When to Stop Using Sippy Cups?

Hi J.
My daughter is three and a half years old and she still takes her cup to bed. What we did is we got rid of the kiddy sippy cups and got her water bottles. You know ones that you can continue to refill. She loves water and I did not want to take that from her. She drinks out of a real cup for meals but when we are out around town or when she goes to bed we put it in her water bottle. It is still leak proof but more grown up if you will. You can find them at Wal-Mart. Hope this helps.
L.

I have a friend that has a daughter that would use sippy cups on & off up until kindergarten. There is (in my opinion) nothing wrong with it, and I get really annoyed with the older generation that think their way is best. First of all what kind of sippy cups do you have? If you want to start weaning him off of them, I'd maybe try to switch which kind you use (like to the toss-away ones with lids) and/or take out the little stopper in the ones you have, and/or try sports bottles (like on water bottles). Maybe giving him a variety of different sippy cups will wean him off of the ONE particular kind of sippy cup he uses (and this wouldn't then be a bad idea for your daughter either). My daughter is attached to a mole on my collarbone - be thankful your sons attachment is not attached to you!! Good Luck!

Although my first reaction was that he is too old, I do agree with Ethel that perhaps if you just back off and let him have his little securities, they will pass on their own. If he is only doing it at home then really, it isn't a big deal. My twins are 2 1/2 and my older son is 5, the only time we use sippies is at bed times (nap and night) which then they only have water in them, which rarely is touched by morning so it is a security object. Perhaps if you limit it just to bed time and let him pick out some cool big boy cups, like some of the straw cups they sell with characters on them and encourage the use of those at meals. All of mine use open top cups at meals and during the day. My older son takes a straw cup or open top cup to bed, it sits on his night stand and he rarely drinks it.

I liked the suggestion to perhaps switch the type you are using. I would make sure it has the harder plastic spout so they can't nurse on it or carry it in their teeth. Taking the valves out will kind of ruin the sucking effect for them so that might make a difference also. I babysit for a 5 year old who started kindergarten and that is all he uses at home, even after almost a year with me he still has a very hard time with an open top cup at my house, and thus I would assume at school. If we go anywhere we bring sports bottles with ice water. I never serve milk or juice out of a sippy, even for my not quite 2 year old daycare girl, she only gets open cups with milk and juice at meals and does somewhat well with them but like her brother, only gets sippies at home so it is a tough battle!

I think the fact that he has overcome the need for it at your mom's house says a lot. Clearly there is a power struggle that he is choosing to have with you, thus perhaps letting it go and not making mention of it at all could take that struggle away. What if you make him totally responsible for the sippy: he has to fill it at night, put it in the dishwasher in the morning etc, then if it isn't done, he either doesnt get one if he doesnt fill it, and if he doesnt load it, then it goes away at which point they would slowly all go away but it is all in his hands as it was his responsibility?

M.

My daughter turned 4 in August. She still uses a sippy cup at nap time and at bed time with warm milk. Throughout the day she uses cups with straws, etc.
I too have questioned myself, at her age is she too old to still be drinking sippies ? Well, I beleive as a society we try to push our kids that they should be doing this/that at certain ages, and when it isnt what "society" thinks it should be, that we need to change things. Well, I feel that is wrong. Honestly, if he is 4 and drinks from a sippy at bedtime or night-time, what is it hurting ? It isnt hurting him, it isnt hurting you, it isnt hurting anyone. He likes it and it makes him feel secure. It is not like a bottle that he keeps in his mouth, so you dont have to worry about it harming his teeth. So, just let him do it for until he is ready to stop.
Hope this helps.

I am not sure how much help I can be seeing as my 2 and 3 yr old still drink out of a sippy! Now my son use to be really adicted to the sippy but he had milk in it so I broke him from milk to water and noe he rarely drinks it at night but its there if he is thirsty. Now I also know he is actaully close to 3 1/2 and really doesn't need it but his sister needs it a bit more and if he has a cup she wants one also! I myself am not sure what to do cause they both just get water at night and I am told by docotrs that only water should be given in sippy cups so thats what I think I need to do. Well good luck message me back if you conquer this before me.

