He will drink from a bottle, but he doesn't get the concept of lifting it up at an angle to get the drink out, so when he tries to drink from it, he just gets air. So, the only way I can get him to drink is to lay him down. And as for a cup, he won't take it. He doesn't want it. I know he knows how to use it because when I drink from a glass and he is on my lap, he tries to hold the glass and gives me sips out of it. That part is really cute, but the fact that he won't do it for himself is starting to drive me nuts. I told the pediatrician and he says I am making things too easy for him and I should just leave a sippy cup infront of him and leave. Well, that doesn't work since he likes to throw it. What do I do? I know it's my fault because I haven't been consistant with him in the begining, so now he is set in his ways.
Thanks for the advice all! II'll try it. Dawn, yeah he only drinks lying down. Most of the time he likes entertainment while doing so. Like he will pick up one of his books and thumb through it or will pick up one of his toys and play with it while he drinks.
I'm a little late in my response and you've gotten some good suggestions. I just wanted to add that my son wouldn't drink from the ones that are spill proof because you have to suck too hard. He only likes the take n toss brand ones (which are like $3 for 4 cups) which you can get at Target or Walmart. They are cheap, so they might be worth a try. Good luck!
Get rid of bottles and keep offering him a cup/sippy...he will get there...
My daughter is also 16 months and just started really using the sippy cup in the last month even though I have been putting it in front of her for months ( at least 4 or 5). You could try different types of cups--my daughter likes the nubby ones and her brother liked take and toss ones and straw cups. also my daughter is a thrower as well (throw was her second word!). I got a "bottle leash" (a cord with velvro on both ends that holds the bottle or cup). It was definitely worth the money (about $5) and has saved me so much aggrivation!
I would not stress because it is taking your son a while. I never took the bottle away from my 4 year old and he gave it up gradually. We just did milk only in the bottle and everything else in a sipppy cup.
My daughter didn't want to give up her bottles either. After trying just about every sippy cup out there, we tried the Tupperware bell tumblers http://order.tupperware.com/coe/app/tup_show_item.show_it... The lids do not have a valve which makes them easier to drink from. They aren't completely leak proof, but the liquid doesn't just pour out either. It usually just slowly drips out. Tupperware also has cups that have lids for straws that mostly leak proof also. They are the Tupperware Impressions tumblers http://order.tupperware.com/pls/htprod_www/tup_show_item....
Your son will only drink from a bottle lying down? You need to get him to learn to drink sitting up to start with, out of a bottle or a cup. Smaller/shorter cups filled up do not have to be tipped back as far, so maybe try that. After he's mastered how to drink sitting up or standing you can move on to the next type of cup. Nubby brand of sippy cups have a silicone soft top so they are more bottle like than those with the harder plastic tops (and they are inexpensive). Once he's got the hang of that, you can move on to something a little more rigid and then sooner than you know it he'll have the cup mastered! Good luck!!
K.,
He may not be developmentally there. Don't blame yourself. Don't blame him. Just work with it. My son used a cup very early - but he wasn't consistent. Neither was I. I also wasn't concerned about getting him off the 'bottle' until 2.5 when it (according do some sources but not others) has the chance of causing dental issues (what the real deal is, I don't know but I cut it out just before his last molars finished coming in - which is when I figure stuff is done moving around in his mouth).
A cup takes a little finesse. There's a little story about 'Big Anthony' and while the whole story isn't about a cup, a little part is, and I can't help thinking 'they blamed the little boy for not 'paying attention' at what appeared to be a young age.'
Your little guy may not have the eye-hand-mouth coordination to do it yet.
Just keep trying, and maybe try sitting next to him, so he can see the liquid in your glass as it gets closer to your mouth.
I talk to my son through most if not all the new things we try, and I break things down step by step for him. Usually he gets it. : )
Lift up your cup,
touch your bottom lip with this part (point)
set it in your lip,
lift it until you see some water coming in
enjoy!
Just an example. He'll get it.
