Getting a toddler to drink his milk from a sippy cup rather than from a bottle is an important change that every child must go through. In addition to simply allowing the baby to become more self-reliant and mature, it also helps to prevent several health problems. According to BabiesToday.com, babies or toddlers who stay on the bottle too long have an increased risk of getting baby bottle tooth decay as well as ear infections. Toddlers are often reliant on their bottles for comfort, so it can be difficult to transition him from the bottle to sippy cup, yet handling the transition in a particular way will make it easier for both the toddler and the parents.
Choose a Special Sippy Cup Together
Sippy cups are better for toddlers to use because they have tops which prevent spilling yet still require the toddler to suck in order to get milk out. Allowing your toddler to choose a special sippy cup will make her more likely to use it because she will identify it as her own. BabyCenter.com states that taking your toddler to the store and allowing her to choose the type, size and color that she wants will help her be more favorable toward using the sippy cup.
Demonstrate How to Use a Sippy Cup
Since toddlers aren't born naturally knowing how to use a sippy cup, they usually need some demonstration before they can start using one. If they are unsure how to use the sippy cup, they will be more likely to want to use the bottle instead. BabyCenter.com recommends that the mom or dad use a separate but similar-looking sippy cup, fill it with milk, raise it to their mouths and actually drink from it to demonstrate how the toddler should use the sippy cup. Make a sucking noise so they understand what gets the milk out.
Put Only Water in the Bottle
Milk is not only healthy for toddlers but also tasty to most of them. Therefore, if a baby is having a hard time switching from the bottle of milk to the sippy cup with milk, the mother can try putting only water in the bottle and only milk in the sippy cup. BabyCenter.com states that this technique will help the baby by making him want the milk and therefore the sippy cup, instead of the bottle with water.
Throw Away the Bottle
One of the most effective ways to get a baby to switch is to actually get rid of the bottle so there is no other option. Though this method can be stressful for the toddler, especially for the first few days, the toddler will eventually get over the sadness and want for the bottle. This can be one of the most successful ways of getting a child used to the sippy cup because the child must use the sippy cup to get milk.
