Have you decided to introduce a sippy cup into your child's life? Before doing so, make sure that your child is ready!
If your baby seems to reject it or cannot drink properly with this new system, which is slightly different from a bottle, we suggest that you wait a little and try again a few days or weeks later.
Other tips can also help you encourage your child to drink water or even milk from their brand-new cup!
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- Show your baby how to drink with their sippy cup
- Offer them a drink they enjoy and serve it in the sippy cup
- Try a different sippy cup than the one you already have
- Look for an underlying reason for your child’s refusal
- Giving your baby a sippy cup: Safety first!
- What’s the best age to introduce a sippy cup to your baby?
- Should you choose a specific type of sippy cup according to age?
- Can a sippy cup replace the bottle?
- Final thoughts
1 # Show your baby how to drink with their sippy cup
If your child is having trouble drinking from their sippy cup, it may be because they don't know how! Take the cup and explain with simple words how to tilt the cup.
Mimic the actions they will need to imitate in order to drink.
Hold the object in your hands and act just as you would if you were using it yourself!
Each parent can take turns to help familiarize your baby with this new routine. Introducing a new piece of equipment involves a stage of systematic demystifying that will reassure your child.
Try not to worry if your baby doesn’t drink right away, and give them time to adapt.
2 # Offer them a drink they enjoy and serve it in the sippy cup
As the WHO recommends that parents only serve water or milk to young children, beverage choices are limited. However, you can enhance snack time with a little cereal to add flavor to the milk. Be sure to use only a small amount so as not to clog the no-spill spout.
This milk-based drink prepared with love may motivate your child to try again!
Ideally, plan to purchase a cup that is microwave-safe and easy to clean. Water is easy to rinse, but it can be more challenging to remove dried milk residue from the bottom of a cup than from a bottle. The shape of your cup will play an extremely important role when it comes to cleaning.
3 # Try a different sippy cup than the one you already have
Unfortunately, it is possible that the cup you are using does not suit your baby.
Try different types of sippy cups to see if your baby prefers another shape or different material. Texture is an essential factor not to be overlooked. Babies rely on their sense of touch even more than adults do.
Did you know that some sippy cups were designed to improve the experience for babies? These cups, made with medical-grade silicone (zero harmful agents), offer a silky and soft texture… And babies love them!
To learn more, read this article! 🍼
Look for an underlying reason for your child’s refusal
Is it possible your baby had a negative experience with their sippy cup?
- Did they drop it on their feet?
- Did they accidentally splash themselves?
- Were they frightened in some way?
Try to remember the first times your baby used their cup. If things went wrong, your child may be afraid of having another bad experience.
Sometimes, an incident that seems insignificant to you can feel very traumatic to your baby. Your little one is not exaggerating—they are simply overcome by intense emotions that are difficult to manage and by unfamiliar objects that are far from ordinary.
Understanding what’s behind this resistance will help you solve the problem. If you can’t recall an unfortunate incident, try giving your baby the cup in a different environment. Your child may associate the bad memory with the location where it happened.
Giving your baby a sippy cup: Safety first!
While using a sippy cup is generally safe, it’s important to take precautions to avoid leaks and spills, which, as mentioned above, could be at the root of a psychological block for your child.
Make sure the cup is properly fastened and that the lid is securely closed before giving it to your baby.
In addition, don’t let your baby drink from a sippy cup alone the first few times, as they are not yet used to it. Select an initial cup model with a slow-flow spout as a precaution. Later, you can switch to a faster-flow version.
What’s the best age to introduce a sippy cup to your baby?
Generally, babies start developing the ability to drink from a cup between 6 months and 12 months old, when their hand-eye coordination and muscle control improve.
But in reality, you can offer a sippy cup as soon as your child shows interest in solid foods and can sit up unassisted. 🪑
The ideal time will depend on your baby’s individual development.
Should you choose a specific type of sippy cup according to age?
Yes, it’s best to select a sippy cup that is appropriate for your baby’s age and stage of development.
Sippy cups with soft, no-spill spouts are often recommended for younger babies. Most cups and bottles available on the market offer this option.
Some sippy cup models have handles. If your goal is to make it easier for the child to hold the cup, note that a model without handles but with a soft design could be just as (if not more) manageable for your child!
It’s up to you to see what works best for your baby.
Can a sippy cup replace the bottle?
Please note that introducing a sippy cup does not completely replace breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, which remain primary sources of nutrition for your baby at least until their first birthday.
However, it can help during the transition by allowing your baby to discover complementary solutions to the bottle.
Once your child is successfully weaned, they may become so attached to their sippy cup that you might even find it difficult to get them to drink from a regular glass. 😉 It all depends on how attached your child is to their cup.
One thing is certain: adding a sippy cup to your child’s development greatly enhances their learning. The cup enables them to become more independent sooner and helps them build the habits that will later allow them to use a regular glass without dropping it!
Final thoughts
Never force a child to drink if they don’t want to. Try offering their cup again later. Or try a completely different approach to introducing the sippy cup into their routine (games, role-playing, etc.).
If your baby continues to have difficulty drinking from a sippy cup around their first birthday, it is recommended to consult your pediatrician for additional advice.
Whatever happens, don’t worry!
Every child is different. Yours may simply love their bottle so much that they just find it hard to let go… 😉