Hi J.. I have a 4 year old daughter and a 2 year old son. When they wake up in the morning they get sippy cups with warm milk while I am hopping in the shower. I had to stop giving them at night because Emma would wet the bed if she had it too close to bed time. It was a battle for sure, but they finally got used to it. I say pick your battles. If the sippy cup isn't hurting you and it's not hurting him, then what's the real problem. I agree that sometimes as a society we try to push our kids a little too fast. And we all know that Mother's always have the best intentions, but not the always the best advice. Do what's best for you and your child. If sippy cups help him get through the day a little easier, then what's the real harm?

My daughter has been using regular cups since 9 months old(she attends a montessori and they do not endorse sippy cups. Maybe you should try giving your daughter a regular cup. Of course only at the table but maybe that would help your son with his attachment. Just a suggestion.

Try making the sippy cup the bad guy. Sabatoge works well. Or have a ceremony to say good-bye to all sippy cups. Your one year old does not have to transition to a sippy cup. Getting off the bottle around 1 is excellent. Try those cups that have the straw that pops up when you twist the lid. Much better. I say all this cuz I am a Speech Therapist.
Just like the bottle, get them off pacifiers early too. Or only use it to soothe at bedtime.

Unless there are health concerns or him being teased by other children, I wouldn't put much emphases on his sippy cup.
Children already are being forced to grow up to fast in todays hectic world, I would enjoy his small little needs and let him decide when to let go of his sippy cup, also my oldest which is now 20 had his sippy cup till he was 6yrs and he decided on his own one day to use a regular cup so I never was worried about what other people thought, I just kept my children in focus and let them be little as long as they needed, my husband was very happy with our home life in which I wanted our lives to be a warm family enriching experience from diapers to adult hood, and my son is now a secure strong wonderful young man, they do grow up and will have better lives with a full child hood experience.
I hope all go's well for your young family.

I took my 1st daughter off of sippy cups around 2, then when my 2nd daughter starting using one, she wanted her's back! It is partialy an attention thing (one is getting something different)so they feel that if they both have it, they are equal...my 2nd daughter has been off of sippy cups since before 2. I like sippy cups because they are spill proof. My girls are 4 and 2 and I still use sippy cups at times. I don't like cleaning spilt juice or milk...I have always felt strongly about sippy cups. I would wait a little while longer. They always act differently with parents and grandparents, if you know what I mean.

My daughter just turned four and she still uses sippy cups. We are trying to work on her using big cups and she isn't attached to her sippy cup, but I honestly am not ready for the mess of a big cup. I woul try letting him pick out some cool new cups just for him to use and get him excited about it. Start setting rules with his sippy cup as well, like he has to set it on the table and can;t lay down with it. When he goes to bed at night allow him to have his water in one, but make him leave it on the dresser or night stand not in bed with him. Just start introducing the new cups and wan him slowly. My got to pick out cool new cups from the disney store and loves sing them. You could also have him use the cups with straws versus the traditional top. I would do that and tell him his cups are ruined so it's time to buy new ones.

My son who is now 3 1/2 stopped using a sippy cup around 2 1/2. I would constantly try to introduce him to teh straw kind of sippy cups and then to the glass each transition getting rid of the last sippy cup. What your son is doing to you sounds very familiar to what my son does to me in regards to playing with toys and even going to bed... I think a larger issue with your son is him showing out and getting the best of you. I only think this beacause he is good at his grandmas house as is my son who does often walk all over me. Your idea to get rid of the sippy cup and make him involved is a good one. I often do this with my son and his toys... he knows where they went and he knows he can't have them back. It will not be easy and it might take a week for him to get past it... you could try substituting bedtime stories, a blankie, or maybe a stuffed animal who has also "lost his sippy cup."
I rally belive that kids know alot more than we think they knoww hen they have reached this age... it's seems it's just a matter of communicationg with them on thier level and making them understand that you know what is going on. Best of luck to you... Please keep me updated on his progress.