Water

I started my son off slowly. He would just get it with meals and then progressively he only got a sippy cup when he was up and about. I let the bottle become only for quiet time, like before naps and bedtime. He seemed to take to that cause he still got the comfort of the bottle when he needed it most. Eventually, it just sort of phased itself out. His doctor made a big deal because he was still getting a bottle before bedtime when he turned 2, but really what is the big difference between them sucking on a cup or a bottle. They eventually grow out of it. If you don't mind, let her pace herself.

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our ped says that water isn't necessary if they're still getting formula/breast milk, which at 10 mos i'm guessing she is. with that said, i found sippys to be a game of trial and error. we have (not exaaggerating) 5 or 6 different types of cups and now (she's 14 mos--we started introducing them around 6 mos and she didn't "get it" till she was around 10 or 11) she'll drink from all of them, but earlier it was a total guessing game. i have some friends who's kids really like the nuby ones w/ straws. if it's the water, you can always try putting breast milk or formula into it so it's something she likes/is used to drinking.

in the end, i'm guessing your ped will try to have your daughter off bottles entirely by 12 or 15 mos, so if you can get her to drink from the sippy, that's good. you could try to have her drink tiny ammounts from cups and skip the "sippy" part of it, but i'd recommend trying lots of different types of them... many are hard to drink from (i've tried all of them).

good luck!!

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Sippy cups arent often pushed until 12mos, even 15mos is ok. Relax. Tell your MIL that her suggestion is taken but you have your own ideas and your son will be just fine. My nephew is 18mos and gets one at bedtime everyday. What's the harm- really? My own was off them at 12 mos and that was fine too.

As for water drinking, a lot of kids dont like water. Do you water down juice? What about making water fun? But at 10mos I wouldnt worry about it. Offer water first, instead of juice, or water the juice down, and relax. Someday she'll drink it. My 2 year old has loved water since day 1- its just her. She drinks it at every meal, only drinking 4 oz juice (though thats the maximum kids are supposed to drink anyway) and 8-10 oz milk everyday. Everything else going in her is water. Do I expect my second one to like it so much? Impossible I think.

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Have to say I always thought people were crazy when they said to start a kid on a sippy at like 6mo. I Never did w/ either of my boys. I let them have the bottle till they were a yr old. Around 10-11 mos I would start to use the sippy at like meal times occasionally to get them used to it then at a yr old w/ just got rid of the bottles. Well almost I would let them have the bottle for naps or bedtime till they were about 13-14 mos but I still would continously offer it you know.
My 1st son did perfect w/ a reg. sippy my 2nd though was just too lazy to tip the cup up, so I got those sippy that have the straw so all he had to do was suck on it like the nurser bottles he was used to. Good Luck!

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Hi,

No, you haven't missed your window for introducing the sippy cup after all she is only 10 mos old. From what you said sounds like your doing what your suppose to be doing by introducing the cup and she is doing what she is suppose to be doing by throwing the sippy cup. I have 4 kids my oldest is 11 yrs old & my youngest is only 6mos old, and not 1 of my older kids started really drinking from a cup until they were 1yr old or more. So don't stress she'll do it when she wants whether it be now or a little later.

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Yes, relax. She will do it in her own time. She is getting plenty of liquids through her bottle and she is only 10 months old! Keep giving her the sippy cup when she is eating...if she prefers formula in it then give her a little of that until she starts using it regularly then you can start in with the water a little more. I introduced the cup around 6 months and he didn't really start using it much until he was a year or so. As long as she isn't using a bottle until she is 3 or something, it'll be fine. You might want to encourage her to try to hold her own bottle just to begin to encourage a little independence on her part.

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I would and have just let them do it at their own pace. No sense in stressing yourself out over a not that big a deal. Every kid is different and will do things at different ages. Just give her the bottle if that is how she will drink...who cares! She won't go to school using a bottle! By the time she is 4 years old, you won't even remember at what age she gave the bottle up! Good luck and enjoy your little girl while she is still a little girl!! :-)

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I'm a SAHM too. I say relax and let her do it at her own pace. It took my trio longer than what is considered "normal" to transition to sippy cups and to want to drink water but now they do both and they haven't been harmed in any way because it took a littel longer. I pretty much tuned out the questions as to why they weren't doing this or that and did what I was comfortable with and what my children were ready for.

Your little one might resist the thought of feeding on her bottle by herself at first but eventually she will want to do it on her own. All babies realize their independance sooner or later. One thing that did help me when they were ready was by putting them in their toddler chair/rockers - they would sit there and the rocker position seemed to encourage them to drink on their own.

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Hi,

Wouldn't worry about it. My sons both breastfed or breastmilk in bottle(They are 6 and almost 4). We introduced sippies way after 10 months and no problems. Maybe take a break and try again later. Hope this helps.

S.

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Just give it some time. The fact that you keep introducing her and trying it is good. She really does primarily need the milk/formula until she's at least a year (or so my pediatrician says.) I have D-3 kids: 5, S-almost 3 and S-10 months. You're not behind...just be patient...every baby is different and has a different learning style. :-)

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Water's kind of boring. You can get some 100% juice and put like a couple of tablespoons in the water for interest if you're worried about hydration. Otherwise, try a different cup. I like the Nuby ones with the super soft silicone straw. My son took to it like magic at 6-7 months or so.

