Transition from Bottle to Cup with Special Circumstances

Updated on July 13, 2009
C.K. asks from Worcester, MA
11 answers

Hi
I know there have been several requests for ideas on how to transition a child from bottle to cup but looking for more suggestions from any moms with kids with allergies that need to stay on a hypo allergenic formula for nutritional needs. We use Neocate. My 21 month old has been on a bottle for formula since she was 8 months old. Before that she was breastfed (with me on multiple food restrictions) and bottle fed expressed milk and some formula. She is allergic to milk and soy (as well as some other foods) so she is on Neocate formula and needs to stay on it since she can't get all her nutrition, especially calcium, from other sources like milk or yogurt.

We tried to go to cups a couple weeks ago but I caved and gave her back her bottles after 3 1/2 days of NO formula. Two weeks ago I started to talk to her and let her know we would soon give up her bottles. She says No! Last Friday the bottle fairy came and took away all the bottles and left a couple new cups. We have tried cups with sports bottle tops, straws, regular sippy cups that she has always used for water and juice - All no go! Since last Friday she has had a total of about 3 oz of formula. I don't want to cave in again but don't know how to get her to drink her formula. Anyone else had an allergic child that needs to drink formula but just won't out of anything but a bottle? We go to the allergist on Monday for my older daughter so I'll talk to them then but was looking for some mom advice before then.

Thanks so much
C.

1 mom found this helpful

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.B.

answers from Boston on

Hi there,

We used the Nuby sippy cups which are a great transitional cup because they have a silicone nipple, which is bottle-like. After using that for a few months we were able to transition to the hard top sippys. Give it a whirl.

Good luck!

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.I.

answers from Boston on

Hi.
My son has been on neocate since he was 3mo (supplementing bf with me on a restricted diet till I cracked at 6mo) and he is 3.5yrs now. He's allergic to dairy, soy,wheat, eggs, seeds, nuts and numerous other things.
He was on the neocate bottle till almost 3yrs. He wouldn't drink it in a sippy cup so was losing required nutrients. Instead of fighting it we just kept the bottle.
I know that sounds like a long time, but one thing a nutritionist told me was that because he has so many issues around food, it is best to keep all behavior and attitudes as mellow as possible. He doesn't need more stress around food and should be comfortable around what he needs.
Part of the story is that he was at a school that didn't use sippy cups and went straight to regular cups from 6mo on. So he was already use to regular cups for water, juice, etc.
We transitioned him more and more to cups of formula during the day, losing the last before-bed bottle around 3yrs. We did the bottle fairy story then too. It is easier to negotiate with them when they are a little older. 20mo is a difficult time no matter what!
I'd try transitioning other drinks to regular cups first, then work on the formula. We still used a sippy cup to shake up the formula, but then mostly take the top off. If he wants the lid on his formula we let him and it makes his formula special and maybe more comforting.
What ever you do, try to keep it low-key. There will be many more challenging food situations to come so best to start from a relaxed place.
Maybe this was a little vague, but hopefully it gives you some ideas.
Happy to share alllergy challenge stories any time if you want.
S.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.H.

answers from Boston on

Have you tried giving formula to her out of a sippy with a straw? or out of a regular adult cup with just a little bit in it? It might be messy (I'd suggest using a plastic cup) My DS has allergies as well -- one thing our pedi suggested when he didn't want cups was to practice with the little plastic measuring cups that come on medications like benadryl with water -- in the tub first to get him used to a cup. Now he can have regular cups with small amounts in them at the table. HTH - email me if you'd like

A

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.M.

answers from Boston on

My daughter is 21 months as well and still won't give up her night time bottle. We use the born free bottles and they have different stages of nipples. We just increased her from level 1 to 2 to 3 and then to the Y-shaped sippy cup tip and that's working just fine! So she's getting the milk from the bottle she's used to but with a sippy cup tip!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.C.

answers from Hartford on

I'm afraid I can't help with the sippy cup issue. However, in the meanwhile, why not make her a blended pudding out of a leafy green (like kale) to give her calcium. I just tried this with my son (13 mo old) and he loved it!! I just stuck an avocado and a few chopped up leaves of kale in a blender with half a pear to sweeten it up and blended it until it was smooth with tiny flecks of green. If you wanted to make it tangy you could add the juice from half a lemon.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.R.

answers from Lewiston on

Hi C.-
My daughter did not have special circumstances but I may have an idea to get her drinking. To get my daughter transitioned to a cup I found a sippy cup at walmart by NUBY that has a tall rubber spout in the middle of the cap. This help us and I thought it may help you.
K.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.M.

answers from Boston on

Go easy on yourself. If she loves the bottle, what's the harm. I have the same issue with my 33 month old. She will drink everything in a cup except her milk must be in the bottle.
Check with your pediatrician. Ours has no problem with her continuing on the bottle, provided she is not walking around with it.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.N.

answers from Hartford on

I would ask ped. what to do maybe. Or maybe take a break from cups for a few weeks to let the issue rest for a while and then do a gradual introduction. Maybe just do one 10 oz bottle at night to make sure she is getting a minimum amount of nutrition? and the rest could be cups? I bet if you give you and your daughter a rest from the issue it will be easier and won't become a power issue. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.K.

answers from Springfield on

Check w/ your ped first but I don't see why she can't have hemp or rice milk they are both enriched w/ calcium and vitamin D my son is allergic to soy and milk along w/ other food allergies and he does very well w/ them. I suggest a nutritionist they are very helpful plus they can tell you places they have learned that have food your child can eat.

I found that its easiest to make the switch from bottle to cup by just tossing the bottles our ped said our son wouldn't dehydrate himself and that when he was really thristy he would drink out of the cup. He was cranky for a few days but forgot about them quickly.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.S.

answers from New London on

I wouldn't worry about it. If she needs the formula for a while longer just give it to her in a bottle. There is nothing wrong with it. We gave up bottles at 23 months, it wasn't a big deal. Just one day he drank milk out of a sippy cup and it was fine. You could try giving her formula flavored with something yummy like chocolate or strawberry in a sippy cup so that she thinks it is a new drink and then slowly take out the flavors. Or just leave them in. Another trick is add ice to the formula, my son loves when he gets his milk ice cold with ice. Good luck, but I say this isn't a big deal. She still knows how to drink out of cups and sippy cups and that is what counts. :)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.G.

answers from Lewiston on

have yoy tried just an open cup? I transitioned mine at about a year to the cup...and from about six months gave them a cup with milk in it... you have to stand your gropund with the cup.. don't give her a choice a cup with formula or nothingto drink she will cave :) hang in there.. I'm not saying let her dehydrate though... I don't think she will .. I think she will take what she can have vs.. what isn;t there to have is all... but i think the open cup wiull work..

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches