How To Get Toddler To Drink Milk Out Of A Cup

Recently updated on January 4th, 2023 at 04:39 pm

Do you think you are alone; no, you are not! “How do I offer a cup to my child?” is one of the most often asked queries these days. Considering your child’s age and stage, we understand you have concerns regarding cups. So, here we go! We want to take you through the process step by step so you understand exactly how to introduce different cups and which cups are acceptable for your child’s age.

Your toddler will most likely not be ready to grasp a cup or drink on his or her own until beyond the age of one. However, they should learn to practice sooner. This is the appropriate moment to offer a sippy cup, whether with or without a straw. Spouted, or spoutless, babies are usually approximately six months old when they begin solids. Children will be exposed to a wide range of different sensory, behavioral, and cognitive experiences. When babies initially start eating, it’s preferable to await a week or 2 before introducing the cup.

What is the best way to introduce cups to your baby?

Your child just needs to understand to drink from 2 different sorts of cups:

• First, there’s an open cup.
• Second there’s a straw cup.

Above all, make absolutely sure you begin with an open cup. It is extremely beneficial to your child’s learning of how to place a little bolus of liquid in their mouth and swallow it. We advise against using hard spout sippy cups.

How about the Miracle 360 cups? Considering it is less prone to spill, mothers prefer the 360 cups, which really is comparable to an open cup with such a silicone membrane lid. It was formerly suggested as the third cup kind to instruct your child. Meanwhile, several feeding professionals have increasingly highlighted concerns about how some babies use this sort of cup.

How much breast milk or formula could your kid under the age of 12 months consume?

Children’ body requirements for optimal growth and development may differ tremendously. Some newborns require 26 oz of liquid per day, while others require more than 40 oz. When they reach the age of one, most children need about 25 ounces of breast milk or baby formula. Obviously, it depends on the baby’s milk transfer, this translates to 6-12+ breast feeds. If you’re worried of how much milk the baby is consuming, see a doctor, dietician, or lactation consultant.

When will my child be able to take from an open cup without our help and support?

When your toddler grows older and more comfortable with an open cup, he or she will be able to handle that and drink through their own. Most of Judy’s personal feeding treatment clients can drink from an open cup on their own by ten months of age, but let me tell you that every toddler is different. To assist your infant in drinking from an open cup through their own after training with you carrying the cup:

• Put a tiny bit of water in the cup for toddler and pass it to them with the help of your hands over their hands (“hand-over-hand” method).
• Assist them with bringing the cup to their lips and drinking a tiny bit of water. Saying “AHH” to get them to do it again (It will promote swallowing).
• Assist them in placing the cup back on its tray or table by placing your hands above their hands. Placing the cup down allows them to take a pause among sips of water, preventing them from drinking excessively, too quickly.
• Remind them if they want anything else – here is where sign language might come in handy!
• Continue until the infant can do it on their own! Experience.

When could you switch to a straw cup?

Employ a straw cup as quickly as your little one can swallow from an open cup with your help! Your child should be able to utilize both sorts of cups. Open cups are great for drinking at home. Parents chose portable straw cups for on-the-go water consumption. As they are frequently leak-proof (or we can say leak-resistant).

For environment protection, some individuals are abandoning disposable straws. However, because most children’s cups have a reusable straw, it’s still necessary to train them how to use them. As well as, you’ll see later, we wouldn’t want to use stiff spout sippy cups for concerns of oral growth and speaking. Straws also help to build the tissues muscles in the mouth that are necessary for eating and communicating.

What about the Munchkin 360 cup?

As previously said, we used to offer the Miracle 360 cup to families looking for a more spill-proof choice that looked like an open cup. However, several eating therapists have lately discovered that the 360 cup might contribute to poor drinking behaviors in some children:

• To have the liquid out of the cup, most children employ exaggerated jaw motions. (This is known as jaw protrusion.)
• Because of this cup, your toddler’s tongue may sit at the front of their mouth (anteriorly). The tongue is not supposed to stick forward during “normal” drinking habits.
• When drinking from the 360 cup, some toddlers tilt their heads back. When they tilt their heads back, their tongue is forced to function in an unusual way.

Drinking from an open cup and a straw cup is vital for your growing child. If they’re consuming from a 360 cup, consider switching to an open or straw cup for the most of the time. Remove the 360’s silicone top cover and hand it to your kid with a cup of water or milk in it. As a result, it becomes a customized open cup. It may take some time for your toddler to adapt to change their drinking habit and neck posture.

When sipping from a cup, make sure your youngster is sitting up straight. If they were accustomed to consuming it while reclining or laying down. The liquid may spill upon them if the cup is altered.

Consider the following while purchasing stronger or bigger water bottles:

1. Is it too hefty for your toddler to lift?
2. Could children open the lid and drink from it on their own?
3. Is it possible for their fingers to wrap all around water bottle?

If your answer “yes” to any of the above questions, it really is time for a “big kid” cup!

Final Words!

Your toddler could be prepared for a “genuine” water bottle or “mature kid” cup as they get older! But they’re less prone to leak and contain more drink, these bigger cups and water bottles are ideal for childcare, schools, or the diaper bag.