when do I introduce a sippy cup?

[Sienna Raynes mum]

I was just wondering, when are you supose to introduce sippy cups?

My lo is breastfed and doesn't use a bottle unless I leave her with dad and have pumped my milk.
She is 7 months old and  is eating solids 3 times a day, am I suppose to give her a sipy cup at this age or does it even matter?

And if so, what else should she be drinking?

[teezee]

i personally started giving my lo a sippy and/or straw cup when she was 5 months old.  i thought it would be good practice and to get her used to it as i have heard horror stories from other moms with their lo's refusing sippy's.  i would put milk in it at first, then i did water.  pretty much now unless she is constipated (then half water half juice) i give her water with either her sippy or her straw cup with meals, or if she needs a drink through the night if her mouth gets dry. i would start introducing now - although there is no set 'time' that u should do so.  the straw cup was much easier for my lo to get the hang of.  good luck!

[LŠuren]

I have recently started giving the first stage tomee tipee cup to my DS to play with, I put in about a couple of ounces of milk. He loves chewing on it and it also gives him a little drink at the same time .

[*Natasha*]

Catherine has been using a sippy cup since being on solids at 4 months. I always offer her water in it with solids and during the day if it is hot. She didn't take much at the beginning but i persisted and now it is no problems she prorbalby has 50-100mls a day. I want to replace her bottle with a cup for her milk over the next couple of months, as i think it will take her a bit longer to get use to that.

[Gage and Sophie's Mom]

Hi! Gage took 2 days to learn how to use a cup with a straw. I bought a plastic juice box looking thing and squeezed a bit of water in his mouth. To catch the water from falling out of his mouth he wrapped his lips around the straw and whalla! I give him a bit of water in it as each meal. He really likes it.

[Harvies Mum]

Mmmm. I started to give my lo water in a bottle at 4 months and sippy cup and or straw cup (much easier) at 5 months. He LOVES his straw cup. He even drinks out of juice boxes now... HOW CONVENIENT!!!

You just have to try. Trial and error is what we mums do best.

[Katet]

I started Liam using ebm in a sippy from 4 months as he had never had a bottle & I thought if I had got that far why bother with bottles, he now has about 100mls of ebm after his first nap & water from a sippy during the day & at all meals... I'd suggest offering a sippy rather than a bottle when you go out as often it is hard to get them to take milk from a cup once they get past about 9months.

[Sienna Raynes mum]

Thank you very much girls, that helps alot!
So nice to have a place to go to where you can ask the simplest questions you are unsure of!