A Sippy cup virgin

[notenoughshelfspace]

Just started introucing  a sippy cup; really could do with some tips. I have a 'free flow' and also one with a valve so it only comes out when he sucks. Which is better? I am leaning towards the one with a valve as it will teach her how to drik rather than just pouring out into her mouth. Also do you put it into her mouth, guide her hands with the cup into her mouth etc..........?

How long does it take your little ones to get the hang of it?

[Deb_in_oz]

personally i have found greater success with both of my girls with a "free flow" non-spill type (just no valve in it) - i always found the ones with the valves 1) required a huge effort that is difficult for a beginner user of 6-7 mo old and 2) every one of those valve type cups seemed to require a different level of effort so unless you find one you are committing too it can be a pain if you need to replace or borrow one at a friend's place (for example - alex had been using a cup that required a lot of effort and then when she'd get one that was faster/easier she would suck hard and choke on too much water)

anyway - as far as teaching them to use it - i just offered it every meal time as practice - woudl bring it to their mouths, let them bite on it, play with it and explore so they got comfortable.  i would also show how to suck from it just so they could see that i put it on my mouth and took a drink.  i think after playing for a bit and sucking on it as a natural reflex one time they just suck the right way and get a surprise.  then they learn that if you suck on the cup you get water/drink (that's why it is easier with 6 mo plus as they understand cause and effect)

alex took about a month to master it and Olivia (thanks to watching big sister) had her "clicking" moment after only 2 weeks and mostly that was one day where she was watching alex at every meal so obviously the more time they spend with the cup the faster they will "get it"

[Petunia]

With my son it took six months before he was truly drinking regularly from a valve controlled sippy cup.  I've read that this amount of time is normal adjustment time.  I started when he was six months old.

I used a freeflow cup for the introduction.  I then tried to switch to a valve but he had a hard time getting the hang of it.  He bit on it a lot and would tilt it up (took him forever to figure out that he needed to tilt it up despite my persistent guidance).  So after five months of trying I used a Nuby (soft top) cup that he could get liquid out of if he bit or if he sucked but it didn't just trickle out.  He got a hang of that one quick and realized that if he sucked he got more.  Within a month he was really getting the hang of the hard top valve sippy cup because I kept trying to introduce them the entire time he was using the Nuby.  When he weaned at one year he was taking all his liquid from a regular valve sippy cup.

Oh, by the way, he hadn't had a bottle since he was about four months old - I was the only one giving him the bottles of breastmilk anyway, so why bother - so that may have been why he had trouble figuring out how to suck.  He still hasn't figured out a straw.

[15milner]

Hi

When I started introducing a cup / beaker I used ones like this one.
http://www.tommeetippee.co.uk/index.php?p=31

As you see it is a free flowing one but I think it was my HV said that these ones are better.  Matthew caught onto using this much better than the ones with a valves - the tommee tipee easi-flow in my opinion are very hard to use - I had difficulty in getting out drink!!  My objective was for Matthew to get sufficient fluids and that was with the free flow. he got the hang of the valved ones later.

Nowadays he uses the avent magic cup which is easier than the anyway up cup / easiflow.  But he still drinks milk from the free flow - he's able to glug it back.  It also makes it easier having 2 kinds of cup.  If he gets the free flow from his cupboard I know he wants milk but if he gets a magic cup (or a kids onthe go sports top bottle) I know he wants water.

HTH
Alex

[Deb_in_oz]

that is so funny - Alex, we use the Tommee Tippee for both girls - i think it is the best one out there (and apparently was the original sippy cup introduced 50 years ago). we have a varied collection that sit in the cupboard and these are used daily.

[notenoughshelfspace]

Thank you so much for all the advice; quick question for the mums in the uk. Where did you find the Tommee Tippee cups as I only seem to find the easyflow.

[15milner]

I found mine in Mothercare.  they're about £1.99 each. 

According to tommee tippee Uk - here is a list of their stockists.

http://www.tommeetippee.co.uk/page.php?id=7

Alex

[notenoughshelfspace]

Thank you so much, I shall have alook next time I am in the high street. Will let you know how I progress. I can't believe what a big girl she is!

[Seona1973]

You'll probably find it easier to get the tomme tippee first cup in the local supermarket or chemist e.g. Somerfield, Asda, Morrisons, Lloyds Pharmacy, etc, etc. 

My dd also used this cup and then graduated onto the avent magic cup (or any other cup really!)

She is now mastering drinking from an open top cup - a lot more messy!!

Seona

[jakies mom]

Seona-

When it is suggested to teach to start drinking from an open cup vs a sippy cup? 

Thanks!

[Seona1973]

Jakies mom, I dont know if there is a specific age for them to drink out of an open cup - Emma just likes being a 'big girl' at the dinner table and gets to drink out of an open cup during her meals. I dont give her them if she's about the house as that would just be asking for trouble!! 

I think its good for them to be able to mimic the grown ups e.g. she has her cup and she also asks for her knife, fork and spoon, regardless of whether she will actually need all of them. Her dinner plate sits on a table mat and her cup sits on a coaster, just like mummy and daddy (she sits in a booster seat at the big table instead of her highchair now)

It's scary how quickly they grow up!!

Seona