When do you switch to open cups?

I've started letting mine have a plastic highball glass when they're close to finished with their meal. Usually just a little water in the bottom. They love it, of course, and they aren't making a huge mess (except when they start putting food in the cup!) So I'm wondering, when did you switch yours to open cups at mealtimes? I'd make this a poll except that I have no idea what the options would be ardon:

 

I think by 2 we started with the open cups and by 3yrs we got rid of the sippy cups (for the most part, every now and then dh gave them to the girls). So probably about 2 1/2 we had cups on the table at meal times, but did just like you are. Only water and just a little bit and then gradually moved to juice at lunch and milk at dinner time. But that was after a while of no spilling and no playing with the cups.

 

I have been wondering the same thing, they will drink a little but then they will dump food or the liquid on themselves too. I was thinking by 2 yrs. old also that they should be able to drink out of an open cup at meal times in their chairs.

 

This is going to be really gross.....not by my choice, BUT, mine have been practicing in the bath tub using these little stacking cup things that they play with in the bath. We've not encouraged them...they're just doing it on their own. They just turned 2 and they have not by any means mastered it. They still dump it on themselves quite a bit or gag themselves by taking too much in. It'll still be another few months I'm afraid. 2 is a good goal but don't be surprised if you're not making a switch at 2. I'm thinking more realistically of around 2 1/2 with cup-only usage by 3.

 

My kids just turned 2 and we "experiment" with open cups, but we are not close to getting rid of sippies altogether. We practice with open cups at the table, but it can get very messy. We have moved to sippies that do not have spouts. They look like an adult travel mug (no handle, of course). They just have a small hole in the top that they suck the liquid out of. I believe they are playtex stage 2 cups. I'm not in any hurry to get rid of those cups as I don't want to be cleaning up spills all day. But, I do know about the speech issues associated with prolonged sippy use, which is why we've switched over to these new sippies and straw cups exclusively.

Hopefully, by 2.5 (like one of the PP's), we'll be able to have open cups at the table, but I'm guessing we'll still use sippies for awhile around the house and when we are out.

 

We're still on sippies here. My kids are obsessed with dumping everything on the floor. They will use an open cup on occassion, but not on a regular basis.

Crystal

 

We have just started to give them open cups at the dinner table, but they are barely full and almost impossible to tip. They do great with them. I knew they were ready because they have been using little Dixie cups each night to have some water after brushing their teeth for about 6 months now.

Also, when we are out and about, they are able to drink just fine on their own with a regular bottle of water. However, Ben sometimes gets distracted and forgets to turn the bottle upright upon taking it out of his mouth which leaves him a soggy mess.

 

We started a Mommy and Me class at 18 months and at snack time the teacher gave open cups. So we started practicing their- only once a week class and in the last 3 months or so they have been practicing a lot more at home and are doing a lot better.

 

QUOTE(cabonnell @ Apr 30 2007, 12:51 PM) [snapback]238245[/snapback]
This is going to be really gross.....not by my choice, BUT, mine have been practicing in the bath tub using these little stacking cup things that they play with in the bath.


Mine do this too -- part of the reason why I let the dirty bathwater run out as soon as I'm done washing them, then refill the tub with clean water for them to play in. I hate to waste the water, but I also hate to think of them drinking soap. :blink:

But although they do that, we're not anywhere near switching yet. I will give them sips from my water glass and they do OK as long as I'm holding it, but they have no clue about holding it themselves. I let Sarah do that once last week and she dumped it all over herself almost instantly.

 

We give them open cups at dinner. They both do pretty well with them, but Sofia like to put her food in her cup---yuck. I don't let them have them unless they are sitting in their boosters.