Sippy cup help?

Question

I'm trying to start my 7 month old son on a sippy cup. I'm introducing it slowly, substituting 2 bottles for a sippy cup a day. He refuses to drink from it. He chews on the spout and won't drink from it. He is getting a new tooth, but still I nkow that you are supposed to have your child weaned from bottle to sippy cup by 1 year of age and I intend to do so. (Especially since I've seen all too many kids who are 2+ years in stores with bottle in mouth.) I'm not going to go cold turkey on him unitl he's about 12-13 months old, but I'd love some advice on transistion and what more I could be doing.

Answer 1

We had the same problem, my son is now a year, and we just this past weekend got him off the bottle. We have several different types of sippy cups, and one he really liked, and is harder to get milk from, is the cheap plastic ones! They don't have to sip as hard... where as with those that you do- like the avent, playtex ones, he wouldn't get much from them.

Keep in mind, he is prob teething right now, so that might be why he is biting on the sippy cup, my son does that too, so I just tell him no and take it away if needed. Don't worry- you will be able to get your son to switch. Our son right now is crying for 10 min. max because he wants the bottle, however, I just let him sit on my lap, cry for a little bit, then try it again, and he gets soo hungry, he will take it and drink the whole thing! I didn't think we'd be able to wean him off the bottle, but it worked.... you just have to stick to it. As for now- what I'd recommend- like we did, we only put juice and water in the sippy cup, let him have the bottle, then in another month or two, put milk in the sippy cup. But then, make sure when you are ready to do the switch, you take away bottles period- don't give in... your son will be hungry enough to want the sippy cup-just give him a little time. Also, I always have held my son in my lap while feeding the bottle, well I think what helps, is I do this with the sippy cup when it's time to have some milk.

Ok, hope this helps some.

Answer 2

Try not to worry so much about it right now. One little guy I take care of has such tremendous pain from teething and he is miserable and chews on everything and anything. His teeth will sometimes take four days to sprout up and those days are just awful for him. He stops the frantic chewing then until the next one comes up. Maybe you can try that cup when he is between teeth? Other thought is to offer little sips from a cup without the sippy top so that he gets the idea of different ways he can drink his milk. Keep offering the sippy cup and I bet he'll be getting the idea before long. You might also try various sippy cups - I found a bunch out there and maybe he would do better with one kind over another. There's one that is a hard hard plastic that I think he wouldn't like to chew on so much. Good luck to you!

Answer 3

First make sure they are soft spout sups for younger babies. Also, I gave my daughter ones than actaully were her bottle, with a sippy cup spout, she responded very well to it and was completely off that cup and bottles by 9 months old. Oh and try giving formula or a favorite juice from the cups, and only something the child dislikes or water in the bottle. They will realize the good stuff is in the cup, and they don't have a choice. Good Luck

Answer 4

I usually di 18 months for the cut off, they are more comfortable with the sippy cup, I like the avent ones they are great for training. But rught now your 7 month old really will only play with the cup, they like to suck right now. Don't worry if at 1 year your baby still has bottle/sippy.

Answer 5

Your child may not understand that the sippy cup has fluid in it. If you have a hard spout, it is a perfect teething, not drinking candidate. Try to start with the older style cups that don't have a valve and see if you child understands that cups contain fluid.

Answer 6

Wal Mart sells sippy cups with rubber spouts, that really helped with my daughter. If he won't give it up yet, don't worry he is still very young. Most kids do well if you wait until they are at least one. A bottle isn't doing him any harm. Enjoy him being a baby, They grow up fast enough. Believe me, when he is older it gets a lot easier.

Answer 7

every child is different and should not be judged as to when they need to go from a bottle to a sippy cup. maybe he's just not ready. he's very young to be going from bottle to sippy cup. but, if you insist on this issue you could make it like a big boy thing. but i would not push it when he's ready you'll know. that's the only advice i could give you. you should ask what your pediatrician has to say. good luck

Answer 8

Well, he's only 7 mos old. Go slow, make it fun, and don't pressure him. Instead of switching bottles for cups, while you are trying to introduce the idea to him, put a little water in it and offer it to him with his meals for a few sips to wash down his food. DO NOT use one with a valve as they are harder to learn to use. Try a soft spout cup, like Avent. OR try a straw instead like the Rubbermaid one linked below. It works well because you can squeeze it and squirt a little into their mouth to help them get the idea.

Answer 9

Are you using the type of sippy cup that has the soft nipple like spout? This might help him adjust to it since it is more like a bottle.

Answer 10

I bought the cups that have the straws that fold down when you close them. And soon after that we were able to switch to the cup. They say the straws are actually better for there teeth anyways. It worked for us, hope it can help you!