Drinking from Sippy Cups

I think it's just a phase. I would give her the sippy cup more than once a day and make that her drink. If she discovers that's all she's getting, and if the sippy becomes more constant in her life I don't think she will play with whats inside as much

Hi J.,
I don't recall my son doing that, but my daughter (now 13 months) did and occasionally still does. When she is thirsty, she drinks her milk, but when she wants to play or get attention, she will do it. This is not often, maybe 2 times a month. Don't worry. Just make sure she has a bib on :)
Congrats on the new baby!
K.

Hi J., Congratulations! Now for your problem with the little one.....babies do all sorts of things while they are exploring their environment, to see how their body works, and as they are trying to gain control as they move from one phase to another. So while that may be some of the reason why she is doing what she is doing, you still need to solve the problem. I don't think she will grow out of it...or atleast not soon...so it is probably best to treat the situation on a day by day basis. Each day re-enforcing the right way to drink the drink with no spitting. Also exposure to a couple other children who don't have the habit might help, but that works better when they're older. Please know that I'm not talking about conformity when I say that, just learned good manners. Try to make fun songs or games to practice swallowing. She already has down the sipping part , she just needs to work on consistent swallowing. Sorry this is so long. Best of luck to all of you.
I'm sure she'll be fine, and be a great big sister!
W.

End the habit! Enforce discipline when she opens her mouth full of liquid! Then you won't have to worry about starting milk. Otherwise, you will. She'll do whatever she's allowed to do. Yes, she'll outgrow it eventually, but who wants to wait? Help her out! Teach her now! One game we play is, we make the kids behave at home as if we were in a restaurant, for at least one meal-usually dinner. Even our 7 month old has to sit quietly while we eat even if he isn't having his meal at that time. It's a good time to address all the toddler eating taboos and makes it easier to enforce boundaries when we do go out. Good luck!

My twins did that when I first introduced sippy cups to them. I think they thought it was a toy. The habit will go away - when she's thirsty she'll drink!

congrats on the new one to be. my son does the same thing and it is very annoying. he is one years old. when he is really thirsty he does not do this. when he does this i take the cup from him and tell him that is not good. try different cups also. i like the playtex cups they do not have as many leak issues.

Hi J., I remember how excited I was when it was almost time to start switching to milk :) My daughter also played a little when she started using cups. I tried not to make a big deal about it. When she was in her high chair with a bib on I didn't mind it as much as when she was without a bib... but I usually just said something like "Emma cups are for drinking" and then I would take the cup away for a little while. As with all new foods /eating and drinking items, she enjoys playing with them (she sometimes puts her fork in her hair, moves everything from her tray to the table and back, mushes foods with her fingers to see how they feel or break, holds food up to her eyes or nose (i think because she knows it makes people laugh). But they are all things that are helping her learn and have fun too, even if they make a mess sometimes. Playing with her drink was a habit that I was a little more strict about and I think it only lasted a few weeks.

I never breastbfed my kids , but I run a daycare out of my home and i have seen it all. The ont thing that I have tried and it really seemed to work is to give her something she is familiar with in the cup. For example, if she likes applesauce, give her apple juice. If you have the ability to pump, may put the breasemilk in the cup. Doing this she will have the milk she is familiar and comfortable with, that might give her the "safe" feeling from the cup. In my experience I have found that at young ages most infants and toddlers find comfort and safety in their cup, bottle or breast. Maybe if you slowly introduce he cup she will adjust to it better. I know with my own children I first introduced the cup with their formula in it. This way they were familiar with the formula and that made the cup comfortable because they were familiar with what was in it. Good luck!!

My son did exactly the same thing. It took several "no!" attempts, but I think he just grew out of it. Good luck.

I wouldn't worry about it. My 5 year old daughter never took a bottle and did the same thing when I introduced a sippy cup. She just had to get used to it. I just cleaned her up didn't make a big deal of it and she stopped. Hope that helps.

be sure to warm up the water and milk when you put it in the sippy cup....she may be more apt to take to it.

Take a deep breath and let go of the worrying. Most of the dairy needs in your daughter's life can be filled with dietary items like yogurt and cheese. Also, it is normal for an 11 month old to let the fluid just flow down their chins and chests. For some reason, it seems to give them profound pleasure to do so (I'm basing that on my three children and my nephew). They do outgrow this a little and will drink when they are thirsty. My 11 month old prefers the straw to anything else. When he is thirsty, he will chug down the fluid through the straw. When he is only a little thirsty, he drinks a little and then lets it run down his chin and chest and laughs.

They do outgrow this stage. And she will drink when she is thirsty.

Anyhow, hope this helps. Good luck.