Hellobee Boards

We did it very gradually. First, we started whole cows milk in bottles once he turned one. He still got 3-4 bottles a day at that point. We didn't start weaning from the bottle until he was closer to 15 months. By then he was only getting two bottles, one in the morning and one at night. We switched to a soft spout sippy that was similar to a bottle but had handles. Once he got that we switched to a hard spout.

Our pediatrician was not concerned at all with that timeline. She said as long as it was completely done with bottles before 18 months we were fine. They start to form attachments at 18 months which makes it harder to take something away.

@paigeface: I honestly can't remember! He is 4.5 now. We were doing formula too and I think we mixed and decreased formula until he was completely on cow's milk.

Also, we just switched from a bottle to a sippy cup. We didn't actually take anything away if you know what I mean? So he would still get a sippy of milk in the morning, usually 2 cups at daycare (he never drank the whole cup at once, he would have a little with snack then some at lunch, then some more at afternoon snack) and then one before bed.

My LO who is now 16 months has been on the same schedule since 12 months:
6am - wakes up and gets 2-3 oz of milk
7am - snack (banana or Cheerios typically)
9am - breakfast with 6 oz milk
12pm - lunch with 6 oz milk
3:30 - snack with water
5:30- dinner with 6 oz of milk

So I don't think your 4 bottles per day is a problem. That's 20 oz which is about what my LO gets too. 16-24 oz is the goal at 12 mo.

ETA: gets water throughout the day as well

A few days before 1, I introduced cows milk in a straw cup. He liked it right away and I was able to stop using bottles at 1. Now at 15 months I still get him a cup of milk first thing every morning. That buys me time to get up and get breakfast ready.

@paigeface: take n toss are the easiest, but if your LO is a thrower they can pop open. I fill up the cup so ge probably drinks 8 ounces.