It's like feeding a child by hand - some cultures do this for a long time - and pediatricians here get antsy because they want 'certain milestones' to be hit on target or whatever. The child will not go hungry because he's been hand fed and can't figure out how to use a fork and knife. Most babies will eventually use a cup. It'll just take a bit.
If he's tossing the sippy though, you might consider one that (if you haven't already) doesn't involve suction to get the liquid out.
Good luck!
M.
I would follow the ped's advice with one small twist. Sit with him, with your own cup, and when he tries to drink from his, say, "Tip the cup up", and do so yourself. See if you can get him to mimic you. Also, tip the cup back for him, just a little so he gets a sip, and then let go and see if he will do it for himself. When he gets this down, you can then go onto the tilt your head back - for that last little bit. I think just encouraging him slowly and being consistent, he will get it. Good luck.
Get rid of the bottles! Put them up and dont ever get them back out! Set a sippy right there and let him use it when he is thirsty he will ise them! Don't worry about a regular cup until you get him off the bottle completly. Us the sippy when you take him to the park and driving in the car. Hope all works out... Good luck :)
My first instinct is to ask how many different kinds of sippy cups you have tried?
We had to find several before we found the one that our son loved - it was completely different for our daughter who hated that brand and took to other ones. It gets a little pricey, but once you find a good one, get a few of them.
If you give him the choice of a bottle vs. a cup, he'll take what's familiar and easy each time. Neither of our kids liked sippy cups before they were forced to use them at 12 months when we took the bottles away completely.
The other recommendation is to go to Walmart and get a pack of straws (100 for $1.99) and let him use a straw with a cup as well. Personally, the sippy cups are a TON easier because of the spill factor.
Good luck!
Hi K.
Please don't get yourself all crazy about this. Some kids do well with the sippy cup concept right away and some kids take longer....just the same as every other aspect of growth and development.
My daughter is 2 years and 4 months and she has finally begun to use the sippy cup without reservation as of turning 2.
I am a big believer of "pick your battles" and also in letting your child "tell" you when they are ready for things.
When the sippy cup did not work "when the books said to change her over", I went back to the bottle. A month later we gave it another try and when it didn't work, we gave her the bottle again and tried another time... and so on.
Just remember that you do not see children at 5 and 6 on the bottle or a sippy for that matter. It is a learned skill that needs to be learned at the child's pace....and your son will "get it" but when he is more ready.
I think your pediatrician is ridiculous bc some kids will literally dehydrate themselves before they will take the sippy.
If it doesn't work, it doesn't work.
Stop stressing...give your son his bottle and just keep trying.
I found the entire process of bottles, binky, sippy etc to go so much smoother for my daughter when we went at her pace.
Her teeth are straight, her bite is fine so using these things longer than the textbook says didn't hurt her in the least.
And I do believe it has made her a more content and happy child bc she was able to change and develop when she was ready to....things were not forced upon her.
Heck, life is too stressful as it is....your child will have to deal with so many changes and disruptions in his life....Let these young years be as stress free as possible......
And Mom, you relax too. You are doing a great job and good for you that you are concerned enough not to listen to your Dr's advice.
That's silly!
there are many cups that are 'inbetween' but I agree with Ashley, GET RID OF THE BOTTLES - just like pacifiers, they need to be GONE especially after baby turns one. My ped-dentist gave us a really simple, old-fashioned-type tippy cup, with just 3 holes.. baby has to learn. GOOD LUCK!
OH and how about sitting him in the chair/lap and being his arm.. Put your hand OVER his hand on the cup and lift. Keep practicing the motions until he gets it. Put some stickers on the cup so he feels its his special thing ;)
Hi K., Maybe your son is not ready for a sippy cup. Wait a while and try again some other time. There is no time line on when children do things. He is his own person and will do it when he is ready. My best, Grandma Mary
How about a straw sippie cup?
Your pediatrician is correct. Only leave out a sippy cup- my son loved the ones with the straws b/c he didn't have to tip it, which usually resulted in him falling over.
If he's thirsty, he'll drink out of the cup. Put the bottles away completely so that neither of you are tempted. At his age, continuing to drink from a bottle has the potential to impact his speech/articulation development, so get rid of them ASAP!
