Transition to a Cup from the Bottle

I really like the Nuby cups, especially the ones with the straw. My son didnt like the sippy cup too much, but as soon as he realized how to use the straw cup he has had a much easier time with the other cups, since they have to suck harder to get it out because of the suction part.

I agree. Cold turkey is the way to go. I predict it will take about a day. While you are waiting for him to adjust, feed him some seedless watermelon and soup. It will keep in hydrated! Good luck!

The cup with the silicone top, can you remove the spout? When we were going through this same thing, I bought the cups with the removal silicone spout. I replaced it with a bottle nipple that was similar in size. My little boy liked this. Every so often, I would switch back to the spout until he was only drinking from the spout. It took about two weeks, but it did work. Good luck.

T.,

I know it's hard but he won't dehydrate. Just go cold turkey- put the bottle away- out of your sight and his. He cries because he knows if he does you'll give in. If you put them all away and tell him they are gone "bye-bye" and don't give in. I don't think the type of cup matters either- he just doesn't want to give up the bottle. It will be hard but it will be easier in the long run to go cold turkey if you don't give in at all. If you worry about dehydration just give him plenty of fruits and things with high water content. Don't make a big issue- just tell him the bottles went "bye-bye" here is your cup and don't try to foce him to take it- just leave it where he can get it and move on with your day.

Good luck!

I was just reading an article on the Parents Magazine website about this. Our daugther started drinking from a sippy cup around 6 months, but I'm looking for information about taking the bottle away (she's 16 months now). Even though she drinks from a cup at meals and snacktime, we still have a morning and an evening bottle, and one inbetween. I'm not about going cold turkey, although I'm sure it works fine. I would suggest to just keep trying week after week. Maybe still offer him the bottle, and then offer him a cup at "non bottle" times like during snack or a meal to get him used to it without the intimidation of it immediately replacing the bottle?? I think there are definately ways to go about though if you don't want to just toss them all out one day. The article I read actually suggested not doing that, saying that this is a tender process for little ones and it's more than just hydration and nourishment, it's a time for comfort. I don't think I gave you much help, other than we're going through the same thing (just because we know that it's time to end the bottles). Also, I was just given a little spout that goes on water bottles, no sucking is required, but it's kind of a fun way for little ones to drink from their parents water bottles, it's called the Lil' Topper and it just screws right onto a water bottle. Maybe another option?? Either way, if you don't want to just go cold turkey, I would just keep reintroducing it to him, taking the same approach that they say to take when starting a baby on solid foods. Never forcing it, but always offering it and giving it a try. May seem like a long process, but if that didn't work after weeks, then you could always try cold turkey.

Hi T.
I wanted to share with you, how we got our angel off of her bottle. I was worried about the bottle transistion and after talking to my doctor about it, I releaxed. He said that the bottle issue is a social issue and that there is no specific time they have to be off the bottle.
We started with the morning bottle first. When she woke up in the morning, we took her to her high chair for breakfast, instead of giving her a bottle. Her food and sippy cup were waiting there for her. She was so excited about the food she didnt notice she wasnt getting a bottle. That one was easy. For her afternoon bottle, we would give her a snack instead. We also let her have her sippy cup with water, as she was playing. She could take a drink whenever she wanted. This helped her get used to the sippy w/out any pressure.
For her nighttime bottle, we offered her the sippy cup of formula and she freaked out. We waited a few weeks and tried again. Two weeks ago she took the sippy and hasn't looked back.
Perhaps once he is more comfortable with having the sippy cup, it will be an easier transistion him off of it.
I just wanted to offer you another route to consider.
Good luck
T.

The day my daughter refused her formula and switched to milk (11 1/2 months) I put the milk into a sippy cup. She protested at first for about an hour or so, but once she figured out that the sippy cup was the only way she was going to get anything to drink she took right to it. Same thing when I switched her to straws. I thought for the longest time that she'd NEVER learn how to suck through a straw... I bought her a sippy cup with a straw attachment and gave it to her... protested for an hour or so... now she drinks through it like a champ (and regular straws at restaurants too!)

I think if you can hold out and know that it's in their best interest... try to ignore the protesting if it doesn't go on for TOO LONG. He'll figure it out! If you keep "rewarding" him with the bottle after he has a fit, he just might protest longer and longer periods knowing that you're going to cave.

My daughter started using the Gerber Nuk Trainer Cup at 5 months old to drink water. By the end of the 5th month she refused the bottle... She never used another bottle, and we did not have a transition problem. I think this cup is wonderful. They come in three colors: Red, Blue, and Green. They have both handles and a lid to keep from spilling when you are on the go! These cups are wonderful, and can be purchased at Wal-Mart and Target!!!
Good Luck!!!

You might also try the cups with a straw like top...they seemed to be easier for my little girl to get the hang of. Good Luck.

I know this is a difficult transition and I am about to have to do it with my 11 month old :(. With my daughter who just turned two I had a very difficult time. She would not drink anything out of a sippy cup, but she loved straws. My doctor told me to just go cold turkey and she would drink when she got thirsty enough. He was right it took a couple of days and during that time I offered her the Playtex cup that had a straw. She drank a little more each day and by the third day she was drinking milk. Then we went to the store and I let her pick out her own sippy cup she did and would drink out of them. She was however 14 months when I finally decided to take her off the bottle. In reality I was the one who had the most difficult time. She also loved bottled water with the spout so you might try that so at least he will be drinking something when you take the bottle away.