Stopping Sippie Cup Use

I went to the straw cups. I did this early on though! The Baby Whisperer Tracy Hogg says to give them a cup if they keep getting up in the middle of the night. So, I don't think you should have to take it away. Just change to the straws. They have throw away straw cups too.

J.
Helping moms stay at home!
www.livetotalwellness.com/safemommy

My son is three and half, and we recently went to the dentist and she said "no more sippy cups". So, we have stopped and when ever he asks for one, I remind him that the dentist said no, and for the most part he doesn't argue the point...sometimes having someone else tell them is better, they listen to others better. Similar to a trip on a plane recently, he didn't want to wear his seatbelt, so I asked the stewardess to tell him to wear it, and she did and he did...you might ask the dentist to tell her...

My daughter had this same issue. Or I should say - I had this same issue. :) At our house, Chloe the cup fairy came for a visit. I told my daughter that Chloe the cup fairy was coming. That there were other little girls that needed her sippy's more than her. So I got a sparkly gift bag and had HER fill it with her cups. She drew a picture for Chloe and put it in the bag. The next morning in the bag, Chloe had "taken" her cups and replaced them with small gifts for her - lipgloss, a couple books, crayons and a coloring book. She also left "fairy dust" - glitter around the bag. She loved it. She was so excited. And it worked. She only asked for her sippy once and I reminded her that Chloe had them.

The most important thing was I threw them in our big garbage can outside so I wouldn't be tempted to get them if she had a meltdown for them. I think sometimes (and I am so guilty of this) as parents, we think our children NEED something when really it's US that need it. Much easier not to fight them on it. It made our house much happier. No waking up for more water/apple juice/milk. No throwing fits because she wanted more. Happier all around. Good luck! Hope this helps.

I don't think the sippy is bad. Older kids use sports bottles, even teenagers and grownups (no mess and easy to use in the car). I also don't think it is confusing that they are not allowed in school. Nap times will end later this year so that is not much of an issue for too long. It is of course healthier to switch her to water instead of juice, but that could be told to her at the next dental appointment. If they are so comforting to her, let her keep them for home (perhaps daytime use only, if you want to break the habit) with water. If she rejects it with water then it is her decision to get rid of it, not yours. When something becomes her "choice" then it is much easier for her to accept. Her road to becoming a big girl, like at school. Kids do act different at school then at home.

Are thermoses with straws allowed at preschool? I really like a Hello Kitty one I found at Target...no mess/spilling...keeps drink cold for many hours...easy to clean.
Or is the preschool ban more about eating/drinking schedule than possible spills?
I am sort of lost as to their reasoning. Little kids need a way to self sooth...actually we all do. Glad they allow the dog.
I would kick the sugar habit though...I use weak herbal tea or water for my daughter.

Maybe she won't have a hard time with it. If she is doing fine with it at school, maybe you only think it will be a problem. I just remember when it was time to get rid of bottles, pacifiers, blankets, etc. I always dreaded it thinking it was going to be the end of the world, and it usually ended up being much better than I thought. I have a four year old and I do straw cups when we are on the go and he also has a Nalgene bottle. Good Luck

What I did with my daughter to get her off the sippy was to just fill it with water then she ended up not wanting it anymore! She depended on it for everything like your daughter, give this a try it may work. Atleast you know the water wont hurt her teeth!

Hi Amy and Laura-
You don't need to cut off anything, I don't think. Your home is one environment, and school is another. There is no reason to deprive her of her comfort at home. That said, if she is tantruming at school over the sippy cup issue, better you than the teachers, so go ahead and take them away. It sounds like she is cooperative, so I think this is a non-issue.

Just keep lowering the juice content and upping the water content until she is drinking water only from her sippy cup. That will take care of the teeth issues. She'll wean herself eventually.

S.

I never had an issue with a sippy cup, but we had a pacifier. To get rid of it, I set a date. We started talking about getting rid of the bink a few days before the set date. To my surprise and amazement, my daughter wanted to throw it away herself! Since she made the decision herself, it was a smooth transition. She asked about her bink a couple of times and all I had to do was remind her and she was fine with it. I was expecting a fight. I think kids will do the exact opposite of what you expect them to do. I think by starting to talk to her about getting rid of it helped to ease the transition. She was expecting it so it wasn't a surprise. Good luck, I know it is hard. You all will survive this transition.

Personnaly, I would explain to her about no sippy cups at school, because she's a big girl and that is what is expected of big girls. At home tell her she can have a sippy cup but only with water in it. My daughter is 10, and still has a sippy cup at bedtime with water in it. Not, out of attachment to it, but because that way she has access to water during the night, without the worry of spills. (She sleep walks etc... during the night and I'm afraid water would be spilled everywhere if the water weren't in a sippy cup)

You are just the cutest mom:)It's so sweet that you are being so thoughtful and compassionate about this issue - which to most might not seem like such a big deal, but to your daughter and you it is a big deal.

I think you idea of taking the Supernanny suggestion is a good way to go. It will let your daughter be a part of her own releasing of the sippie. And as far as being confused about not having it at school...she's young, but she is also old enough to understand that there are school rules and there are home rules.

In the end, her letting go of her sippie probably won't cause long term trauma - unless it becomes a long drawn out belittling, yelling drama - which doesn't seem like the case with you. So....what is your inner wise mamma gut telling you to do?

