- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- babies today articles
- babies today q&a
- toddlers today articles
- toddlers today q&a
- breastfeed.com articles
- breastfeed.com q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
No More Bottles
Transitioning from Bottle to "Sippy" and from "Sippy" to Cup
By Lisa A. Goldstein
Holtzman recommends choosing a smaller sized sippy cup – about 4 to 8 ounces – as a bigger cup will be too heavy when filled for a young baby to manage easily. If the cup has a removable non-spill valve, remove it temporarily and put it away. You'll want to use it in a month or two. "The non-spill valve creates a one-way flow, and the baby needs to suck hard to overcome the vacuum," Holtzman says. "This is a hard thing to learn at the beginning."
Another tip: fill the cup all the way. If there's only an inch of water on the bottom, Baby will need to tilt the cup all the way up and lean back before getting any of the water.
Don't be alarmed if your child coughs, splutters, squirts or dribbles water out of his or her mouth. "[He'll] go back for another try, as [he is] usually delighted to have [his] own cup to play with," Holtzman says. With practice, children learn to better coordinate their drinking, and once your child seems to understand the concept, you can begin to use the non-spill valve.
According to Holtzman, if the sippy cup is introduced between 5 and 7 months, within a month or two, your child should be able to drink an ounce or two from the cup.
Dr. Johnnie P. Frazier, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, suggests trying breast milk or formula at least two times a day as part of regular feedings and the remainder of the bottle when your infant is 6 months old. This signals to the infant that formula or breast milk from the cup is acceptable. Over time – usually by 9 months – you can gradually increase the number of cup feedings after meals and between while eliminating the bottle feedings.