Do you want to chat about transitioning to a sippy cup??

[binxyboo]

I nursed Riley and started offering the cup at 6 months. When I started to wean some of his day feeds at 11 months, all he would accept was the bottle, after refusing them since he was a newborn. Although I wanted to wean to a cup, I took what I could get at that time. Now at 16 months he is finally starting to take some milk from his sippy, but I am letting him set the pace. He drinks the milk in one go from the bottle, doesn't go to sleep with it, so I am happy to let him use it for now

[Elisabeth and Victorias mummy]

I am thinking I will go that route too, I am not going to force the sippy cup, just let dd move at her own pace.  Thank you for sharing it makes m feel better about the decsion on not forcing her to take it.

[2monkiesmum]

I think maybe I should let my LO decide when he is ready to switch to a cup.

I am happy for him to have just a morning and evening bottle until he is ready to switch to a cup. I just want to get rid of the afternoon bottle and switch to a cup as it will be much easier when out and about. And anything that makes my life easier with the two of them - just has to be achieved somehow!

I think I'll try offering him cows milk, instead of formula, at lunchtime as he seems happier with cows milk from his sippy.

Also if he goes down to two bottles of formula a day - is two 7oz bottles enough at 11 months?
(They have plenty of dairy and I will offer them a couple of snacks with cows milk as well)

[Elisabeth and Victorias mummy]

2monkiesmum- If your little one is less than 1 year you should not introduce milk yet, there little bodies cannot digest the milk enzyme until a year or even older.  I believe @ 11 months they are suppose to have between 18 and 24 ounces of milk.  Good Luck.

[LŠuren]

Yip

Cows milk is only in cooking for under 12months.

[2monkiesmum]

Really, - what happens in the next 4 weeks that allows them to suddenly be able to digest cows milk? And how do you tell if they are ready, what if I start giving them cows milk at 12 months and they can't digest it properly yet??

I thought it was just that the formula was more vitamin rich and that you just shouldn't swap over until 1 year because of the risk of vitamin deficiencies (as milk is there main source of nutrition until 1 year) - I'm concerned now that my LO's won't be ready for cows milk, they were 2 weeks early so they might not be ready at 1 year for cows milk.

[LŠuren]

Sorry I was looking at your signature - I thought your Lo's were 8 months... are they 11months??  I started transitioning DS at 11.5months to cows milk.

[Elisabeth and Victorias mummy]

You have a right to be concerned.  My dd is 5 weeks early and we were told by the medical staff, in regards to food, to feed her as her adjusted age, so Elisabeth will not be able to try milk until 13 weeks, and then you are suppose to adjust slowly.  For example if your little one is getting 7 ounces of formula you give 6 ounces formula with 1 ounce milk and see how they adjust if everything is fine, no upset tummys, diarhea, gas etc.(after I believe 3 days) then you up it to 2 ounces milk remainder formula until you are completly switched.  At any signs of ailment then you stop with the amount your little one was fine with and try again in a wekk or two.  

[LŠuren]

If your LO's were just 2 weeks early I wouldn't be inclined to adjust their ages    have you been doing this up to now?

[2monkiesmum]

I haven't adjusted their ages for anything else as it is only two weeks.
Should I be concerned, they have milk in their food and their formula is milk based - wouldn't I know if they had an allergy?

They are 11 months - sorry I have updated my signature

[LŠuren]

No I wouldn't be concerned, especially if you have already offered cows milk in food and the sippy.  It's great your Lo is taking it from the sippy.

[2monkiesmum]

thanks for the reassurance - i'll try him with the sippy tomorrow and let you know how it goes.

[Elisabeth and Victorias mummy]

Sry, I thought your little one was 8 months as well, good luck.  My little one was 6 weeks early so i do have to adjust.

[The Vern]

We need some help!  DD turns 1 in about a week and we have had no luck getting her to take milk from the sippy - we've been trying for about 3 weeks now.  She takes water no problem though.  I don't think it's a matter of her not liking the taste of cow's milk, as she is drinking it mixed with formula in her bottles and also has some with cereal in the morning and doesn't seem to mind it at all.  So I'm concluding that it's the whole habit that 'this white stuff shouldn't come out of this cup' mindset.  Problem is, how do we change this stubborn little mind!?!?

Currently, she has a morning bottle and evening bottle, taking about 6 oz and 4-5 oz respectively.  Have been trying to give her milk in the sippy and a regular cup with handles (scary messy) throughout the day, but she just ends up pushing it away after a sip or two. 

In the end, if she continues to refuse, what is the harm really in her continuing with bottles in a.m. and p.m. and just having water throughout the day, until she naturally is ready to let go of the bottle?

My other question is this: I read that los this age need a minimum of 12 oz of milk - does this also include other dairy products, or they need the fluid oz of milk for hydration?  She drinks a lot of water so I'm not too worried about that issue, just want to make sure she gets enough milk.

To Lauren, if you end up reading this - we are using NUK bottles and I think I read somewhere that's what you used and that you had found some new sippy 'teat' for it and that Calum got used to it that way - sounds ideal.  Know where I could find one?

Thanks every one and all the best for a happy and healthy 2007.

[debo620]

the vern,
what if you were to try when lo is the most hungry? maybe start with the am bottle---if she only takes 2 oz from it, put the rest in the bottle and let her drink it----maybe overtime she'll get more used to the idea of the sippy??