14 Month Old with Negative Change in Behavior

Try the playtex soft tip sippy cups. That's eventually what helped us. We also got smoothies one time when my in-laws were over and we sucked some up into the straw and gave my twin sons (who are now 18 months) a taste of it. That taught them really fast how to drink through a straw!

Hi, I would suggest trying different sippy cups. Just buy one of a few different brands until you find the one he likes best. My son used Avent bottles when I stopped nursing him, so naturally I tried Avent sippy cups and he didn't take to them at all. I also tried a Gerber cup and he didn't like that either. Finally a friend suggested a sippy cup by "Nuby" which can be found at Walmart and my son loved it. It was only about $2. The nipple is softer than other sippy cups so it was kind of an easier transition for him I think. Also try not to force the cup. When its time for him to drink something pour a little in both his bottle and the sippy cup and offer both. Once I found the cup that my son like using I had no problem getting rid of his bottles! At first he would use the cup in the daytime, but his bedtime milk went in a bottle. After about 3 days I was able to completly get rid of his bottles and we've been bottle free since! He was 11 months when he stopped usind a bottle.

Definitely try different sippy cups with him. I found that some of the sippy cups, especially the ones advertised as no spill, really require a lot of sucking to get the liquid out. We tried the Advent Magic cups at first because my little guy was using the Advent bottles and it was a no go but he will drink out of them now. I tried the Nuby (which I always had problems with leaking from) and the Gerbers. Finally I was in Toys R' Us one day and they had these take & toss type cups with Spongebob on them that had a wider mouth (I think they are Munchkin brand). I bought them and my guy finally found a cup he liked. Now he'll drink out of any sippy cup and even drinks out of straws but in the beginning I think you have to find one that is easy for them to get the liquid out of.

my daughter was weened to a sippy at 9 months and she never even knew it we bought the cups with the silcon nipples baby feels like they are drinking from a bottle but they are actually being trained how a sippy cup feels in the mouth. from time time give him the regular sippy and see if he takes it once he does start fazeing out the soft nipple sippy. as for his behavior its just the change from bottle to sippy once he gets used to it he will become his happy self again

I think they do start to get frustrated at this age because thoughts and comprehension surpass ability to speak. I also find my guy (15 months) is more tempermental when he's not sleeping as well, or we're on the run a lot. About the sippy.. what you're doing sounds good, but don't 'try' not to give it to him... never ever give in. They remember it forever and you'll have a harder time. If you've been giving in, I'd go to giving him the sippy at one or two meals, don't give in, then proceed to the other times as he gets used to it. I know parents also try lots of different kinds of cups.

I think it's the age. My daughter used to do that. She also used to hit her head on the door if she didn't get her way.
With my kids I just handed them a cup and said here drink.
Maybe let him pick out the cup. Sorry I couldn't be much help with the cup

It sounds like he's got some frustration with communicating. It's a tough age because they know a lot more than they can express. I used baby sign language with mine. Well, mostly with my first as my second was a big talker and often learned words before signs. My first didn't really get verbal until after 18 months though. Older generations had concerns that she'd never talk, but we felt she would and she did. Once she started, she spoke in full sentences and hasn't ever had any language problems. It was extremely helpful to be able to "talk" with her before she was ready verbally. It helped us to avoid many tantrums and frustration on both ends - parent and child. There are lots of books, videos and even classes for doing signs with little ones. Basically you want to start with one basic sign that you will use frequently - like drink or eat. Then you want to use it every time you say it. At 14 months, it won't take him long to learn to associate the sign with the word and begin trying himself. The first sign takes the longest for them to make the connection. My daughter eventually had over a hundred that she used. She even made up her own which was really cool. Instead of getting frustrated, she'd act out what she was trying to tell us since she knew we used different movements of our hands and bodies to say other words/ideas. We started around 8-9 months probably, but you can teach it at any age.

Hello L.,
I have 1.5year old son (first time mom as well). Ian is moody from time to time I guess testing the boundaries : - ). The times when he was really cranky/moody etc. was specifically when he had ear infections or teething. Ear infection is just sometimes there without any other symptoms than "moodiness"...and it can be only mild ear infection without need for antibiotics but it is bothering them so if he is like that for more than a weak I would take him to a doc.
REgarding the bottle and sippy cup..I would not sweat it...Ian uses sippy cup ONLY when there is something REALLY good in it (like drinkable yogurt).We are offering it to him but we do not push too much...I would not worry about it.
Good luck.

It really sounds to me like the age. I have 3 boys and they all started that behavior between 12-18 months. They get to be a little more independent and want things their way only. I found the best thing is to ignore the tantrums as long as he is not somewhere he can hurt himself. Once he realizes that you're not paying attention he will move onto something else. As for sippy cups I would just keep offering it. My boys were breastfed and none would take a bottle or a cup before atleast 8 months old. One of mine was actually a year but I just kept offering and eventually he decided it was ok. Hope this helps and good luck.