When Do Babies Hold Their Own Bottle
While most mothers consider feeding their baby a way to strengthen their bond with them, there comes a time in every baby’s life when he wants to learn to hold his own bottle. This is mostly seen when it reaches a certain stage of its development. You can help by encouraging him to grab the bottle himself.
When can baby hold the bottle?
You must be wondering, when will my baby hold his own bottle and the answer is – he can start it anytime between 4 months to 10 months of age. It depends on the beginning of the development of his/her fine motor skills. Although bottle-holding itself begins around 6 months of age. When Do Babies Hold Their Own Bottle
Signs that the baby is ready to hold the bottle on his own
By keeping a careful eye on the baby, you will see signs that he is ready to hold the bottle. Here are some such pointers:
1. Reaching the Bottle
If the baby has access to the bottle on his own, it means that he is not only able to make the connection between his bottle and the food, but he is also interested in it. When Do Babies Hold Their Own Bottle
2. Sitting for a long time
If your baby is not able to sit still, he will not be able to hold the bottle. Because this will require his fine motor skills and for all of them it is necessary to sit on his own for a long time. When Do Babies Hold Their Own Bottle
3. Sit and Chew
When your child is sitting and chewing something, he is actually multitasking. If he is able to do it, he will be able to hold the bottle too. Because in the same way he has to hold the bottle and drink milk at the same time to drink milk.
How do I teach my baby to hold his own bottle?
If your baby can hold his own bottle, that’s great. But if she is not able to do so, you can, if you wish, help her learn. Below are some ways to teach this:
No Hurries
Wait for the right time to teach the baby to hold the bottle. For your baby to be able to hold the bottle on his own and bring it to his mouth, he needs to be physically developed, as it takes some coordination. When Do Babies Hold Their Own Bottle
Show Your Child What He Has To Do
While feeding, hold the bottle in the baby’s hand and show him how it is done. Hold the bottle with one hand and then hold the baby’s hand with the other hand and hold the bottle. When Do Babies Hold Their Own Bottle
Watch your child’s reaction
When you feel like the baby can hold the bottle on his own, watch his reaction. When you remove your hand, he should be able to hold the bottle, at least for a short while. If it is not, then he will notice that he is not getting milk. Adjust the position of the bottle and see, soon your baby will be able to make the connection and understand that holding the bottle in a certain way gives milk. When Do Babies Hold Their Own Bottle
Hold Baby
When you are teaching your baby to hold a bottle, hold him in your arms like you would normally hold him while feeding. This will keep a sense of security in him and he will also get the comfort he always gets while drinking milk.
Follow your child’s development
Keep an eye on your baby when he is learning to wean himself. Initially, you will need to hold the baby’s elbow up, so that the position of the bottle is correct. Soon he will be able to hold his own bottle well. When Do Babies Hold Their Own Bottle
Why should you avoid bottle propping?
It is not a good idea to prop the bottle at the right angle to feed the baby and leave it that way. This can be very dangerous, as the baby could be choking or drink too much milk. If babies fall asleep with a bottle in their mouth, then their risk of tooth decay and ear infection also increases. When Do Babies Hold Their Own Bottle
If the baby is not able to sit up and hold the bottle on his own, it is a clear sign that he is not ready to hold his own.
Some tips to help baby hold the bottle on his own:
Here are some simple tips that will help you teach your baby to hold the bottle on his own:
Be patient
Be patient while teaching the child. It is difficult to learn the coordination to hold the bottle and bring it to the mouth.
Cuddle time
Both mother and baby enjoy this synergy while drinking milk. So, at the time of teaching him, definitely hold him. Even if he can drink milk himself, it’s a good idea to cuddle him while he’s drinking. When Do Babies Hold Their Own Bottle
Support
Although your baby will learn to hold the bottle, support her in the beginning. When Do Babies Hold Their Own Bottle
Watch Carefully
While your baby is learning, you need to keep a close eye on it, so that you can know whether he is learning it or whether he is able to feed properly on his own. When Do Babies Hold Their Own Bottle
Listen Carefully
If the sound of milk pulling is louder, it may mean that he is taking in more air than necessary. You can help by adjusting the position of the bottle or raising the baby’s head slightly. When Do Babies Hold Their Own Bottle
Don’t pressurize
If your baby is still not able to hold the bottle even after reaching a certain age, don’t worry and don’t put any pressure on him. It may be that the necessary skills for this have not yet been developed. This is normal for some children.
Some precautions while holding a bottle for a small child
If you are thinking that if your baby is holding the bottle on his own, it means that you can do other things during this time, then think again. Your baby is still young enough to deal with some feeding situations on his own. For example, if the bottle is placed incorrectly, it can lead to the release of significantly more milk. When Do Babies Hold Their Own Bottle
1. Avoid leaving the child alone
You can’t leave your baby alone just because the baby has learned to hold the bottle on his own. Babies drop things easily and if the child drops the bottle and you are not there to help him, he will starve. Worse still, he may try to pick up the bottle himself and during this he may fall and if he is on a high place like a chair or sofa, then the situation can be very bad. .
2. Don’t Prop the Bottle
There are many disadvantages to bottle propping, as mentioned earlier, it can cause the baby to drink more milk or even increase the chances of choking. When Do Babies Hold Their Own Bottle
3. Do not feed the baby lying down
If you keep your baby lying down while you feed, it could lead to an ear infection, as the milk or formula can get into the Eustachian tubes of his ears and stay there, causing an infection.
4. Lack of Bonding
Holding the baby during feeding gives him a sense of security and a strong bond. This is why even if the baby can drink milk on his own, you should still continue to hold the baby. When Do Babies Hold Their Own Bottle
5. Use the right gear for feeding
The position of the tongue remains correct by using the right size nipple. But using a nipple that produces more milk can make it difficult for the baby to cope with the situation and may even choke. When Do Babies Hold Their Own Bottle
If the baby can’t hold the bottle, is there a problem?
Keep in mind that every child grows at their own pace. The pace of development also determines the age at which babies begin to hold their own bottle. If he is reaching his development milestone on time and there is no problem in him physically, then there is no problem in it. If the baby is still not holding the bottle, you can try giving him a sippy cup. Because such cups have handles on both sides, which are very easy for the child to hold. When Do Babies Hold Their Own Bottle
Teaching a baby to hold a bottle takes a lot of patience, but gradually he learns it. Some children learn it quickly, while some children take time. Growth and proper development is very important for your baby. Whether or not your baby has learned to hold a bottle, keep your bonding by holding her in your arms, as the time you and she spend together gives her the warmth of the relationship and a sense of security.