Here is my dilemma...My daughter is turning one and I will be switching to milk from formula. I want to wean her off of the bottle, too. But she has NEVER held her bottle and won't hold a cup, either. I have given her water from a sippy cup and she will drink a little bit while I hold it to her mouth. She loves to feed herself food such as Cheerios, but shows no interest in holding a cup, just like she has never held her bottle. Any ideas? Thanks in advance!
try using a sippy cup with handles.
Usually at this age they can hold a cup or bottle on their own already.
You said she can pick up cheerios to feed herself. Can she pick up her own toys or other things? Is it just the bottle/cup that she "won't" pick up herself?
I used to just leave the sippy cups out and about wherever my kids were... so they get used to it. And they would then, at-will pick it up and drink from it.
How does she get a drink while she's snacking? Do you have to offer it to her? Maybe just leave the cup out while she's having her Cheerios and see what she does. When I switched, I used the Nuby Sports Sipper cups because the "spouts" on the cups were soft and long, similar to nipples. DS had no objections, and he never held his own bottles either.
I would just see what she does if you leave her access to it while she's snacking, but don't try to help her. She may surprise you.
My son loved (loves) to play "cheers" with us. We cheer him with our drink and he cheers back with his sippy. We made it a fun game for him! -- just to clarify - that is a NON - alcoholic drink (after reading this it sounded a bit funny!)
I had the same problem, and my daughter would not tip her head back to drink. I used the disposable sippy cups with straws. The cups are made by some company with "years" in the name, usually found at toys r us, sometimes wal mart and target. They are great even now for my six year old to take in the car, and if one gets lost or destroyed, no tears.
Okay. First, your soon to be 12 month old does NOT need occupational therapy. None of my daughters held their own sippy cup at 12 months. My youngest is 13+ months and she is starting to hold her own sippy cup, but still hasn't figured out how to tip her head back far enough to drink from it if it is not completely full. I am not worried. Why? Because she will eventually get it as she uses it more.
My two older daughters eventually figured it out in their own time and now at 2 and 4 are pros with sippies, use straws, and drink from regular cups. I could not tell you at what age they finally figured out sippy cups, but I can say it was when they figured out they wouldn't fall backwards when they tipped their heads back when sitting. Then when they got better balance while standing and walking they figured out they would not fall drinking from sippy cups and tilting their heads.
Each child is different. Let your daughter play with the sippy cup and get used to the weight of it when there is milk in it. I started out with the sippies with handles. That seems to help. I also use sippies that are smaller around without handles so that their little hands can reach around them comfortably. Get a couple of designs and see what works best for your daughter...and give her time. She will figure it out eventually!
She isn't ready- what is the rush?
Please read WestonPrice aboutmilk.
Best, k
Neither of our children wanted anything to do with a sippy cup prior to us going cold turkey with their bottles on their first birthdays.
Both did hold bottles, though, so I don't know how to advise you.
Normally, I just say go cold turkey and tell them there are no more bottles.
In some cases, you may have to use a cup and straw, but I'd not cave in - it's usually the best way for them to learn.
My daughter had a hard time moving to a bottle from breastfeeding - she just didn't want to. When we tried a sippy cup, with water and juice first, she was fine. However, milk was and still is another story. She LOVES her milk but not from a sippy cup. I figure that even despite all the things people will say, it's not the end of the world for her to still use her bottle for a while longer. She is only 19 months old, not like she is in Kindergarten with it - LOL!
I would try the sippy cups with handles and maybe ask her to have a drink when you do - like a game - "let's get a drink together". Also, another idea - you said she likes Cheerios - there are snack cups with handles for suck things like Cheerios and goldfish. The top has slits in it so the snack won't spill all over the place - but the children can still get to it. Maybe try some of those. My daughter likes to use hers to feed herself and also has one that she plays with in her kitchen and the tub. It might get your daughter used to holding a cup.
Good Luck! Don't stress - I have heard that if the cup is offered and nothing else, they will drink when they get thirsty. Maybe that is what I need to try with my own :>)
Maybe she can't get her hands to midline. I would definatley have her evaluated by an occupational therapist. Holding one's own cup or bottle and naturally becoming more independant is the "occupation" of childhood. If a toddler is NOT doing that then there is concern.
