Cups

I would like to start by saying that you need to do whatever works for you and your family. Don't get too concerned about what grandparents or other parents say you "should do". That being said, I started giving my daughter an open cup of water at about 16 months while she was outside (this was in the spring and summer). Then, I gave her the open cup while she was in her highchair. These are both controlled environments that limit the mess. She had it down by 22. However, I will also say that her daycare required her to use a regular cup in the two year old room. So, I was glad I started early. I still give her a sippy cup if she is walking around the house with a drink or in the car. Good luck!

No...I would not worry. Sippy cups are a blessing....they mean no spills and messes...My twins are 4 and I have started giving them "big girl" cups..and I clean up a spill at least once a day....so I say Use the Sippy cups with no worry:) You are fine....
Mom to 4 wonderful kids

Hi my son will be 3 in feb and we have been sharing that whole glass thing. When we are at home sitting down to eat or in the kitchen doing something i'll give him a sippy cup without the lid or a plastic cup with a little in it we make it a treat for big boys he loves it and does very well with it.I really feel that trying stuff when it gets brought to my attenion and seeing if he does well and how it works for both of us is when i decide "when it's Time"

3 is a good age to start with regular cups. What you can do is give him only water in a small cup (those tupperware size ones are the right size!!) Don't fill it up all the way either. Only a couple of sips of water to get started and then work your way to more in the cup. Or you could try pulling the valves out of the sippy cups. He still has his cup, free flowing liquds, but you don't have the clean up!

Good luck!
S.
www.shariegraf.scent-team.com

Children need to make messes in order to learn. He really needs to be learning how to use a lidless cup.

Ah, grandparents. They mean well, but boy can they make us feel bad. My mom is forever saying things like this to me. It used to really bug me but I finally learned to let it go. If I don't want to deal with the mess of a regular cup then I won't. (And I didn't until my son was 4 either). Bottom line, you are the mom. Whatever decisions you make are the ones that go. Unless they are harming your child mentally or physically your decision is all that matters. Until other people learn to but out you will constantly hear this tyoe of thing. Grandparents will never learn to but out, so take it with a grain of salt and let it go in one ear and out the other. You are a good mom and using a sippy cup or straw until you feel that you and your child are ready is not a big deal.

well B., my son will be 3 in may and my daughter is almost 6 so i know what you mean about dreading messes! i wouldn't push the cup issue just yet. i still have my daughter drink out of cups with straws here at home. i don't think it's a big deal. got any suggestions on potty training a boy? i could really use some help!

Well, it's good to try and start some. I used the little (tiny hand friendly) dixie cups with water not full in them. In prek they should already know how if not I hate to say they use them in many and they give water. If your child isn't using them in kindergarten he'll have to know and it helps with learning there dexteriarty (I know I spelled that wrong). I still have my children use tippy cups but I know that if they go to a person's house they can handle one.

I wouldn't push your son to use a lidless cup. You could offer it at times when you are not rushing around to do anything else, and possibly just offer it with water or a clear or light colored juice at first until you can see how he handles it. Also, don't let your mother push you into doing anything that you think your children are not ready for. It's hard to tell your mother that you appreciate her advice, but to let you be the mother to your own children. When you feel like your son is ready for a lidless cup, then let him try it, but if you don't think he is yet, then don't worry about it.

Let other people take a flying leap. You do what is best for your child and you. Granted I have heard that hard sippy cups can cause teeth deformity while growing but only when chewed and constantly sucked. If he is going to preschool they actually just do little cups and they are required to drink out of them. I think he should be able to drink out of them but not that it should be a requirement. I still make my son that is 5 drink out of them when he is in my car. My daughter that is 3 still uses them most of the time when she is at the house. she only uses lidless cups when drinking after someone, at a restaurant or on rare occassion. Do what you want to do....

My oldest, now 6, and second oldest, now 3, did not use cups until about the age of 3-4. My youngest however, a boy-turned 2 years old last sept., uses a regular cup just fine. He has been in daycare for over the past year, and at his last daycare they used a normal cup almost regularly. (My older girls had been in a home daycare prior to this daycare, so they mostly used their sippy cups there.) So, at home we just switched to a cup. While out in public at restaurants and in the car we use sippy cups or cups with straws though. We also have all hardwood floors, so cleaning up spills is not that big of an issue. I have read that having kids drink from a cup in the bath at bath time is a good training tool and easy to clean up since they are already bathing. Good luck!

My daughter is almost 2 and has been using a small lidless cup for a while. However, she only does so with a small amount of liquid (less to clean up when spilled) and while eating a meal (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) at the table. Not when she is snacking around the house or when we are out. Also, she pretty much only drinks water, so the spills aren't that big of a deal. Maybe you could try it only at certain times and with certain beverages. The doller store is a great place to get small cups that are plastic, but look like grown-up glasses. Good luck! :-)

I think it's a good time to start practicing without a lid, because he won't always have a cup with a lid or straw. My daughter is 3.5 and that's all she's been drinking out of for months now. We still have a couple sippy cups for her, but we only use it when we're traveling so it doesn't spill. If you don't want mess, you can restrict cups to the table only. My daughter isn't allowed to walk around with cups, she drinks them only at the table and leaves it there when she's done.

i think its not important.some adults still use cups with lids. it keeps anything from getting in your drink and it helps with the spilling issue.