Its Hard to Know When should they use a cup for the very first time, when to move to the next stage and which types of cups are suitable for each age and stage? Here’s a guide to moving on from breast or bottle feeding.
How to Begin
To get them used to the transition to a sippy cup, start by offering the cup at mealtimes with water in it, so that they associate it with food. Sit with them and have a drink yourself, so that they can see that this is an important part of mealtimes.
Tilt the cup a little to begin with, so they can get the idea and start to sip the water (they may find it easier to pick up and hold a cup with two handles to begin with). Take your time and be prepared for them spitting a little water out.
Cleaning baby cups
Make sure you clean all parts of your baby’s cup thoroughly. Use a small brush to get into any awkwardly shaped spouts or valves as they can become a breeding ground for bacteria. Some cups come with spare straws/brush kits.
Take your time with the transition from bottle to drinking cup
To start with, as your baby will still be getting most of their liquids from breast or formula milk they may become frustrated and wants to stop trying to drink water after a sip or two. This is normal.
If you go at your baby’s pace the transition to a cup is likely to be easier and smoother. Offer your baby a small drink of water from a cup as part of each meal. Once this routine has become established your baby will be more ready to accept drinks of water between meals, until gradually it becomes second nature.