to Stop Using Bottles (And How to Do It Painlessly)

 

The bottle is a source of comfort for babies. It’s part of the bedtime routine. It soothes them. But doctors recommend weaning off the bottle completely by 12 months old.

Why? Prolonged bottle use can lead to tooth decay ("bottle rot") and can cause picky eating because the baby fills up on milk instead of solids.

The "Cold Turkey" vs. "The Fade"

There are two ways to do this.

  1. Cold Turkey: On their first birthday, all bottles go in the trash. This is fast, but be prepared for 2–3 nights of protesting.

  2. The Fade (Recommended): Start dropping one bottle at a time.

    • Week 1: Drop the lunch bottle. Offer a cup of water with the meal instead.

    • Week 2: Drop the morning bottle.

    • Week 3: Drop the bedtime bottle (The hardest one).

The Secret Weapon: The "Transition Cup"

Don't go straight from a soft bottle nipple to a hard plastic cup. It’s too different. Use a Transition Cup (like the NUK Learner Cup). It has handles like a sippy cup, but the spout is soft silicone, which feels familiar like a bottle nipple.

The Bedtime Swap The bedtime bottle is usually the last to go because it helps them sleep. Replace the bottle with a new comforting routine—like a special story or a new stuffed animal. It breaks the "suck-to-sleep" association.

It will be a rough few days, but remember: no teenager still drinks from a baby bottle. They will learn.

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