[audreysmom]

I have some first-time mom questions. My daughter will be approximately 11 months old when she comes home. Do you think she will be able to drink juice from a sippy cup? Or should I put juice in a bottle? How much juice will she be drinking? Also, anybody know the recommended water intake for an 11 month old? Thanks to all you pro's out there!!

[dspakowsky]

We introduced the sippy-cup at about 10 months, then used it exclusivly at 12 months. We never gave juice, we only give water. At 12 months, when we switched to whole milk, that's when we made the sippy-cup transition and dropped the bottle.

However, since your baby will just be coming home you'll want to do what you feel is right. You may want to introduce the sippy-cup right away for water, but continue with the bottle for several more months. That way you'll have the opportunity feed her and look into her eyes. With a sippy-cup they're on their own.

At 12 months they say babies need 20 oz of milk and 4-6 oz of water a day.

Here's a good link - Age-by-age guide to feeding your baby and toddler

[BakerMom]

Most pediatricians are pushing to get off that bottle by 12 months old, and that is fine and good for most babies. Others need that bonding time with mom and the bottle. I never gave alot of juice to our children, because it is so high in sugar. Your 11 month old may be use to it and want juice. It is a learn as you go thing. What is right for my child may not be right for yours, You will know as you learn each other. I have 3 bio girls and although they all came from the same "gene pool" they are as different as night and day. God has given you a motherly instinct, you'll do great! Welcome to the greatest and most rewarding challenge in life.....motherhood!

[guatamama]

With my child that is 5 now, I have spent over $3,000 is dental. The best I can tell you is, feed the fruit, do not let them drink it! Juice should be from the fruit itself, not a bottle/

I was judicious in doing exactly what everyone said was perfect. At 12 months, off the bottle, give so much juice, so much water, so much full milk, on the sippy at 12 months.

NOT!!!!

Give fruit to eat, not drink. The sippy when they are ready, not any one else. Water whenever possible and get them to like it!

My newest one, at 14 months, still isn't walking, is still on the bottle, eats fruit, and not on the sippy. She can't even eat full solid food yet! Not ready!!!

Tune into your inner Mom, don't let anyone persuade you. FEEL!!!! Feel what you need to do. Tune into your babe and you will know what you need to do. Don't listen what other babes need at what times, you know your child more than anyone else does.

[kacmom1]

My kids all used a sippie cup by around 10 months...I'd give it to them with water at their meals and they did just fine. The bottle was done and gone by 12 months.
Good luck!

[drasusi]

So glad you heard straight from a mom who has had to have dental work for a little one from juice...(though sorry, guatamama, that you had to go through that!). I refer kids EVERY DAY to dentists for work that has to be done under anesthesia...caries are caused by certain bacteria in the mouth, but they feed off sugars, and juices, though natural, are full of them.

Though the pediatrician in me is required to advise you to get off the bottle at 12 months, the adoptive mom agrees with tuning in to your baby, and trying to read and respond to her needs. But please, please, please, don't put juice in her bottle!

Good luck, and congrats on getting your baby home!

[sak9645]

I adopted from China. My daughter came to me at 18 months of age. She loved Playtex sippy cups and knew how to use a straw. She gave me a giant SNEER when I showed her a bottle. I think that the orphanage, which was in a prosperous, Westernized city, taught the kids that "bottles are for babies." She also sneered about pacifiers, probably for the same reason.

Sharon

[DD Amasa]

I introduced the sippy cup at 11 months and at 12 months he is pretty much using it exclusively. He mostly gets water in it but gets a couple of couple ounces of juice mixed with water once or twice a day. Juice should be limited to no more than 6 ounces a day, less than that is fine. He has one or two bottles of formula a day and still wants the bottle for that. I never used the bottle for bonding, we play and read and sing for that, and he prefers to drink both his bottle or sippy cup while walking around playing anyway.

[luv2teach2]

My DD started dirinking out of a sippy cup around 13 months. She only drinks water and milk. At 12 months my ped recommended she have 32 ounces of whole milk. Now at 16 months he has reduced it to 24-27 ounces.

[pjb1967]

My ped. told me 10-20 oz of whole milk at 12 months. Also he said none or very little (6oz) of juice a day, no need for it. He said to give her water anytime.

My daughter just turned 1 last week so I have been trying to transition to the sippy cup, she is not too happy with it. I still give her a bottle right before bed, I will keep that up for a few more months.

Right now she is still in the infant room at her daycare, about to move up into the 1-2 year old room. Her teachers told me that she REALLY wants her afternoon bottle because she sees all the other babies having a bottle. I think once she gets out of the infant room things with the sippy cup are going to improve.

[audreysmom]

Thank you Thanks you Thank you to everyone who took the time to write me back! This forum is such a wonderful place - I learn so much here.

[tybeemuffin]

Started DD on sippy at 9 months. before she transitioned to the 12 month sippy cups I could only get her to use the take and toss ones. ou can clean them and reuse them. Switched to big sippy completely (except for the bottles to use up the formula) at 12 months. Make sure you get the step 3 ones for 12 month old.


Anyone done a 1/2 and 1/2 mixture of water and juice? My DD is 12 months and I have her down to only 2 bottles a day and sippy cups for the rest. (I basically had about a months worth of formula left so I am still using the bottle 2x a day until it is gone. Only have about 5 bottles worth left. My ped never said much to me about water. I give it to DD in the sippy cup and she won't drink it. She will take it in the bottle though.

I was wondering if giving a 1/2 juice and 1/2 water mixture and gradually reducing the % of juice until it is all water will work.