[tps_header]It seems the hardest parts of parenting may be the transitions. Every time you think you’ve got something down – it’s time to move on to something new. Just around the time when you’re getting used to giving your baby a bottle or you’re getting the hang of breastfeeding, it’s time to start introducing a sippy cup.
Tips to Transition to a Sippy Cup
When my youngest turned one, her daycare provider started asking us why she was still using bottles and not sippy cups. Why? Because she didn’t like sippy cups. She wanted to drink her milk from a bottle.
I tried not to stress but I knew we were “behind” in making her take a sippy cup. She is the second baby, so there is a lot going on at our house and honestly, a sippy cup really wasn’t at the top of my list. Keeping two little kids happy, clean and quiet was my top priority – so that meant continuing to give her a bottle.
The truth is that there is no time table for this stuff to happen. Go at your baby’s speed and watch her cues. I worried about my daughter not using a sippy cup for a few months, but in the end she started using one exclusively when she wanted. One day it was bottles, the next it was sippy cups.
It helped that I have a sippy cup I love. They are leak-proof (for real!), inexpensive to replace (in case you find one you forget full of milk and decide not to keep it) and can take a beating.
Advice and Stories from Real Moms
Get the right cups for your baby’s age
Transitioning from bottle to sip cup can be something fun and exciting for your little one. I love introducing new things as the baby gets older. When introducing a sippy cup we like to start with just water and let our little one play around with it. It’s going to be a bit messy but it’s only water! Make sure to look on the package label to get the age appropriate sippys for your babies age. – Brittany from Pennies Into Pearls
Related – 5 Easy Tips To Switch From Breastfeeding To Bottles
This is the sippy cup my son is loving. Remember all kids are different!
It comes with a nipple and a sippy spout so he can transition easier. You can buy it on Amazon here.
Use something easy to drink from
We used the tupperwear kids cups with the lids. It is not spill proof, but really easy for the kids to drink from. My kids all started with water at around 6 months, so when they were no longer nursing or using a bottle, they were already familiar with how to use a cup. – Amanda from The Educator’s Spin On It
Don’t give in to drinking strikes
After my first daughter, I learned that the best method of transitioning from a bottle to a sippy cup is to just do it! Your child will look at you with those big beautiful eyes and she or he will cry and scream and do their very best to drive you insane. They also may go on a drinking strike but I promise, they will give in! Biggest lesson with transitioning is to not let them see you sweat! – Aimee from House of Fauci’s
Earlier is better
After seeing both my girls through many early childhood transitions, as well as observing my friends’ experiences, the earlier you introduce a sippy cup, the easier your transition will be. The older a baby gets, the more attached they become to objects. Instead of merely a feeding method, a bottle can become a soother, just like a pacifier or blanket, making the transition far more difficult. – Meghan from Playground Park Bench
Start with solids
Start young! We did so when my baby was starting solids and drinking water. – Menucha from Moms and Crafters
Thank you Moms!
This is just another example of choosing what is best for you and your family. The key is to realize that this is a transition. It’s not an overnight change. So take your time and go slow and don’t stress about a sippy cup.
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Thanks for posting this! My son just turned 1 and we are attempting the sippy cup transition. I believe we have accrued 6 different types now. He didn’t show any interest in any of them and I think all we managed to do was confuse him. We have since gone back to 2 of them and continue to present them to him several times a day. I’m hoping he figures this out before Kindergarten!
Thank you so much for writing this! My son is 11 months and still prefers a bottle… We have tried a few different sippy cups but he either sucks the water up then spits it out all over himself or just stops trying. There are so many choices that it’s overwhelming thanks for the specific recommendation. It has been the perfect fit for him!