Parenting Tips for Your 13-14 Month Old Toddler
Wean your child from bottle or breast slowly. Most babies aren’t ready to give up the bottle or breast one day and begin drinking from a cup the next.
By now, your child has probably been drinking from a cup for a while. If you’ve also been giving milk in a bottle or from the breast, now is the time to give milk in a cup at mealtimes. Your child will be drinking less milk because she will be eating more solid food. As your child eats more and more solid food, there will be less need for the bottle or breast.
Some children may still want the bottle or breast when they wake up, or when they go to sleep. It’s OK to give it as long as your baby doesn’t go to sleep sucking on a bottle. Sucking on a bottle all night can damage your baby’s teeth.
After a while, your child will forget about the bottle or breast. Don’t offer it. Let your child ask for it and then give it only if she really seems to need it. See if your baby won’t settle for something else to drink instead. Limit the time the child has the bottle or breast. If you let your little one carry a bottle around during the day, it will be harder for her to give it up. Give her a toy to carry instead.
Don’t put fruit drinks, soft drinks, fruit punches, or beverages other than milk in a bottle for your child. These drinks are not nutritious. They are mostly sugar and water. When your child is thirsty, offer her tap water or milk in a cup. Some toddlers drink from a bottle longer than others. Be patient. Don’t force your child to give up the bottle or breast before she seems ready.
