Sippy Cups

Some precocious tots are interested in sippy cups as young as six months, while others cling to their bottles as late as age three, despite the parents’ best efforts.

You can try introducing a sippy cup to your baby any time after six months, as long as you’re realistic about the amount of help he or she will require. For most babies, however, a cup is best introduced shortly before the infant’s first birthday. Try different types --- some sippy cups have valves which require the baby to suck hard to obtain any liquid. Others are more free-flowing, and while the child may take to them more readily, they also can be very messy. Whatever model you end up selecting, prepare to be patient and to offer the cup repeatedly over a period of months before your baby finally becomes used to it. If you reserve the cup for your baby’s favorite drink – juice for instance – they may accept it more readily.

It’s common for babies to reject sippy cups (and other cups) entirely for the first couple of years, preferring to breast feed or stick with their tried-and-true bottle. Like other milestones, don’t fixate on comparing your baby’s progress to others. After all, how many kindergarteners do you know who aren’t yet drinking from a cup?

There are some steps that can make the transition to a cup smoother. Keep in mind that babies won’t automatically realize that the cup contains a favorite drink. Dip the spout into the juice, milk or water, so your baby can get the taste and realize what’s inside. Many babies prefer cups with softer, rubbery spouts that more closely resemble a bottle nipple.

For younger infants, who may have trouble sucking liquid through a valve, remove the valve. (Just keep a towel handy, to take care of spills.) Make sure you have the baby’s full attention, and then demonstrate how to use the cup. Use exaggerated gestures and words (“Yum!, Juice!”), so your toddler will want to copy you and taste what’s inside. Having a sibling or another baby use a sippy cup also can make the baby interested in mimicking their actions.

Finally, choose your moment. Don’t introduce the cup when your baby is tired or overly thirsty, when he is more likely to become frustrated and upset. Wait for times when your baby is wide awake and alert.

Once your baby has become accustomed to using a sippy cup, use them in moderation only. Valves for these cups should be cleaned thoroughly after each use – preferably in a dishwasher – in order to kill any developing bacteria. Also, no infant should be put to bed with a cup (or bottle) of milk or juice – these drinks will leave sugary deposits in the mouth and lead to early tooth decay.