I can empathize!! My first son was the SAME way with not holding the cup. It was at or even BEYOND a year that he didn't hold his cup until. (He went from nursing to sippy cup without doing bottles.) At the time I thought it was maybe because he hadn't had bottles, but maybe just some kids are like that. I don't think it is at all a fine motor issue. Our first son was very much a fine motor kid using silverware correctly long before he'd hold his own cup go figure. And with writing & puzzles and such, he's always been great with fine motor, and even large motor), but didn't hold his cup for the longest time. He was in day care at that point and they couldn't get him to hold his cup himself either. Somebody always held it for him. Whenever he fussed for no obvious reason, we knew he was thirsty and needed us to hold the cup for him. Didn't matter at all what kind of cup it was...we have always had a variety of different kinds to figure out if any worked better than others. Very strange, but having had a son the same way, I'd just say hang in there. He just started holding the cup finally and then could take drinks whenever he wanted to himself. My second son didn't have the issue at all. He's always been fine holding his own cup, so I think it's just an individual quirck they outgrow. :)