Text alternative: Teach your baby to drink from a cup

At 6 months

Baby has mainly breastmilk or infant formula. Put your baby to bed without a bottle.

Baby begins to:

• eat foods from a spoon.
• drink cool boiled water.
• use a cup.

At 6–12 months

Baby still has breastmilk or infant formula.

Baby learns to:

• drink from a cup.
• eat family foods.

At 12 months

Baby gives up the bottle and drinks from a cup.

By 18 months

Baby is:

• eating independently.
• drinking from a cup.

Breastfeeding may continue past 18 months if it suits mother and child.

What your baby can drink

6–12 months: breastmilk (recommended), infant formula, cool boiled tap water

12–18 months: breastmilk (recommended), water (when thirsty)

* Children 1–3 years of age should only have 1.5 serves of dairy per day, including milk.

Put your baby to bed without a bottle

There are three good reasons to give up the bottle.

Babies that continue with bottles after 12 months are more likely to get:

• tooth decay
• ear infections
• iron deficiency

Choose a training cup

• With no valve
• A snap-on or screw lid
• That is easy to wash

Avoid cups with teats or spouts with valves – that baby has to suck on.

Dental services in NSW

NSW Public Dental Services provide free dental care to adults who have a Medicare card and either hold or are listed as a dependent on a valid Australian Government concession card.

Public Dental Services are free for children under 18 years old with a Medicare card. Parents or guardians must sign a Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) Bulk Billing Patient Consent Form. If a child is not eligible for CDBS or has already used their benefit, care is still provided at no cost.

To access NSW Public Dental Services call: 1800 679 336 or go to www.health.nsw.gov.au/dental

If you need an Interpreter Service, call 13 14 50.

Some Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHO) provide dental care for their community. Each ACCHO may have different eligibility criteria and appointment processes for their dental programs. For more information go to www.health.nsw.gov.au/aboriginal/pages/contact.aspx

To find a private dentist go to www.ada.org.au