Straw Cup Help

[Mom to M&M]

M is not doing so well with her bottles lately - partly because she doesn't love her formula (Alimentum) but also partially because of teething. We've tried many sippy cups and she can only drink from the no-valve kind but won't take much from those either. And the soft spout ones she just chews on. So I'd like to try a straw cup but that seems tough (she's almost 9 months).

Have any of you had success with straw cups at this age? If so, which ones? And how did you teach them what to do?

[Sarahboh]

My almost 7 month old is pretty good at using a Playtex brand cup with built in straw. I gave it to her one day with water (with me holding it) and she sucked on it, got water and now knows what to do with it. She has also watched me with a straw as well and I think she understood what to do. Hope this helps

[*Natasha*]

My 9month old DD is drinking really well out of a cup but i want to teach her to use a straw as well. I would be interested to know how long it takes for them to learn how to use a straw.

[NKmommy]

My kiddo got the hang of the straw sippy at about 9 mos, after having such a hard time with other cups.  We used most brands and he seemed to do well with all of them.  There is also one brand (brand is not written on the cup - argggg), that has a valve that actually keeps the liquid at the top of the straw.  Those are great to learn with because baby doesn't really have to suck. 

Good luck with the straw!  Hope it works!

[Marisa's Mom]

My almost 7 month old is pretty good at using a Playtex brand cup with built in straw. I gave it to her one day with water (with me holding it) and she sucked on it, got water and now knows what to do with it. She has also watched me with a straw as well and I think she understood what to do. Hope this helps

Interesting to hear that your 7 mos old can use the Playtex straw cup. 

DD started with the Playtex stage 1 sippy, then we skipped up to the Playtex stage 3 sippy. DD is now 13 mos old. I was thinking about getting her the Playtex stage 4 straw sippy cup (might as well stay with the same brand, plus I love how the lids are all interchangeable with the cups) but then noticed that they labelled it for 2 Yrs and up, so I held off on buying it. I guess I might as well pick one up next time I'm at the store and see how DD does with it.

How does the straw thing work on the Playtex cups? I'm really curious, is it like the other ones with the valve, so liquid doesn't spill out?

[Sarahboh]

Yeah, she really likes the straw thing on the playtex. The way I think she caught on is one day I was drinking a cold beverage at Starbucks and she kept looking and reaching for it. I got a cup and straw and then gave her first drink of water there. When I was at the store later that week picked up the Playtex Cup with a straw, brought it home and she has used it ever since. She takes all of her milk still from bottles, but she has water in the cup with the straw. I just checked the cup and it doesn't say anything on it (it is pink and purple) and has no valve as the water spills out when I tip it upside down. Good luck with finding the right cup 

[teezee]

i had my lo try a straw at 5 months and she got the hang of it almost immdiately! i just got a straw and put it in the bottlw of water she was not drinking  and at first she just chewed on it...then i took a drink out of it...then she chewed it..then i put my finger on the top end and let the water go in her mouth - when i did that she started to suck - i did it a few more times, then showed her when i drank out of it again and then she got the hang of it. the next day she kind of 'forgot' but as soon as i did it again she remembered. she still prefers a straw over a sippy - although she can use both.

[katriona]

I'd been thinking about trying a straw, as DS gums away on the soft spouts, but doesn't really suck that much. On the harder spouts he sucks, but tends to have a harder time if he has to lean back and tilt the cup up.

Do the cups with straws have the straws going down to the bottom of the cup, or are they just a straw-shaped nubby, if you kwim?

Sounds as if the Playtex may be worth a go!

[NKmommy]

Do the cups with straws have the straws going down to the bottom of the cup, or are they just a straw-shaped nubby, if you kwim?

Yup, the straw goes all the way down to the bottom.  The good thing about Playtex straw sippy cups is that the straw part only has two components (versus three on most others) - just easier when you are taking them apart to clean.    Oh, and we have yet to find a straw sippy that doesn't leak a bit.  It is not a fast leak, just a drip, drip, but just wanted to warn you.   

[katriona]

Yup, the straw goes all the way down to the bottom.

Ooh, I'm so going to try me some of those! It was so frustrating this morning, with my precious 2oz of EBM in the bottom of a huge sippy cup, and we kept tilting back and tilting back, and he just couldn't get it out. Ended up giving up on that bright idea and mixing it in with some rice cereal instead 

Thanks for the info, and the tip on leaks!

Katy

[Marisa's Mom]

I just checked the cup and it doesn't say anything on it (it is pink and purple) and has no valve as the water spills out when I tip it upside down. Good luck with finding the right cup 

So after they mastered tilting the non-straw sippy cups back to drink out of it, now they have to relearn how to NOT tilt the straw sippy cups so they don't spill everything out of it. I have the feeling they'll catch one quickly, however, they probably won't be as bothered by any messes they make in the process. I'll have to give it a try. I think DD would welcome a cup that she doesn't have to tilt back cuz sometimes she gets lazy and wants me to hold her sippy cup up for her.

[Marisa's Mom]

The good thing about Playtex straw sippy cups is that the straw part only has two components (versus three on most others) - just easier when you are taking them apart to clean.    Oh, and we have yet to find a straw sippy that doesn't leak a bit.  It is not a fast leak, just a drip, drip, but just wanted to warn you.   

Thanks for the leak warning. Sounds like the Playtex straw sippy cups are pretty good. I've never actually looked at one in person (looking at the ones in the stores don't count since I can't actually play with them out of the packaging), so I'm not sure what you mean by 2-components vs 3-components. I always assumed the straw was just one piece?

How do the straws hold up to chewing? DD chews on her sippy cups, and the spouts are showing wear. When do toddlers lose the urge to chew on everything they get their hands on?

[teezee]

i use gerber straw cups and they do have three parts that come apart, and they also warn you about leakage if tipped upside down - although once in awhile it does have a few drops come out - it's not that often and i consider it 'non spill' myself...

[Mom to M&M]

She just can't get the hang of it at all. I've tried taking the straw out and dropping some into her mouth but that just annoys her... Any thoughts?

[Gage and Sophie's Mom]

Hi. Gage has been using a straw since about 4.5- 5mths. I totally shocked when he figured it out. It only took a few times. I bought the mini playtex cups as well and just squeezed a little bit in his mouth and he natually wrapped his lips around it and tried to suck on it like a bottle. I kept giving it to him at every meal. once in a while he got a little confused and opened his mouth as if the eat from a spoon. Now he drinks from it at most meals and we are working on amount of intake. He likes to get a lot in his mouth and let about half of it dribble out Crazy kid! I figure once he can hold his own bottle I will try the reg. sippy cup.