when did your babies first hold their own bottles???

[mummee09v]

hello,

hope this is the right bit to post this in!!!

just wondered, those of you who bottle fed your LO's, when did they start holding their own bottles?? and any tips to get them to do it???

my dd is 6 months on sunday and does NOT want to hold her bottle herself!!! i have tried to get her to do it and she can do it but its like she can't be bothered!!! i have a 3 yo ds as well, cant remember for the life of me when he did it!!!!

hope she does it soon!!

[Lulumama]

can't actually remember, but definitely later than 6 months. surely you have to hold her to feed her anyway, so you might as well hold hte bottle whilst you are there

i would keep holding it and stay more hands on/involved in her feeding, giving the bottle is not just about getting milk into the baby, but nurturing and cuddling and being close to your baby too.

let her do it in her own time

of course she can't be bothered, she's 6 months old!!

[fillybuster]

never. switched to cups around about the 12 month mark with both dcs, which they held themselves, but neither ever held their own bottles....far too lazy

[Jojay]

My DS2 is one and a bit and still doesn't hold his own bottle!

He'll drink out of a sippy cup himself though, and eats with his hands (BLW)

I think for him, that having a bottle is a lovely cuddly time, and he likes the comfort, so I'm in no rush to make him hold the bottle - it's about the only thing he does let me do as he's very independent in most other ways.

Don't sweat the small stuff.

[mummee09v]

yeah you are right, i ought to make the most of this stage really. it flew by with my son. but its just so much easier when they can hold their bottles themselves, ie, if i'm out and about pushing her in the buggy or if i need to do things in the house. or when she decides to wake up screaming for a bottle the MINUTE me and DP sit down for dinner...lol

its just he knows how to pick things up and hold them (ie toys) and she is able to clutch the bottle and hold it to her mouth but then she drops it after a couple of seconds.

oh it'll come won't it! maybe i am being a bit too impatient!

[mummee09v]

*she i meant!! the buggers sat on my knee right now impairing my typing ;)

[PoppyIsApain]

My ds started holding his bottles independantly at about 10 months old, but would still get lazy, he could only drink it laying down till he was about 14 months, now he is a show off and can drink it one handed standing up.

[Cherrypieforlunch]

Much later than 6 months - more like 10/11 iirc.

One tip - if you use Avent bottles the handles from the trainer cups fit onto them and so makes holding the bottle easier and makes the transition to cups easier too.

[Doublebuggy]

Mine did not hold theirs til well past 15 months. In fact one would pick up the bottle and hand it to me to feed him!

Its lovely cuddly time - so I never pushed it. It also means that you can limit the time they are exposed to the bottle to limit the possibility of the bottle becoming a comforter and baby bottle mouth.

[Lerato]

DD2 first had a bottle at 5 months and has never let me hold it for her. She is still an independent madam. The first bottle she had, she grabbed from me and shoved in her mouth herself, and that was that. DD1 on the other hand was well over a year old. Not something to worry about. Though, being a parent, you have to worry about something! (op worrying about dd not feeding herself and I was worried about dd2 missing out on cuddles etc)

[TutTutter]

bloody cheek. does she expect you to change her nappy for her and do her shopping as well? honestly, kids these days...

[thatsnotmymonster]

Erm my oldest 2 never held their bottles themselves and they had one at bedtime till they were about 3.5! In fact dd1 is almost 3.5 and she does do it herself if I am giving dd2 hers but sometimes she will wait so I can give it to her- they really just want a special cuddle.

DD2 is 20mths and has just started to feed herself her bottle so tonight for the first time ever I didn't give either of them a bottle they both sat on a wee chair and drank it themselves.

At 6mo you've got quite a way to go

[nickytwotimes]

Never.

[bogie]

about 9 months

[Bambinoloveseggbirds]

My DS started once he could hold his sippy cup properly so I would say around 8 to 9 months. He holds his bottle with one hand now and knocks it back, like a lush

[IMoveTheStarsForNoOne]

10mo.

[MrsJohnDeere]

They never did, but I never tried to get them to either. I liked an excuse to sit down and snuggle with them.

Took bottles away from both at 12 months.

[rachmike]

my son started holding his at about 13months, he showed no interest previously and suddenly just started doing it.

[pispirispis]

Erm, my dd's 19 months and has 3 bottles a day, which I hold for her . I love our snuggly time. Otherwise she's very independent, has always fed herself and likes to do everything for herself.