Sipy Cups

My daughter never liked sippy cups, so she learned at around 9 months to drink frmo a straw. Nuby makes a great toddler cup that has 2 handles that they can hold and a straw. They sort of have to bite the straw to get anything out (it's like a valve) that way is it pretty spill proof. I love these cups!!

I completely skipped sippy cups and went straight to the straw - try that, it might make life easier for you.

N.,

Once in a while use a regular cup that you have to hold and talk out what you are doing, such as "Okay, so here comes the water and I need to lift up the cup so more can come."
You can also give her a little bit of water in a regular cup and let her experiment (that means it will probably end up on the floor or on her, so make sure it's only a little bit!)

I am not a big fan of the sippy cup and just let my children use straws. My older son transitioned from straws to the regular cup.

Good luck,
F.

Hi N.:
First, congrats,on making the choice to stay home.In these hard times, its considered a luxury!You will look back years from now,and be so happy you did. I feel fortunate,that I was able to SAH. Your daughter,is at the age, where all she wants to do is please you. She wants you to see,and acknowledge her achievments.She will get frustrated at times,when she can't seem to grasp something quick enough.When she gets frustrated enough, its alot easier to just let mommy do it.What I would do, is get a second sippy cup,and while she has hers,sit across from her and show her how its done.Visual,is so much easier for them to understand,and she will enjoy copying you, tackling it,and the ultimate prize...Your praise for her efforts in learning.I wish you and your daughter the best. Time spent together. (Priceless.)

She'll get it, but at this point, I'd skip the sippy cups and give her a cup w/a straw.

M.

sounds like the result of a healthily breastfed baby. :) all I can say is to hang in there an eventually she'll get the hang of it. we transitioned my now 7 y/o from breastfeeding to bottlefeeding/sippy cups with breastmilk at 10 months. I remember that at 15 months we still couldn't get her to hold her own bottle/cup.

but believe me, she is as independant as ever now.

I used sippy cups with straws that pop up. They are the easiest for our kids, since they don't have to tip them up. They can be a challenge to get really clean, but if you rinse them right away, you can put them in the dishwasher.

Congrats on making it work to stay home with your little one. It's great isn't it? (Except when it isn't. LOL)

As a baby matures and they get more coordination, they will be able to do it and tilt the bottle. Until then, yes, they need assistance and learning how to do it until it becomes instinctual. They are just learning so many new skills now...

You can also try and teach her baby sign language... that way a child can "tell" the Parent what they want....thus, less frustration for all. Their is a sign language for "more", which my children, at that age, really made good use of!

And as the previous poster said, straw cups are great because they can just drink on their own without having to tilt the bottle to drink.

Good luck,
~Susan