When you're ready to switch your baby from bottle feeding or breastfeeding to drinking from a cup, a baby cup--also known as a "sippy cup"--can help your child learn the new skill with minimal mess. Baby Center notes that children may be interested in cup training as early as five months. If your child is ready, adopt strategies to encourage him to master the new way to enjoy beverages.
Choose the Right Cup
Your child may find it easier to keep a firm grip on the baby training cup if you opt for a version with a handle on each side. Baby Center also recommends choosing a model with a soft, rubber drinking spout that your child may find more comfortable than a rigid plastic version. If you're concerned about spills, select a cup with a snap-on or screw-top lid that will minimize messes if your baby drops the cup or tips it over.
Start Slowly
Rather than rushing your baby into drinking from a cup, the University of California San Francisco Benioff Children's Hospital suggests introducing the cup slowly. You can let your child examine the cup and get used to holding it before you pour a drink inside. Once she seems adept at grasping the cup, add a beverage and pour a few drops of the liquid into your child's mouth so she'll realize what's inside.
Reduce Bottle Use
If you're transitioning your baby from a bottle to a cup and anticipate that he'll resist the process, KidsHealth from Nemours suggests eliminating one bottle at a time. For example, place your child's breakfast beverage in a cup instead of a bottle and reassure him that he'll still have bottles the rest of the day. Once he accepts the cup at breakfast, eliminate the lunch bottle in lieu of the cup. Continue the process until you've eliminated the last bottle at bedtime.
Make Cup Contents Appealing
Your child may want to drink from a cup instead of a bottle if she finds the cup's contents more delicious. KidsHealth notes that you can dilute the milk in your child's bottle with water, while offering undiluted milk in the sippy cup. Water the milk in the bottle down so much that eventually it's 100 percent water so your child knows that she'll have to use a cup to drink milk.
Reduce Pressure
Avoid power struggles when your child switches to a cup by starting the process when your child isn't feeling distracted or stressed by another transition. The University of California San Francisco Benioff Children's Hospital suggests postponing cup training if you've just had another baby or are in the process of moving, for instance. You may also wish to wait if your child has just started attending day care or is currently potty training.
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