At 6 months

Baby has mainly breastmilk or infant formula. Put your baby to bed without a bottle.

Baby begins to:

• eat foods from a spoon.
• drink cool boiled water.
• use a cup.

At 6-12 months

Baby still has breastmilk or infant formula.

Baby learns to:

• drink from a cup.
• eat family foods.

At 12 months

Baby gives up the bottle and drinks from a cup.

By 18 months

Baby is:

• eating independently.
• drinking from a cup.

Breastfeeding may continue past 18 months if it suits mother and child.

What your baby can drink

6-12 months: breastmilk (recommended), infant formula, cool boiled tap water

12-18 months: breastmilk (recommended), water (when thirsty)

* Children 1-3 years of age should only have 1.5 serves of dairy per day, including milk.

Put your baby to bed without bottle

There are three good reasons to give up the bottle.

Babies that continue with bottles after 12 months are more likely to get:

• tooth decay
• ear infections
• iron deficiency

Choosing a training cup

Your baby's training cup should:

• have no valve
• have a snap on/screw on lid
• have handles
• be easy to wash.

Avoid cups with teats/spouts/valves that baby has to suck on.

Revised by NSW Oral Health Promotion Network and sponsored by NSW Health | Centre for Oral Health Strategy.

For further copies of this resource please contact: Better Health Centre on (02) 9887 5450. Copies of this pamphlet in English and other languages can be downloaded from NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service