sippy cups

O.k. I have lots of questions about sippy cups. I bought a couple a week or so ago just to have on hand. I had an anti-napping child (Karina) today, so I gave her one as a new "toy" so that I could get some bottles and stuff made without having to entertain her. I was amazed. She held onto it and put the spout in her mouth and sucked. The thing she doesn't understand is tipping it so she can get the formula to come out. I can't believe how well she did though. I thought she would suck on the handle and just push it around the tray. That's all I expected and was hoping it would occupy her some. I didn't think she'd actually attempt to use it correctly. So here are my questions:

1. What age did you start introducing a sippy cup to your kids? My girls are only 5 months adjusted so I feel it is still too early, but maybe I'm not giving them enough credit.
2. What did you put in the cup. The doctor talked to use about starting solids, which we have, but he never mentioned giving water. Should we stick with formula in the cup when we do start practicing.
3. How much do you put in the cup? I hate to put much in because she isn't getting much out and I don't want to waste a lot of formula. Also, it seems like it would be too heavy if it was full. On the other hand, if I fill it fuller, she doesn't have to tip it so far to get something out.
4. Karina has pretty severe reflux. I worry about her getting too much air sucking on it and not tipping it far enough to get the liquid. Is this a problem for many when they start using the sippy? We also thicken all her EBM/formula, so I'm not sure how this transition is going to go. I didn't thicken the little bit I put in it today because I didn't think she'd drink that much, which she didn't.

Well, that was a novel. I had no idea sippy cups were so complicated.

 

I'll see if I can answer a few of these...

QUOTE(Beth*J @ Jul 30 2008, 05:39 PM) [snapback]905208[/snapback]
1. What age did you start introducing a sippy cup to your kids? My girls are only 5 months adjusted so I feel it is still too early, but maybe I'm not giving them enough credit.
2. What did you put in the cup. The doctor talked to use about starting solids, which we have, but he never mentioned giving water. Should we stick with formula in the cup when we do start practicing.
3. How much do you put in the cup? I hate to put much in because she isn't getting much out and I don't want to waste a lot of formula. Also, it seems like it would be too heavy if it was full. On the other hand, if I fill it fuller, she doesn't have to tip it so far to get something out.
4. Karina has pretty severe reflux. I worry about her getting too much air sucking on it and not tipping it far enough to get the liquid. Is this a problem for many when they start using the sippy? We also thicken all her EBM/formula, so I'm not sure how this transition is going to go. I didn't thicken the little bit I put in it today because I didn't think she'd drink that much, which she didn't.

Well, that was a novel. I had no idea sippy cups were so complicated.


1. I started around 6 months or so. Maybe a little earlier, like you did, as a toy.
2. I put just a small amount of water in it. Just so they get the idea.
3. Just a little. A couple of ounces, if that.
4. Neither of mine have reflux, so this doesn't really apply.

My two still get their bottles. We only do the sippy as an introduction for things to come. Like I said, we put just a little water in there. DS has gotten it pretty well. He knows exactly what to do to get the water out. However with them teething, they do end up chewing on the spout a lot too.

 

I forgot to ask: Were your kids able to hold their own bottle before you introduced the sippy cup? Mine both put their hands on the bottle, but they don't support it and use it on their own.

 

My can (they have before) but they won't. I use sippy cups that have handles, and they seem to have no problems holding those on their own.

(I really think my two are just too lazy to feed themselves! )


Edited because of a typo.

 

1. What age did you start introducing a sippy cup to your kids? We waited until 8 months. They had been holding their own bottles since 7 months and did well with sippies.
2. What did you put in the cup. We use water.
3. How much do you put in the cup? I put a couple of ounces.
4. Karina has pretty severe reflux. I worry about her getting too much air sucking on it and not tipping it far enough to get the liquid. Is this a problem for many when they start using the sippy? Mine lay on the floor and hold the sippy cups. The cups naturally tilt up.

 

1. What age did you start introducing a sippy cup to your kids? My girls are only 5 months adjusted so I feel it is still too early, but maybe I'm not giving them enough credit.
I introduced them to my two at 6 months, but they had no interest in them until 11 months. :huh:

2. What did you put in the cup. The doctor talked to use about starting solids, which we have, but he never mentioned giving water. Should we stick with formula in the cup when we do start practicing.
I didn't put formula in their sippy since I never planned on giving them formula that way. I put water in their sippies, and once I switched to milk, put milk in there.

