Struggling with sippy cups

My girls are 11 months and still aren't fans of the sippy cups. I can get them to take a little water or juice during/after a meal, but that's it. Maybe 1-2 ounces. I've tried several different types/brands, but they prefer the bottle.

How can I get them to like the sippy? When do I have to transition them off bottle?

Lately, they haven't been getting enough fluids, so I've been relying heavily on those bottles to keep them hydrated. (they have mild colds and teething).

 

My girls are 11 months and still aren't fans of the sippy cups. I can get them to take a little water or juice during/after a meal, but that's it. Maybe 1-2 ounces. I've tried several different types/brands, but they prefer the bottle.

How can I get them to like the sippy? When do I have to transition them off bottle?

Lately, they haven't been getting enough fluids, so I've been relying heavily on those bottles to keep them hydrated. (they have mild colds and teething).

 

Have you tried the Nuby cups? They are more like a bottle and a good transitioning cup. I use Dr. B's wide neck bottles, and I found a soft spout that fits into those. They will catch on when they are ready, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

Mine didn't really "get" sippy cups until I took the bottle away at 11 1/2 months. I also transitioned them using the tupperware sippies, they have no valve, so they get the formula/milk quickly and easily as they learn to tip it up.

Also, a friend of mine advised not to give juice until they drank milk from the sippy--she had her 4th 2 weeks after my boys were born. Her theory was that the milk is thicker and they won't want to "work" for it, if they know they can get juice easier. Good luck!

 

I agree with Becky, they will catch on when they are ready. I would try Nuby too, its the closest to bottle. Avent makes a transitioning bottle with handles and a spout too.

 

Mine would take a sippy cup, any sippy cup, even though we introduced them at 6 months old. You're doing better than us in that the girls will at least take an ounce or two.

I transitioned Ainsley and Sierra to milk before tackling the bottles. They were about 13 months old when we went cold turkey from bottles to sippies. They weren't too happy for a little while but Ainsley was good at it by the end of the day and Sierra finally stopped dribbling most of it out of her mouth by the end of 3 days. I took the valves out so that they wouldn't have to work to get drink and then I put the valves back in a few days later.

One thing I didn't try was a straw sippy because it never occurred to me.

 

I'm right there with you -- kids taking a sip here or there and because of colds, teething, and slow growth, I'm still relying heavily on the bottles. I know we're SUPPOSED to get them off the bottles around 1 year of age, but I doubt we will meet that target. My oldest DS didn't come off entirely till 1 1/2 years.
I just bought a couple of Nuby cups and so far they're not that much more interested in them. I'm hearing a couple of successful parents using the Gerber with handles and soft spout. Maybe we'll try that next, but I hate buying all these cups and having them sit in the cupboard.
Good luck and hope the girls feel better soon!

 

Look for sippy cups with mouthpieces that are softest, like the Avent. As far as the transition, it sounds like you're doing it right. For now, just keep presenting them. My first resisted the sippy cup like all get out. At 1 year, our doc said no more bottles, so we switched and only allowed her the bottle at bedtime. She didn't like it, but she adjusted. I introduced the twins to the sippy cups. Ethan took right to it the first couple times, but he would get halfway through and realize he didn't have a bottle. Kaya has no interest. I backed off for a couple weeks, but you reminded me I need to work them back in.

 

My twins are not fans ofthe sippy cup either. My first son started a sippy at 6 months! I'm not going to rush them. Once we transition to whole milk and things are going smoothly, then I'll start giving sippy cups at lunch, then dinner a few weeks later. That way they will still have bottle to get the milk they need to grow. The night bottle will be the last to go and if i'm there by 18 months - that is okay. They will be fine. So...don't rush it. It isn't a big deal to have bottles longer than 1 year.

 

Oh, and if it makes you guys feel better, there are lots of babies out there who go over one year. I was shocked in France (we lived there right after our first turned 1 and switched to cups) by how many older kids there had bottles. I even saw one kid drinking soda out of a bottle!! In my mind, if you're old enough for soda (which I still don't even give my 4-year-old), you're sure old enough for a freakin' cup. But I would imagine there are lots of places with less emphasis on the switch to cup at 1 year, so I doubt it's the end of the world if they're slow to take to it.

With all my kids being preemies, I won't force things like this. Press is more of the word for it. I'll keep trying and trying, and eventually might just make the switch mostly. But I give them lots of time and chances to adjust to these changes.

 

We are also struggling with sippy cups and I'm getting a bit worried since they will start whole milk next month. Right now we are using the playtex soft spout and they will take a few sips from it. I just bought the Nuby ones while I was out today since I saw a few recommendatins here for it, so maybe that will work.

 

I bought the gerber ones with a soft spout and handles. Mine will take about an ounce of water at a time, but still don't seem overly interested. I just keep introducing it every day in hopes they will catch on...