In Peace,
A.
mom of 4, Birth and Parenting Mentor
www.birthingfromwithin.com

Since she's not getting a sippy at Preschool, it shouldn't be too hard for her to understand that she won't be needing one at home. Reassure her that she is a big girl now and in school and she doesn't need it any more. I like the idea of giving her a day, bagging them up for the "poor babies" and that being the end of it (Good job, Supernanny). She's old enough to understand concepts, so this shouldn't be traumatic at all. If you act like it's not a big deal, she will do the same.

You have a lot of advice, I just wanted to say that she will probably stop even needing it on her own. With my now 5 yr old, I just started giving her a big girl cup at meals (at around 3), and I started using the sports-type bottles otherwise. I don't really care if she does use one of her little sisters sippies, but she is usually so busy, it isn't like when she was little. She knows that she will get a cup for the car (I don't want a mess) and at bedtime I put water in the water bottle. My 2 yr old loves using a big girl cup at meals, too, and if spills happen, we clean them up. You could also give her a cup (either sippie, or not if she doesn't really need it) and have a place for her to keep it in the kitchen, where she will always know where it is. Our place is on the kids stools in the kitchen. (That was mainly because sippies still leak!) So she will know that she still has a drink available, but she is a big girl and can go to the kitchen and leave it there. They only take a few sips and then are off anyway! Well, good luck-but kids are really good at understanding rules of different places, i.e. home vs. school. Don't stress too much! It'll work out once you find what works for you all.

just get rid of them - she is doing fine at school - you should be consistent at home or she won't know who is right or wrong or who will guide her in the best direction for herself

I'm all for cold turkey. That's how we did our kids with the bottle. It may be rough for a few days, but she'll get over it. Also, if you are having problems "lying", you can donate them to Child Crisis Center, or Big Brothers, or anyone. . .

It is so easy to feel guilty taking away something that comforts our kids. But really, they adjust quicker than we do. My son loved his bottles and his pacifier and about the time he was 2 I threw away the pacifier and gave away the bottles. Now, this may have been easier for me because he was younger but he didn't even ask about either one.

I was living with my parents and my mom was so worried that it would be a hard adjustment because he had just started daycare but he didn't even seem to notice.

My advice would be not to make a big production out of the removal of the sippy--just get rid of it. When she asks, tell her she is using a big girl cup now. And then quickly change the subject. If she makes a fuss, she will soon realize that the sippys are gone and that won't last more than a couple of days.

Good luck!

Hi. Such hard decisions.
I'm pretty much of the mind that if it isn't harming her, what's the harm? Having said that, you probably understand why I allowed my now 4-1/2 year old to use a pacifier (at nighttime only) until she was well past 3 years old, much to the horror of other mothers I'm in contact with. I have to admit that I felt guilty over what I thought was my failure as a mother, and I worried horribly over what would happen when I eventually took it away. You know what happened? Pretty much nothing. We had 1 - 2 nights of fitful sleep, and then it was over.
Try not to worry about it too much. When you decide the time is right, explain a few days in advance what is going to happen and why, then just make the break. I really hope for you and your daughter that it goes easily for you. Good luck!

OH boy!! I wish I had some advice for you, i just wanted to respond because I have an 18 month old who still uses the bottle for falling alseep at nap and bedtime. Granted she is younger than your LO, but it is still an issue.

I can however, give you my opinion...i think if you really truely want to get rid of it, your idea is great. make her a part of it and so she knows it's the end of the sippy! BUT...if it really doesn't bother you, I would explain to her that school is not the time for sippy, but she can have it when she's at home. Who knows, maybe not having it at school will help her decide for herself that she doesn't want or need it at home.

That is my plan for my daughter. I feel when she is ready to quit the bottle, she will let me know in her own way.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!!

HI Amy and Laura, both of my kids were at the same home daycare when they were little and on their first birthday, she switched them from the bottle to a sippy cup. Cold turkey, just like that and they both were fine. So I say, go cold turkey. She is old enough she should understand. Good luck!!!!

Hi,

I don't really see what the big deal is with the sippy cups. I know many preschools that prefer sippy cups because it's less messy. Like other moms said, I give my 8 year stepdaughter sport bottles. And what about gatorade and water bottles, those are adult sippy cups. LOL... I don't see the harm in a sippy cup. My older son who turns 4 in a few days uses Playtex sport cup (it has a straw top instead of 'sippy' top) and they are great. I have a 2 1/2 year old who uses sippy cups and I will switch him to the sport cup soon too.
Maybe switch her to the Sport cup and get her in the habit of setting it on the kitchen counter or table when she is done drinking. I used to let my boys carry their cups all around the house so they had a drink at all times but not anymore. I let them drink out of their cups but I have them set it on the table or counter when they are done (of course that takes a little time to get them used to that but it has paid off. I can always find their cups instead of searching the house and they are getting used to setting their drinks upright). This will all prepare them for when we do use more regular cups than "sippy" type cups.

I know your concern is not only the 'sippy cup' itself but that she is so attached to it and needs it to sleep, but I think she will adjust at school. Kids are very set in their ways and thrive on structure but they also learn quick. She will adjust at school. It may take a little bit but she will learn that she can't have her cup at school. Kids are so smart and she'll start to understand soon.

Just a thought about that:
My sons sleep with toys and stuffed animals. They use different ones that way if we ever loose one they are not heart broken and wont' sleep. That has seem to work much better than having just one "sleepy time" toy/object. I would introduce another "sleep object" to her. Have her pick out a necklace or bracelet she can wear at school and that can be her "comfort" sleep aid at school. I know that is very different than a cup but if you present it to her the right way and only put it on her when she goes to school it could work.

Best of luck.
:)