Do you know that by 13 months outdated there must be NO bottles in your child’s life?!
If that sounds only a little bit scary, on this video, I’m going to stroll by the two methods & 2 paths you’ll be able to select to transition off the bottle and why that is inflicting issues of their sleep.
I’m excited to speak with you about transitioning off the bottle!
Now, I’m not even saying that there must be no bottles after 12 months as a result of I suppose so, however that is per the American Academy of Pediatrics. It is a developmental milestone the place no toddler must be consuming a bottle (however you see it in all places!)
So I’m going to provide you every thing you should make the transition off the bottle and make this a extremely clean time.
First, earlier than I bounce in… in case you have a child/toddler (and also you most likely do as a result of that is geared in the direction of 11-15 month olds) we have now a FREE present for you that will help you clear up night time wakings! Inside my FREE 4 Steps to Clear up Night time Wakings course, you’ll get chunk sized movies that will help you begin methods TONIGHT that will help you and your toddler really feel higher with extra sleep.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdCaZVcCLmI
Now, at the moment we’ll undergo 2 completely different methods for transitioning off the bottle – chilly turkey or sluggish wean off. Chilly turkey is what I like to make use of – I like to tear the bandaid off and it’s fast! However there are alternatives to undergo it slowly.
The AAP recommends in their tips that at 12 months outdated, the kid must be off the bottle. We give a grace interval and say 13 months, however in essence, developmentally, a toddler must be studying to drink from open cups or sippy cups and a bottle can’t provide that sort of developmental assist.
This implies bedtime feed additionally.
After I say NO bottles, I imply N-O bottles!!
So, what are your choices?
COLD TURKEY
First, circle a date on the calendar and say no extra bottles.
I truly did this as Hattie turned 12 months outdated (sure, on her birthday!)
After which the subsequent day I supplied her milk in a sippy cup as a substitute of her water.
I’ll be sincere, some infants received’t love going chilly turkey. They is perhaps irritable, and never wish to drink milk as a substitute straight away. (Temperament is one thing to contemplate right here!!)
My youngest, Hattie, is cussed so no, she didn’t begin simply consuming milk from a sippy cup. It took her a pair weeks to get used to it. However I knew she was getting dairy in different methods and I had talked to our pediatrician and walked by our plan and it was okay.
So keep in mind, when you go chilly turkey, that doesn’t imply your child desires that, but in addition do not forget that it simply takes a pair weeks and it’ll be okay. Somewhat little bit of irritability is admittedly all you’ll see.
SLOW WEANING
The opposite possibility is to slowly wean off the bottle. So how do you do that? Effectively, you substitute one of many bottle instances of the day with a sippy cup.
Now personally, I would go away the final bottle within the bedtime routine (and that is extra for you mentally, figuring out that is crucial one!!).
So when you’re giving a couple of bottles and also you wish to lower down on one, perhaps you are taking the mid-morning bottle out and substitute it with a sippy cup of water with a snack.
After which the subsequent week you take away the bottle and introduce a sippy cup one other time, and you retain going that method till you’re all the way down to the final bottle.
I’d recommend to not take longer than a month to make this transition. That implies that final week the bedtime routine is your solely bottle.
After which whenever you get to the date the place you cease, that’s it. You’ve finished it!
HOW MILK AFFECTS BEDTIME
Now, clearly, the bedtime bottle has been a staple for 12 months. The primary 6 months, their main vitamin comes from the bottle.
By 6 months, they’re beginning to eat solids, and particularly at 10, 11, 12 months, they’re consuming numerous strong meals! NOW, their main supply of vitamin is the strong meals they’re consuming.
This can come into play when your child is aware of they’ll have numerous milk supplied. My philosophy (that I share with a few of my registered dietician associates) is that youngsters will select milk over attempting a brand new meals as a result of milk is their consolation, and because of this milk throughout bedtime is a disruption!
In case your child is transferring from dinner instantly to bedtime routine, figuring out {that a} large outdated cup of milk is ready for them, they may greater than probably NOT eat as a lot of their dinner figuring out that their milk is coming.
What I’d recommend you doing (and naturally, discuss to your pediatrician!) is to take what you’re giving them earlier than mattress and break up it up. Supply half of milk at dinner and half at bedtime to assist them acknowledge that milk is a beverage and never a important meal.
Now, the opposite factor is, the way it impacts sleep: the sugar in milk can disrupt sleep because the pure sugars in it might probably trigger a crash… and that’s not one thing we have to have throughout bedtime!
HOW MILK AFFECTS MORNINGS
What number of of you guys are discovering your younger toddler is ferocious with milk very first thing within the morning? They get up and so they want their milk of their bottle straight away.
This may very well be triggering numerous points all through the night time.
In the event that they know they will rise up and have milk in a bottle as quickly as they rise up, they’re going to get up and need their milk.
As a substitute, commerce the bottle for a sippy cup and serve the milk at breakfast to provide them a while to attend slightly bit.
You don’t need to be harassed working round very first thing getting their milk! You possibly can assist them be taught that milk is available in a sippy cup and at breakfast.
IN SUMMARY
- Make your plan. So, at 13 months, decide a date! No extra bottles!
- Select your path. Are you going to do chilly turkey or wean off the bottle?
- Keep dedicated however give your toddler & your self some grace with this! They’re not immediately going to take to this, however transferring ahead with this modification is a GOOD factor! They’re rising, they’re wholesome, and also you get to assist them keep transferring on that trajectory.
It’s regular to really feel anxious about this, however that’s why we wish to share that content material as a result of numerous instances that is glossed over, so we wish you to really feel like you understand how to deal with such a giant transition!!
Oh, and keep in mind – In case you are searching for a supplemental FREE useful resource that will help you make sleep a factor as a result of your younger toddler is waking up all through the night time and so they’re milk loopy, please obtain this free course. It’s prepared for you! My 4 Steps to Clear up Night time Wakings!! You possibly can hear every thing in below half-hour and you’ll have a recreation plan to undergo TONIGHT. Obtain my FREE 4 Steps to Clear up Night time Wakings Information right here!
