how to break from sippy cup?

Question

what is the best way to take away the sippy cup especially at bed time, and what age?

Answer 1

speaking as a nutritionist and having had to deal with the issue of sippys before with children in my care here is what I know

sippy cups were not intended to be used in place of a bottle but that is the most common usage

cups with a valve are exactly the same as a bottle, the child needs to suck to get a drink. they were meant to be used in short term situations where a regular cup is imposable (like long car rides)

cups with a valve should not be used for anything but water because it causes nursing bottle syndrome just like a bottle does
http://doctorspiller.com/images/Pedo/nursingBottleSyndrome(large).jpg

the best way to avoid the issue of weaning from a sippy is never to give one in the first place but if that isn't an option at this point is to completely stop the sippy and give drinks only in a regular cup. If you have been previously giving a sippy at bed it may mean that you will have a few nights of whining but if you are firm that will stop (note that if you give in the child will know that if they complain long enough they will get the cup and weaning wont happen)

Answer 2

When your child is about 3 and they don't spill as much is when the sippy cup should go away. Start by giving him a cup without a lid at the table during meals. Encourage the child to stay in the kitchen with drinks when there isn't a top on it. If they get lazy or careless you will be cleaning up a mess frequently. Get cups that have straws instead of sippy cups - makes a nice transition to topless cups - they are required to keep them upright. Although if like me you have one child who is still little then you might want to stay with the cups awhile longer (I only use regular cups at meals).

Answer 3

I am not sure, our daughter never took a bottle or sippy cup to bed. Good Luck. Maybe the Sippy Cup fairy should take them away one night and leave her a new big girl cup. I have heard of many people doing this trick with pacifiers!!

Answer 4

What's IN the sippy cup? If it's milk or juice, start to mix it with a little bit of water. Each night add a little bit more water until you are giving the sippy cup with only water in it. It won't be so wonderful then and even if your child needs a sip of water, that's OK.

Make the change to water very gradual so that your child barely notices from day to day.

Best wishes!

Answer 5

Why is he getting a sippy cup at bed time to begin with? Bedtime "feedings" should have ended with the bottle and hopefully he was never put to bed with a bottle. As for the rest of the time why do you want to take it away? He will get to a point where he no longer spills all over himself and will let you know when he is ready for a "grown up" glass/cup.

Answer 6

i broke my daughter of the sippy cups at about the age of 2. the best cups to get are the plastic ones with the handle on the side that have the water inside of them so they can be frozen. this makes them heavier so they don't tip over easily. my daughter loved getting to be a big girl and when night time came if she wanted a drink i would put a little in her glass and bring it in to her. she would have a drink and then i would take it back out to the kitchen. just be consistent. you may have to make a few water trips for awhile, but it will get better. good luck

Answer 7

I dont think it affects ur child in any way to have a sippy cup. what i would do is show him a big boy or big girl cup and they're gonna want it instead of the sippy

Answer 8

My daughter loves her straws, so I can't really relate...but I would suggest just taking it away. Try getting those sport bottles for kids with the pop up straw and that should get you well on your way to transitioning into something new.

Nothing before bed, except water. (It's bad for their teeth!!)

Sippies are okay, I think, well into the 2nd year. But the other pop up straw sports bottles are nicer, I think, and they hold more. :)

Answer 9

We inadvertantly dropped the sippy cup for my oldest when she was about 2.5. I took my girls out of state for a long weekend and forgot to bring any. (We were staying in a B&B.) My parents were with and my dad just gave her milk in a glass. When we went back home, she just wasn't interested.

Answer 10

not sure on the age...that varies with each child but you can just test with a regular cup whenever you have time, be sure to watch the child very closely though.