Author Topic: Straw Cup Help (Read 5203 times)

Mom to M&M · « **on:** April 30, 2006, 14:52:26 pm »

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 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 30, 2006, 16:11:43 pm »

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* · « **Reply #2 on:** April 30, 2006, 21:36:37 pm »

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 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 30, 2006, 21:52:37 pm »

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 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 30, 2006, 22:20:06 pm »

Quote from: Sarahboh on April 30, 2006, 16:11:43 pm

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 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 30, 2006, 23:19:43 pm »

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 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 01, 2006, 00:51:20 am »

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 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 01, 2006, 01:51:42 am »

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 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 01, 2006, 02:45:41 am »

Quote from: katriona on May 01, 2006, 01:51:42 am

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 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 01, 2006, 02:59:40 am »

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 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 01, 2006, 05:39:04 am »

Quote from: Sarahboh on April 30, 2006, 23:19:43 pm

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 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 01, 2006, 05:43:27 am »

Quote from: Nathan'sMommy on May 01, 2006, 02:45:41 am

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 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 01, 2006, 15:18:27 pm »

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 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 02, 2006, 20:42:34 pm »

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 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 03, 2006, 00:11:27 am »

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.

Mom to M&M · « **Reply #15 on:** May 03, 2006, 11:53:47 am »

I'm trying to skip the sippy altogether and just go to a straw cup - I don't like sippys - partially because they can cause speech issues. I'll just keep trying with the straw - hopefully she figures it out soon!

Marisa's Mom · « **Reply #16 on:** May 03, 2006, 14:08:59 pm »

Quote from: Marisa Mom on May 03, 2006, 11:53:47 am

I'm trying to skip the sippy altogether and just go to a straw cup - I don't like sippys - partially because they can cause speech issues. I'll just keep trying with the straw - hopefully she figures it out soon!

I didn't know that about sippy cups!

I tried offering a straw to DD yesterday while we were out at a restaurant. She didn't know what to do with it, still need training. She was more interested in sticking her fingers into the strawberry lemonade..

Mom to M&M · « **Reply #17 on:** May 03, 2006, 14:49:41 pm »

It has something to do with the flatness of the sippy part flattening their tongue but may have to do more with overuse/long term use. Still, I'm going to skip and keep trying with the straw. Made a bit of progress today and going to buy the Gerber soft straw cup - have heard good things about that one.

teezee · « **Reply #18 on:** May 03, 2006, 16:52:59 pm »

that's the one i have for dd - actually i have three of em..she will get it just like with everything else - keep consistant.

Mom to M&M · « **Reply #19 on:** May 04, 2006, 10:50:32 am »

So should I only offer that cup and she'll eventually get it? For now she just gets annoyed and pushes it away.

teezee · « **Reply #20 on:** May 04, 2006, 15:19:14 pm »

i offered that cup once she got the hang of it - otherwise i would keep trying different types of straws til she gets it..i just cut a reg straw in half every time i tried it with dd...maybe someone here has some different advice though...

Mom to M&M · « **Reply #21 on:** May 06, 2006, 15:29:20 pm »

Spoke yesterday with my friend who has twins. One picked up how to do the straw cup all on his own the first time but the other couldn't figure it out. She was able to help him by putting him in his high chair and getting him used to drinking his bottle that way. Then she gave him the same liquid in a Gerber transition cup - which has a hole similar to a straw but seems more like a bottle and it helps them realize they need to suck. Once he got used to that, he was able to figure out the straw.

So I may pick up that transition cup today and try that - we'll see!

*Natasha* · « **Reply #22 on:** May 07, 2006, 02:13:13 am »

Quote from: Marisa Mom on May 03, 2006, 14:49:41 pm

It has something to do with the flatness of the sippy part flattening their tongue but may have to do more with overuse/long term use. Still, I'm going to skip and keep trying with the straw.

This is interesting didn't know that, i don't plan on using the sippy cup forever anyway, my sippy cup has other things you can screw onto it when they can drink better anyway.

