Bottle to Sippy Cup: When is the Right Time to Make the Switch?
by Babywise.life
Jan 12, 2019
When should a baby transition from a bottle to a sippy cup?
It’s a question every bottle-feeding mom will face in the first year of her baby’s life, but unfortunately, it’s not an exact science.
Every baby is different, so every baby will switch at a slightly different time. However, a study by the journal Pediatrics found that the optimal time to make the switch is when a baby is around 9 months old, and the American Dental Association recommends that an infant change to a sippy cup by at least 12 months old to help with dental health.
Some babies are interested in trying a sippy or straw cup as early as 6 months old while others will continue to resist switching to a sippy cup even as they approach their first birthday … and beyond.
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If your child is resisting the switch to a sippy or straw cup, BabyCenter offers a few tips on what can do to try to help the transition more palatable (pun intended!) to your child:
- Start feeding with a bottle, but finish with a sippy cup. Give your child half of their normal breastmilk/formula with a bottle then give the other half with a sippy cup while keeping him/her in the same feeding position.
- Dip the straw/spout in formula or breastmilk. Dipping the spout or straw in breastmilk or formula before giving it to your baby will encourage him/her to start drinking/sucking on the spout.
- Show your baby how to drink from a sippy cup. Babies learn from watching the people around them, so drinking from a sippy cup yourself will help your baby see how it’s done.
- Wait. This may seem like counterintuitive advice, but if your baby isn’t catching on or showing interest in using a sippy cup, it may help to stop trying – at least for a little while. Try waiting a few weeks and then try introducing the sippy cup again. Sometimes, it’s that simple.
Another issue you may face when it’s time to transition to a sippy cup is finding the perfect cup. There are so many options on the market today, which one is the right one to choose?
If you’re struggling with all the options, you might want to ask yourself what exactly you’re looking for in a sippy cup.
What material? Plastic, stainless steel, or silicone?
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Sippy cup or straw cup?
Is it easy to clean?
Is it microwaveable?
Is it dishwasher-safe?
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While there are a plethora of options to choose from, one brand that should be at the top of your list is Putti Atti.
Putti Atti sippy cups are made from Tritan, a BPA-free and eco-friendly plastic, that is fitted with a removable silicone sleeve and a silicone spout or straw, which ensures that the liquid doesn’t come in contact with plastic. The cups are also leak and drip resistant, even when shaken or held upside down.
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Putti Atti also produces bottles that are similar to the wildly popular Comotomo bottles, but with one major difference – Putti Atti bottles transition to sippy cups. Yep, with a quick change of the nipple to their spout or straw option your baby’s bottle will instantly become a sippy or straw cup, helping with an easy transition. Talk about convenient!
Like Comotomo bottles, Putti Atti bottles are made of silicone which is soft to the touch and easier for babies and toddlers to hold. The bottles are also equipped with an anti-colic air valve and completely disassemble for easy cleaning.
Silicone is becoming a top choice for moms when choosing a bottle or sippy cup not just because it’s soft to the touch and easy to handle, but also because it’s free from endocrine disrupting chemicals such as BPA, dioxin, and phthalates and is able to withstand high heats, making it easy and convenient to sanitize. You can boil, microwave, or put your silicone bottles or sippy cups in the dishwasher to sanitize them.
To check out Putti Atti products and the rest of our selection of sippy cups and bottles click here and here.