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E., how delightful that your daughter has a sense of humor! Does she also model you when you drink from her sippy cup during your game? Enjoy her! ENjoy yourself! She'll drink from a cup. Maybe not today. Maybe not in another 10 months, but she will.
I often fear that everyone else knows better than I what to do for and with my children. Truth is, you have a great deal of wisdom inside you. Trust yourself. And your daughter!

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I've never heard of a kid going off to college not having mastered drinking from a cup. Relax and tell your MIL that she will drink from a cup when she's ready. She obviously doesn't want or need water right now. She's getting enough hydration with her formula or breastmilk from her bottle. She will eventually feed herself. You are doing fine and haven't done anything wrong. Have fun with your daughter. It sounds like she's a lot of fun.

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Hi E.,

I also have a 10 month old, and she is doing OK with the sippy cup. She will drink from it, but them also likes to give herself a shower with it, and occasionally share with the dog..... :) However, I was successful with giving her water with just a bit of juice in it. Maybe that will help.

I wouldn't sweat it, when little ones are ready they have a way of letting us know. Good luck and take care!!

L.

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E.,

I don't think you missed your window. Each child is ready to give up the bottle at a different time. If she as not started to get her teeth yet I would not spend a lot of time fretting over it. If she has some teeth it is time to slow down the bottle use because of tooth decay. Have you tried talking to your Doctor. He is a couple other suggestions:
Let her make a choice: Try Taking her to the store and let her pick out the sippy cup she would like to use. Kids like to be involved with choosing what they will be using.
Take her around children her own age that use sippy cups and point out how they no longer need a bottle at lunch time.
Lastly if she throws the sippy cup across the room, set it up on the counter (where she can see it)don't give it back to her til she asks for a drink. If she throws it again do the same thing. Remember never get mad to the point of raising your voice. Always speak to her in a level voice. Example: "We really should not throw things is the house so we will leave the cup here til your thirsty. She will use the sippy cup if she is really thirsty.

But I bet it is she is just not ready. We want our children to grow up so fast. My baby is now 17 years old, 6'3" tall and getting ready for college, and I wish I had to fun times back. You know your child, don't let your MIL rush the process. Enjoy you daughter.

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Ditto to the person who suggested having her drink from a regular glass. If she sees you doing it she might get excited that she gets to drink like a big girl. We don't have any sippy cups and my 11 month old drinks from glasses that we offer her when she has her meals. She is just starting to get the hang of drinking from plastic cups on her own (with a lot of spillage, of course). It is extra work but it sounds like you don't mind it if you're offering her a bottle.

Also, I've heard that you should start offering your child water when they start solids. Obviously from all the other posts that's not a do-or-die rule. But that's what I was told.

Also also, don't let your MIL get you down. She has her own set of expectations that have nothing to do with you and your daughter. Relax! Enjoy! You're doing a great job!!

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I'd try just a splash of juicy juice natural harvest in the water (the juice and the veggie drink) or the V8 fusion... just for a tad of flavor.....or the 2nd thing is ice cibes in the cup... my son loves ice cold water vs, just the water. good luck

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E.,
I agree with the other moms, 10 months might be to soon for her. She might use the bottle as comfort like most use a blanket.My oldest had his bottle till he was 2 and my younest was an older 1 but he had a blanket which he is 6 and still had that blanket. Good luck and try again in a couple months. ANd when your MIL ask if she should have a sippy say yes in a couple months.....

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I wouldn't worry about the water so much now. The best advice I ever got was to take the bottle away at a year no later than their first birthday. Then only offer a sippy cup and he will get the hang of it with in a day or two. It's amazing what they can learn when they have to. Then if your worried about water put a tiny bit of juice in the cup so it has a little flavor. Follow your instinct you know your child best.

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10 months is a great age, just enjoy her and don't let anyone steal your joy. I'm sure your heart will lead you.If she wants water she will drink it. I always put an ice cube in its more interesting.

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Definitely let her take the lead on this one. Most pediatricians say you should start weaning from the bottle around age one, but I think as long as she's weaned by age 2, she'll be fine. As to the water, from what I understand she should be getting all she needs from the breast milk and/or formula, especially since it's still cold out and she's not sweating a great deal (I assume!). A great book for feeding issues is "Child of Mine" by Ellyn Satter. It takes you through newborn, transitions to solids, up to preschool and beyond. It may be a great reference for the water question. Good luck!

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With my son we started introducing water when he was eating by sing a spoon...he thought it was the most fun thing ever and after a week or so would drink it out of a cup. Good luck!

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I don't think it's too late. Maybe she just doesn't like the sippy you offered her.My 12 month old will drink water, it's the only thing he gets in a cup, but sometimes he doesn't want it and throws it at me lol. I would advise you though not to put anything in a bottle except formula, doing that will make it harder to take it away when you are ready to stop the bottle.

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In his book "Touchpoints" Dr. Brazelton discusses this issue. he says that people shouldn't be overly concerned about whether a child will use the sippy cup or not that it is more important that they like to drink and so if a bottle works better, use it. you can keep giving the sippy and see how baby does and then give the bottle for real volumne.

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