Whether you’re moving away from the breast or the bottle, one thing is certain: Baby is going to have some thoughts about it. It’s possible that they will love their new sippy cup! Maybe it makes them feel like a big kid, and they want to use it all the time. Or…maybe not. If you’re in the latter situation, don’t worry. There are a few ways to help Baby and their sippy cup get along a little better.
If they are having a tough time with the transition
Change is hard for everyone, but for Baby, it might seem like major things are changing every day. That’s stressful! Surrounding them with their favorite things, like blankets, stuffed animals, or toys can reassure them that there are plenty of things in their world that they can count on – even if their dishware is changing.
Another way to transition is to make the change more gradual – for example, by starting with a bottle or bottle nipple and swapping it out for a sippy cup once they start sucking. You could also begin the transition by feeding them the first half of their milk with the bottle, and the second half with the sippy cup.
If they doesn’t like the tip
You can’t necessarily blame Baby for preferring a soft bottle tip or nipple to the harder plastic of most sippy cups. If it’s the tip that Baby objects to, try a different shape or spout. Many sippy cups have flexible tips, and some come with straws or handles that can make drinking a little easier. You can also try dipping the tip into breast milk or formula and using the familiar smell or taste to encourage Baby to try the sippy cup.
If they doesn’t understand how to use it
Baby knows how to make the nipple or the bottle work, but the sippy cup spout can be a little confusing. Try to avoid “no-spill” bottles – they require sucking just like a bottle does, which makes it difficult to move toward drinking from a cup. Touching the spout to the roof of their mouth can trigger their sucking reflex and make it easier for them to drink the liquid from the spout.
If they are just not ready
Some babies transition to sippy cups as early as 6 months, and others won’t even touch them until past the 1-year mark. You’ve still got some time, so if Baby is firmly against the sippy cup right now, you can wait it out a little longer. You can also go another direction and try a cup with a built-in straw, a regular cup with a straw, or just a regular cup. Some babies can go straight from the bottle to the cup with no problem.
