Here at Little Tot's we begin offering a cup to all babies between the ages of six to ten months old, depending on the child's ability to grasp the cup and lift it to his or her mouth.  Additionally, all juice and water is offered in a cup, and never given in the bottle.  Once the child has significantly mastered the ability to drink from a cup, we slowly phase out the use of a bottle.  We begin to replace any bottles given at meal times with the cup, and the last bottle we eliminate would be the one prior to nap (babies need this one more for comfort than nourishment). 

If you happen to be the parents of an older baby approaching toddlerhood who still uses a bottle at home, do not fret, I have a trick you can use with your young toddler.  Provided your child has the ability to drink from a cup (and is just choosing not to) give milk and juice in a cup only.  Offer no more than water in the bottle. 

If the child is old enough to recognize that you are pulling a fast one, have a very watered down mixture in your fridge that your child can watch you pour into the bottle.  (Like a splash -half of an ounce of milk -per 4 ounces of water).  Your child will likely refuse the yucky watery milk, at that time hand over the yummy full strength milk in a cup.  If your child refuses the cup as well, place it in the fridge and walk away.  Depending on how persistent your child is, it may take a while, but all children will come around eventually.

What an expert has to say -  excerpt from Child Magazine (March, 1999, p.38 & 39)

            Ideally, for both health and developmental reasons, a child should give up his bottle between 12 and 15 months of age, says Johnnie P. Frazier, M.D., assistant professor of community and general pediatrics at the University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center.  Unfortunately, though, it’s common for kids to hang onto their bottles longer. 

            Parents often fail to realize the full range of health problems associated with late weaning from the bottle.  For example, if a child starts to prefer his bottle to solid food and ends up consuming an excessive amount of cow’s milk, it can lead to iron-deficiency anemia as the milk protein irritates the bowel’s lining, causing microscopic bleeding. 

            On top of that, a toddler who’s diet consists mainly of milk is at greater risk of obesity, since whole milk (the only kind kids ages 1 to 2 should drink) is high in fat and cholesterol.  If a late weaner’s drink of choice is juice, the excessive juice consumption can lead to a poor appetite and picky eating.  Finally because late weaning is often associated with bottles at naptime and bedtime, a child can get cavities from the constant exposure to sugar during sleep. 

            Since kids become increasingly stubborn about their bottle preference as they get older, you’ll have to summon your resolve to start your child on the weaning process.  “Stand your ground and make sure everyone in the household remains consistent about helping your son make the transition from bottle to cup,” says Dr. Frazier.

            First, offer him only water in his bottle, and give him milk or juice in a sippy cup.  Buy cups that are decorated with cheerful cartoon characters to make them more appealing, Dr. Frazier suggests, and offer lots of praise every time your child drinks from the cup.  If you fell he really needs it, you can also try one of the newer transitional cups, shaped like a bottle but with a spout instead of a nipple.  You can also encourage him to throw out his bottle and wave bye-bye, to show he’s moving on.  If your child has a tantrum at any point or refuses to drink from a cup, don’t give in.  he’ll drink when he gets thirsty – and in three to five days, he should start taking the cup without a fuss.  Parents can avoid the problem of late bottle weaning by introducing a cup with meals at around 6 months, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, since this is when fine motor skills begin to develop.