[Dachshund]

Ok know you're "Supposed to" transition the kids to sippy cups around age one, which we did, but he didn't really like the Classic Playtex. We tried a few other brands until someone suggested the Nuby with the soft Silcone spout. Now he's 18 months and loves them but i really don't see much difference between these and bottles except the spout is to the side rather than in the middle like a nipple. I've noticed he likes to try to "drink" his bathwater (gross I know) using his cup toys but obviously it's more pouring water down his face - but the effort is there. So today we were testing out using the old Platex only without the Valve so it has a controlled pour - Lots of Wet t-shirts and an unhappy child. We've tried Straws too but he doesn't quite understand.
Basically I'm thinking this is a battle I don't need to fight and should just let him progress away fromt he Nuby's at his own pace (I've never met an 18 year old who still drinks from a sippy cup right?) We only give them to him at the table or while sitting down and never to fall asleep etc.- But I thought maybe you guys would have some other pointers, tips, advice, etc.
Thanks
Melissa

[mommytoEli]

eli is 18 months....as long as the cup i give him has milk in it, he will drink it no matter the container. lol! but we had to train him with the straw....which is now his favorite, and mine too take the straw and put it in a cup of whatever, put your finger over it to trap the liquid, and pull it out. put it in his mouth, and just let a little go at a time...he'll start to realize when he sucks, more will come out...it shouldn't take long. my fave sippy cups are munchkin, with the straw. bonus #1...they are big, bonus #2...they are insulated, bonus #3....the company is great about replacing lids for free when you have a freak accident with the dishwasher

[Mindybeth6]

My son is almost five and still loves his sippy cup. He will drink from anything though at this point but he loves those sippy cups. We have the insulated ones with Dora, Spongebob, and Diego. Loves them. They keep his milk nice and cold too. We dont' give our kiddos' juice...just milk and water:-)

[JustBarbara]

Hey, Melissa, I had a similar problem getting DS off his bottle (last month at 14 months) and we tried several different brands. But ... as usual ... another forum member came to my aid. I picked up some Avent "training cups", - softer spout if you will and they work a treat - thank you DRASUSI!

We just switched over and after a few false starts this is what he uses (except for his bedtime he still has his old bottle). DS is still a milk and water guy as I try to keep him away from juice - plenty of time for that later!

Good luck and let us know how things go - Barbara

[CurlysGirly]

We use the Take-n-Toss sippy cups because my dogs like to steal cups and chew them (BIG dogs who love apple juice!). You get like 5 of them for $2.99 at Target. That way I don't feel bad when one or two or 10 get chewed.

[kirbystarcat]

I think avent makes spouts that are soft but as not as soft as the nuby and are more shaped like regular sippy cups. I think you have to order them though as I have never seen them stocked in stores.

[guatparents2be]

we have not used them yet but plan to use the Born Free sippy cups. I will use them until Julian requests a grown up cup, or we are in a pinch. I have no concern about this.

Re: these cups, they are made from plastic that does not leach chemicals that are typically found in plastics and can have a negative effect on the baby's hormonal balance! The company can be found on google search. General info about plastic below...

Bisphenol-A - Many #7 polycarbonate bottles (including baby bottles), microwave ovenware, eating utensils and plastic coating for metal cans are made with bisphenol-A, a chemical invented in the 1930's during the search for synthetic estrogens. Bisphenol-A can leach into food in cans or from polycarbonate bottles as they age.

Many studies have evaluated bisphenol-A as a hormone disruptor, a chemical that alters the body's normal hormonal activity. A March 1998 study in Environmental Health Perspectives found that bisphenol-A simulates the action of estrogen when tested in human breast cancer cells.

[gibbs7263]

We really just stopped using a sippy for my 5 yr old. I liked using them because I did not like cleaning up messes from regular cups being spilled. Even now she still spills them. However even smaller she would drink from a cup. When we trasitioned from the bottle to the sippy we used the Avent with the soft spout. Basically with everything that I have learned up to this point after 5 years, it's trial and error and really I doubt that he will be needed the sippy when he is in kidergarten