Well i went out and bought a cup with a sippy straw not an expensive one either only cost $2.30 and it only took DD 2 goes before she worked it out and then she loved it.

katriona · « **Reply #23 on:** May 07, 2006, 18:58:33 pm »

I'm buying a straw cup today! Wish us luck

notenoughshelfspace · « **Reply #24 on:** May 07, 2006, 20:12:18 pm »

I think I want to try my little one with a straw as well.... WIll llet oyu know how it goes...............

ryan's mum · « **Reply #25 on:** May 07, 2006, 20:23:51 pm »

we have had better luck with a straw than a sippy cup .he can drink using both but just won't.he loves his bottle and he's not budging. all we did with the straw was let him see us doing it , then make the shape with our lips as if drinking with no straw and let him try. we laughed and praised him when he had a sip . it takes a while as Ryan sort of rum out of breath by the time the drink came up , or sometimes did it too fast and choked.
good luck

notenoughshelfspace · « **Reply #26 on:** May 07, 2006, 20:40:31 pm »

Thank you Nadia; you are my sippy cup guru!!!!!!!!!!! ( not budging on the bottle over here either...........)

ryan's mum · « **Reply #27 on:** May 07, 2006, 20:49:11 pm »

Ryan will drink out of that cup more than any other but would rather go thirsty! if i could just refuse to give the bottle and leave him untill he's thirsty enough i would , cos this is going on too long .Ryan is on a med that he needs to drink a lot with , so i'm in a catch 22 situation (i think he knows too !) the thing is he's so chuffed going around with his bob the builder straw cup and shows off when he takes a sip but that's it . if i leave it out all day , i'm lucky if i see him take 10 sips .

katriona · « **Reply #28 on:** May 23, 2006, 17:02:40 pm »

hi gals,

not much success with the straw cups here, but then i must admit i haven't been trying that hard, because...

DS will drink out of a water bottle with the sports nipple!

we found this purely by chance -- he likes to try and drink from anything that i drink from, a cup, a glass, or even a gatorade bottle! one day i could only find non-refrig water at the store in the sports bottles, so bought one of those. i took the nipple off first, but though i'd try him with it on. well, that boy just latched on and started sucking away like nobody's business. i almost fell off the wall we were sitting on.

of course, regulating the amount of water he keeps in his mouth before he swallows is a different thing -- ds doesn't seem to get that at some point you do have to swallow, and pref. sooner rather than later to avoid spluttering or dribbling.

so we bought a lot of 8oz water bottles with sports nipples from the store, only to get home and find out that they were "kidproof" -- i.e. nonrefillable! i'm not quite sure how the cleaning and sterilizing would have gone anyway, but i'd have been willing to give it a shot.

anyway, just thought i'd pass this along.

katy

Marisa's Mom · « **Reply #29 on:** May 23, 2006, 17:12:58 pm »

How interesting about the sports bottles. I haven't tried that yet.

My LO is like yours, interested in drinking out of whatever I'm drinking out of. She's getting lots of practice drinking out of a regular mug.

We finally introduced a straw sippy, and I was really surprised at how quickly she caught on to it. Of course, it didn't hurt that I put diluted apple juice in it.

The straw sippy tends to "spill" a little more when it is in it's side or upsidedown (she holds it in all directions, even upside down to 'chew' on the bottom, sigh...) so now I only keep water in the straw sippy.

In some ways it is a good thing your son hasn't figured out the straw. ... It was a hot day yesterday so I decided to indulge in a cool refreshing fruit smoothie drink while at Borders bookstore. I discovered that she'll eagerly drink more of my fruit smoothie before I can get my share.

And she kept clinging on to me saying "mama!" for more more more...

Mom to M&M · « **Reply #30 on:** May 23, 2006, 18:02:03 pm »

Still no luck with the straw cup here - DD only does well with the Take n Toss (First Years) sippy cups. But do want to try a sports bottle as well - First Years makes a sippy cup/sports bottle, and I think Gerber does as well.

Lola · « **Reply #31 on:** May 26, 2006, 14:00:36 pm »

Hey thanks for the tips.DD is 8+ We have an Avent sippy cup with spout and DD can get the water out but has to tilt way back. She too, loves to chew on it

Spout won't last too long that way. Will get some straw sippy's this weekend. I;ve been giving them to her since 6 months but she gets a few sips and really can't be bothered to get anymore. I've noticed she loves stealing mommy's water bottles and dousing herself much better. ;DMaybe just to a normal cup soon

Isaac's_mom · « **Reply #32 on:** May 26, 2006, 23:45:16 pm »

Just wanted to share that Nuby makes a straw cup that is spill proof. I bought it today and Isaac got the hang of it right away. I've given him a normal straw before and he didn't know what to do with it other then chew it. This one was silicone like his bottle nipples so I guess he figured to suck it like a bottle.

http://www.babybungalow.com/nufllestbo2c.html

There sippy and sports bottles also work really well.

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Author Topic: Straw Cup Help (Read 5203 times)