3. How much do you put in the cup? I hate to put much in because she isn't getting much out and I don't want to waste a lot of formula. Also, it seems like it would be too heavy if it was full. On the other hand, if I fill it fuller, she doesn't have to tip it so far to get something out.
I filled it about half way. If you use water, you won't waste formula. :good:

4. Karina has pretty severe reflux.
My son had severe reflux and I didn't see any side effects from drinking from the sippy. Though I did pretty much hold the sippy cup until they were able to.

Were your kids able to hold their own bottle before you introduced the sippy cup? Mine both put their hands on the bottle, but they don't support it and use it on their own.
No. They didn't hold their own bottles until 12 months. :blush: They'd put their hands on it and could do it but chose not to.ardon:

Just remember, it's all practice at this point. If they get it, great, if not and they seem frustrated put them away for a bit and try again later on. I worried myself silly because others were using sippys at six months and they didn't get it until much later. They are pros now. :lol:

 

I am going to start sippy cups at 6 months. I'm going to put a little water in it. I don't want them associating the sippy cup w/ formula and I really don't want to waste the formula!!

 

1. What age did you start introducing a sippy cup to your kids? around 6 months, just to play with and figure out how to use it. they were holding their bottles on their own at 5 months....so they would hold the sippies too.
2. What did you put in the cup. water.
3. How much do you put in the cup? just a tiny bit.
4. Karina has pretty severe reflux. I worry about her getting too much air sucking on it and not tipping it far enough to get the liquid. Is this a problem for many when they start using the sippy? my son had reflux, and i didn't see that the sippy caused any problems.

we were fulltime on sippies right after their first bday. we gave milk in them during the day and did morning and nightime bottles...then i just went cold turkey and took away the bottles and they were fine....they didn't even need anything to drink right before bedtime any more.

also, take into account the kinds of sippys...there are some w/ out valves, w/ valves, so many to choose from....you may even have to try a few to see which ones your kids like. when you do finally get to using sippies...we liked the playtex ones and the first years (w/ elmo on it)...they don't spill. then later on we got the playtex tumbler sippies...which they are using now. they also use the straw ones. you have some time before you have to worry about those though

good luck!

 

1. What age did you start introducing a sippy cup to your kids? My girls are only 5 months adjusted so I feel it is still too early, but maybe I'm not giving them enough credit.
We started at 6 mos but they didn't "get it" for a few months after that.

2. What did you put in the cup. The doctor talked to use about starting solids, which we have, but he never mentioned giving water. Should we stick with formula in the cup when we do start practicing.
We only gave water at first. I did try formula once when I was trying to drop a bottle, but they refused it and, like you, I didn't want to waste it.
3. How much do you put in the cup? I hate to put much in because she isn't getting much out and I don't want to waste a lot of formula. Also, it seems like it would be too heavy if it was full. On the other hand, if I fill it fuller, she doesn't have to tip it so far to get something out.
I always filled mine pretty full so they wouldn't have to tip it (they didn't get that concept til around 11 mos). I always used the smaller, learning cups, so even full, they weren't that heavy. To this day, mine prefer cups with handles...I think they're easier to grab & hold on to (Aiden held his bottle at 6 mos & Conner at 10 mos)
4. Karina has pretty severe reflux. I worry about her getting too much air sucking on it and not tipping it far enough to get the liquid. Is this a problem for many when they start using the sippy? We also thicken all her EBM/formula, so I'm not sure how this transition is going to go. I didn't thicken the little bit I put in it today because I didn't think she'd drink that much, which she didn't.
My boys didn't have SEVERE reflux, but they did have it. If I hear them sucking air, I always encouraged them to tip it up (or turn it upside down if they're drinking it upside down). At first, my guys were a little more 'urpy', but not bad. I notice they cough more with certain cups, so I wonder if some don't flow faster than others.

My recommendation is the Gerber Sip N Smile! We LOVE them (and the soft spout 2 handled tops interchange with the bigger cups for when they want more at one time)!!!! I also like the Playtex My First Sipsters & the First Years Take N Toss (be careful with those if they THROW them...they can come apart!). We HATE the Nubys & Dr Browns. I think it's dependant upon each kid, though. We also started without valves & worked our way up from there....

 

I just started giving mine sippy cups too. Mostly as a toy, but both of them grabbed them and put the spout in their mouth and sucked! But they don't understand to tip them upwards to get anything out. So, they kind of get it, but aren't actually getting any fluid out of them. I give them after I have nursed, and I just put a little bit of water in them. We also have the ones with the handles on both sides. They are still a toy to them right now, but ds does like to use it to chew on as he is teething!