My son who is 3 wants to ditch the sippy cup and switch to a "big boy" cup, like the one his 6 yr old sisters uses. When is the right age to toss the sippy cup? My husband says we should wait until he is 4 when we can make sure he can drink out of a regular cup without spilling it, knocking it over, making a mess, etc. I would like to hear what age you all tossed your child's sippy cup. Thanks!
Start with water at the kitchen table. Tell him when he masters that he can move on to other beverages, and see how well he does. I think that every kid moves at his own pace. Maybe he is ready, give a trial with water. It may be wet but it doesn't stain.
If your son is asking to use it, then I think you should let him try. Put only a little bit at a time until he gets better at it. Again if he is showing interest, then that probably means that he is ready. It might take some practice (and some spills), but he'll get the hang of it and he'll be happy because he will have one like his big sister! Good luck, C.!
the best time to switch is when the child is ready...sounds like your child is ready to give it a try. My son was drinking from a regular cup at age 2...but we didn't ditch the sippy, he still has a sippy in the car, the living room, on the go, etc...but at the breakfast, lunch and dinner table he uses a regular cup. You don't have to get rid of one to use the other. You can use both. :)
Once my son started showing interest, I would give him a cup in the bath and he would practice, yeah it's bath water and yeah it probably has pee in it, but honestly it's not the worst thing he'll digest in his time of exploring life. ;) I would fill the cup from the tap, but a fair share of scooped up drinks made their way. It's a perfect place to 'practice' that and the outdoor kiddy pool if warm enough. :)
My kids all decided about the same age that they no longer wanted a sippy cup! I have found that Tupperwear makes these great tumblers with lids that are almost spill proof! There is an opening for a normal size straw (not included), and they come in two sizes, so the two little boys get smaller ones and my daughter (who is 9) gets a bigger one. Yes I give them to all three kids at the table, those little brothers are just as likely to spill someone elses drink as they are to spill thier own LOL. But each child is happy since they are no longer drinking out of a "baby" cup. Good luck and if you really feel the need to use the sippy cup in the car then be the parent and set the rules for when and where your son can use a big cup and where he must use the sippy cup. But remember that sooner or later all your kids must grow, so so VERY sad but it happens to all of us =]
Hi C., all my 2 year olds in my daycare are on nomal cups, my kids were also on regular cups by 2 years, I just put maybe a ounce or 2 at a time, and I always make them sit at theie table. J. L.
Hi C.,
My daughter was 2 when we quit the sippy cups. She occassionaly uses the Nuby cups with the straw if we're traveling. Our son just turned 1 and we trained him on the Nuby cup with the straw when he was 10 months old.
Shoot, even as adults we tend to knock over a glass from time to time. I say if your son ready, let him quit the sippy cup.
Let your son use a "straw cup." You can find these at any store.
It's like a sippy cup, but with a built in straw....
There is no specific "age" to stop a sippy cup, you must go according to ability and readiness of your child.
The straw cup is also good because it does not spill all over the place.. .it has a cover with a straw sticking out of it.
My son was using a straw cup from before 1 years old. Your son should be fine using a straw cup by now. Get several and it really comes in handy... in the house, in the car, on the road, anytime.
Good luck,
Susan
My kids were on a regular cup by two and all the preschools I have ever worked at switch over at age 2.
Spills will happen but not as much as you may think. Only fill the glass 1/3 or 1/2 way so if there is a spill there isn't too much liquid. You can purchase smaller cups (tupperware has great ones). using a straw is great too. If you are very worried about spills, put a "splat mat" under his chair. When he does spill, have him help clean it up too. Save the sippy cups for car rides though.
If I recall my first was around 2 and my second only used one a few times. I had him on a cup with a straw rather than a sippy cup. They both drank water in a open cup by 3, I figure the only way they are going to get good at it is if they practice. If I was giving them juice or smoothies, they'd get a cup with a straw.
Hope that helps,
M.
