Articles and Advice: Your Baby 6-12 Months

The transition to cup feeding is like most other developmental milestones, it takes time. We hope the information in this section will help you make the change more smoothly.

Cup feeding will improve your baby’s hand-to-mouth coordination and prepare her for weaning from the breast or bottle. Choose a small cup that your baby can grasp. Cups with two handles and a "sippy" lid work best.

In the beginning, put only water in the cup and offer it once a day at a meal, but continue with regular breastfeeding or bottle feeding. Once you find your baby is drinking more than she spills, give her a cup with breast milk, Similac Regular or another Similac formula at regular times. Pretty soon, she'll be sipping on her own.

It's a good idea to stand or sit behind your baby to see how much is actually making it into her mouth. Too much at one time can make her gag or choke.

As your baby gets older and begins to eat more and more solid foods, her intake of breast milk or formula should decrease until the majority of her nutrition comes from solid foods. As babies make the transition to solid foods, it can be tough to ensure they're getting what they really need. After all, an American research has shown that about half of babies between the ages of 1 and 2 years aren’t getting the Recommended Dietary Allowance for iron and calcium. Similac Step 2 or Isomil Step 2, have been designed for 6 to 18 months babies who eat solid food to help bridge the nutritional gaps and provide a source of complete nutrition for your baby.

Avoid cow's milk during the first 9-12 months, though—it lacks the balanced nutrition that’s important for good growth and development.