What's the best way to help my almost-3-year-old drink out of a regular open cup?

Jen143 · 09-16-2006, 10:51 PM

DS is being really stubborn about trying to drink out of a regular open cup without using a straw. I told him that when the last box of straws was empty, I wasn't buying anymore. Well, today the box was empty and he refused to drink out of the cup because he gets too upset when it spills (we did try a bib - not a big hit). I am thinking of buying some small bathroom size Dixie cups to give it a try. We also have one of those "big kid" cups from Munchkin, but I don't want him to get dependent on something like that. BTW - he'll be 3 next month. Does anyone have any helpful hints?

debellafunk · 09-17-2006, 02:17 AM

The only suggestion that I have is start out with a little liquid in the cup and then increase as he gets better.

desertmom · **drinking**

Some kids, like mine, are just so afraid of spilling something. I just let him use his sippy cups, then the straw cups where the straws are easy to clean, until he was ready to use a regular cup, which he graduated to on his own. I kind of trained him by letting him sip my drinks when I had something good (like a cappucino, which I wouldn't give to him as a full serving). I still buy straws for him to use occasionally. I even like to use them once in a while. They are only 99 cents a pack. Is there a reason you want to move him on? Is the ped on you about it? I just let mine go at his own pace. He'll get there.

hawkshoe · 09-17-2006, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by debellafunk

The only suggestion that I have is start out with a little liquid in the cup and then increase as he gets better.

This is what I would suggest too and I would make sure he only drinks it in the kitchen.

cru5h · 09-17-2006, 09:14 AM

I still give all of the kids cups with lids/straws most of the time. When they were three, it was all of the time. I know Nanny 911 tells everyone to get rid of that, but I don't parent by the books, and it works for me. Now that the boys are 8 and 6 I only give lids if they're drinking in the living room. I'm the one who was tired of the carpet smelling like spoiled milk from the spills of introducing an open cup before my kids had the manual dexterity to complete a meal without knocking it over.

The small amounts of liquid is a great start. They do have to learn to take a sip without dumping it in their faces.

Jen143 · 09-17-2006, 09:20 PM

Thanks everyone! I guess I'm just overly cautious regarding stuff like that since my older son (4 1/2) has autism and was delayed in a lot of these skills. He started drinking out of a regular cup just before he turned 4 with the help of an occupational therapist. I just didn't want his brother to become dependent on straws and not be able to have a drink if we're out someplace where there are no straws. I am tired of hauling sippy/straw cups everywhere we go!!

hechtrov · 09-18-2006, 06:42 AM

Does he drink out of a water bottle? My girls always liked that.
We use straws here with the restraunt cups with the lids. They meed to keep all drink but water at the kitchen table.

mommy&wifeisme · 09-18-2006, 06:52 AM

I just went through this this summer. My son used the munchkins type straw sippy cup and had no interest in drinking from a regular cup. If I gave him one he would say dump it. (meaning into his sippy) He was so attached that even when he was upset he would ask for "chocolate milk", he gets toatlly upset when he spills. So I chose to make the change on vacation when his older cousins were around. He doesn't much care what others are doing, he still wanted it. But anyway. I had the advent bottles so I used them as cups without the tops and nipples of course, they are clear so he could see the fluid and they have a tapered top so it kept it from coming out too quick and spilling on him. I always have him sit at the table to drink. He uses the small plastic cups now.

stacia · 09-20-2006, 08:36 AM

I have these kids sized cups from ikea (6 for $1) and I fill it half way for my 2 year old. He has to keep it in the kitchen. One Step Ahead makes a weighted cup that is designed to not spill as much. I would just use a small cup filled 25% to start and move up to half filled. Make him keep at the table. For going out we use sport top water and at restaurants we just order them kids cups with lid and straw or half filled if they don't have lids. But using a straw won't hurt him if you are worried about that, and if you just don't want to buy straws anymore grab a handfull everytime you go to a fast food place!

Stormy · 09-20-2006, 02:05 PM

I don't have any real advice, just had to reply to this though. Ds, FIVE in December has been drinking out of a glass (real glass) since he was three. We just never did the plastic ones, I don't like the look of them! So I'd just give him a little and gradually gave him more and more. Your ds will get it. Ds has never broken the glass either.

Anyway, the whole reason that this is so hilarious is that ds had no problems giving up the bottle at 1, but had the hardest time giving up the sippy cup. When he was 3 I said no more and would give him those disposable cups with the lid and straw. However, I don't think those are supposed to be used for long term use so I went back to a glass but I put a straw in it but he was confined to the kitchen with it.

You won't believe how he pined for even the disposable with lid and straw! I think mostly because he likes to drink his milk while he's playing in the family room. Ok, ds is now almost FIVE and still asks about them all the time. So (I can't believe I did this) I thought I'd make his day. I bought some of exact munchkin straw cups you wrote about and gave it to him. You would have thought I gave him gold. Now he can drink in the family room again and you wouldn't believe how happy this makes him. I feel eventually he's going to get embarassed or just plain grow out of them. So for now he's still content with these straw cups. I just thought I'd share!