Sippy Cup Issues - Alpharetta,GA

We've used the "take and toss" straw cups for the past 2 years. They're in a 5 pack for like $3. Each comes with a plastic straw, which were quickly chewed, so I use disposable flex straws. They fit perfect and are cheap. They're not completely spill proof, but as long as it's not on it's side for 10 minutes, you only lose a few drops. And they are normal cups when you take the lid off, so he can always practice for a few minutes, then put the top back on when you can't handle the spills.

Have you tried those insulated straw sippers with the highly elastic-plastic straws? Maybe it would withstand and they aren't that "tall" from the container.

I use the Take-N-Toss brand cups b/c I get 4 for $2.50 and can toss them when my son chews too much. They aren't very durable to chewing, but I keep the cup bottom and my daughter uses them for normal cups. The Dollar Tree sells them too at 4 for a $1.

Keep at it and things will improve:)

If you get the munchkin straw cups, with the flip top cover, you can get replacement straws. My son chews through them too, so I ordered replacements online. I think sticking with the straw cups is better than switching to sippy cups because it's more natural to drink from a straw - we don't tip our heads back and lift our arms up when we drink! Also, our speech therapist solely recommends straw cups to promote proper mouth position to prepare for talking. Hope this helps...

I, too, think a regular cup. At least some times. It would help him get the idea that, if he tips it up, his drink will come out. Maybe give it to him in the bath or when you're getting ready to give him a bath since he'll probably dump it all over for a while. My daughter LOVES drinking out of our clear drinking glasses, with help of course. Once he get's the idea that, by tipping the glass up, he'll get something to drink, he may be more willing to try a sippy cup where he has to work a little more for the liquid. We also use NUK brand sippy cups. The tops are completely soft and very bottle like, but this may be a step back from what you're trying to accomplish. They aren't everywhere, but I've found them at Walmart. Hope the teething passes soon!

With my son, he bit through all of the sippies that had the rubber tops... We thought we'd never get him to take regular sippy cups. We'd tried for weeks to get him to drink from the plastic ones. And we tried everything! Well, one day we're going through the store, and I'm going down the aisle where the sippy cups are. So I got my son out of the cart and I held him in front of all the sippy cups (the ones with the plastic tops), and let him pick his own cup. It took him a few minutes, but he finally found one he wanted (I think he wanted it mostly for the Clifford the Big Red Dog that was on the cup). The cup only lasted about 6 months before it started leaking, but I refused to complain. After that Clifford sippy cup, my son will now drink from any cup!

We LOVE the Tommee Tippee at our house. A friend of mine from overseas told me about them, and they recently began selling them at Babies R Us and One Step Ahead.

They are easy to clean, chew proof and spill proof without crazy suction, so they are less likely to cause ear infections. They are designed around the premise of teaching kids to sip from a cup without a lid. It took my son a minute to get drinking from a sippy rather than a straw cup, but don't worry. I know it is frustrating and sometimes feels like a step backwards, but, with a little persistence, he will catch on. Hope this helps!

Maybe you can buy a pack of disposable straws and stick those in the cup, since he is going to chew through them anyway.... will that work?

Get the Munchkin straw cups with the soft straw tips. They also supply replacement straw tops online either on their website or on Amazon. My son uses both sippy cups and straw cups and has become proficient in both. Straw cups are much better for speech development at your son's age anyway, as sippy cups promote the tongue to thrust forward and straws provide a good workout for tongue, cheek, and lip muscles. I'd stick with the straw cups and get replacement straws when needed or get the soft straws that are chew-proof. If you're worried about him learning how to use a regular open cup, you can help him practice drinking from one when he's naked or in the tub.

What are you giving him for his teething issues? Hylands teething tablets are good. Give him some baby motrin or tylenol also. He may get fustrated but he will figure it out. If you are doing it for him then he will not learn it for himself. My son did well with the playtex sippy cups with the handles on the sides.