4 Month Old Onto Bottle Feeds

by Eithne
(Netherlands)

Can a 4 month old baby be given formula milk in a tippy cup? I am trying to wean my 4 month old off the breast as I am back to work in 2 months.

Baby Help Line Answer:

Tippy Cup Or Bottle For 4 Month Old

There are no particular reasons to not teach your baby to drink from a tippy cup. Personally though, I would definitely introduce a regular bottle too.

Since your baby is still so young, it will take a while before solid foods is the major resource for nutrition.

Drinking from a tippy cup takes a lot more time than drinking from a bottle, so you'll have to spend significantly more time feeding your baby if not using a regular bottle.

Particularly, if your baby still eats at night, do consider a bottle, to protect your sleep!

Some babies really don't like the bottle at first, but with some patience and tricks, most accept it after a while. The same goes with drinking formula instead of breast milk - it can take time for the baby to get used to the new taste.

Good that you start now, when there is still quite some time left on your maternity leave!

Here you'll find tips on how to help your baby learn how to drink from a bottle, in case you need them.

And here are some tips on weaning your baby from breastfeeding.

Warm wishes,

Paula

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4 Month Old Onto Bottle Feeds

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Jun 18, 2008

Sippy Cup Transition
by: Laurie

Hi! While I can understand your desire to "wean" your baby over to the sippy cup, she is not really developmentally ready to make this transition. Handling a sippy cup requires small motor skills and coordination that she has not acquired yet. It would be best to allow her to be fed by bottle for at least the next several months and then to slowly begin to introduce the sippy cup.

You will see signs of readiness as she approaches her first birthday.

Good luck to you!

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