Weaning from the bottle is important to prevent the health consequences of prolonged bottle use - this includes iron deficiency, poor nutrition and growth as well as tooth decay.

DID YOU KNOW?

The sippy cup is not a developmental milestone and in fact, the AAP says that transition to an open cup directly is optimal. You can introduce an open cup as early as 6 months and generally by 12 months. Aim for a gradual transition off all bottle feeding by no later than 18 months of age.

Children less than 4 years are at most risk for choking. They have smaller airways, incomplete dental formation, immature swallowing coordination and high activity levels during eating.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

* Start with soft, mashed or ground foods and build to table foods by 12-18 months. Cut food into smaller pieces as they move past the soft food stage. Avoid high-risks foods like hot dogs, hard candy, peanuts, seeds, whole grapes, raw carrots, popcorn, and chewing gum.

* Children should be seated while eating and caregivers should always be present to observe your toddler during meals and snacks.

Our job as a caregiver is to offer healthy foods and regular mealtimes, and your toddler’s job is to decide whether she wants to eat and how much she wants to eat. Kids are naturally intuitive eaters and will eat to satisfy hunger.

KEEP OFFERING.

Acceptance of some foods, like vegetables, is not immediate. It can take 8-10 times before children accept a food! Continue to offer tastes of less preferred, nutrient-dense foods without expectations that your child will consume a full-serving. Remember to offer it in a pleasant manner without forcing, distracting or rewarding during mealtime.

Over the past 20 years, portion sizes have increased dramatically. The National Institute of Health calls it portion distortion. Try using smaller bowls (like our 8 oz / 1 cup) bowl to help create appropriate age-based serving sizes.