If I introduce a sippy cup...

[AFWife]

What do I put in it??

DS is 9mo and SO interested in our food. He whined and cried last night until I realized what he wanted and gave him small bits of rice from my plate. He was totally happy after that. When we're drinking anything he grabs at the cup/bottle and tries to actually drink. It's not just about the container anymore (it was for a while) now he wants to eat and drink like us. DH suggested we try giving him a sippy cup but I have no idea what to put in it.

I don't have enough "extra" to pump and give him BM, I'm unsure about water, and I don't want to do juice because it's sugar water...right?

What would you do?

[2boyzmama]

I'd give water, especially since his first several tries will likely involve a lot of spilling, drooling, spitting, etc. Otherwise you could make your own juice so it doesn't have added sugar, but it'll still be sticky.

When my boys were crawling, I'd give them sippy cups that they could play with, gnaw on, and try to drink from. Since they were taken all over the house, I'd only put water in.

[red and lulu]

nak

we introduced a sippy cup about a month ago when dd was 5 mo. i'd never pumped so she'd never had a bottle, but i wanted there to be a way she could eat if i wasn't there. i just put a tiny bit of filtered water in it to start (less than an ounce) and she was happy as could be just gnawing on it... i was nervous about the water and posted here, and general consensus was that water in small amounts is ok (but ebm is better). but i don't like to pump if i don't have to, so if we're sitting at the table and she's reaching for everything i'll just put a touch of water in the sippy and she's satisfied to chew on it and bang it around... it's not really about what's in the cup, it's just feeling like she's included.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by CJsMama

nak

we introduced a sippy cup about a month ago when dd was 5 mo. i'd never pumped so she'd never had a bottle, but i wanted there to be a way she could eat if i wasn't there. i just put a tiny bit of filtered water in it to start (less than an ounce) and she was happy as could be just gnawing on it... i was nervous about the water and posted here, and general consensus was that water in small amounts is ok (but ebm is better). but i don't like to pump if i don't have to, so if we're sitting at the table and she's reaching for everything i'll just put a touch of water in the sippy and she's satisfied to chew on it and bang it around... it's not really about what's in the cup, it's just feeling like she's included.

I think that's exactly what he needs. He's tired of being "the baby" is my guess....

[Anastasiya]

We only give water in sippy cups, so that's my recommendation.

[ShwarmaQueen]

I'm not really a fan of sippy cups. I tried with DD but she wouldn't take them (and I even tried several different kinds) and then I became relieved that she wouldn't possibly become attached to one (I've known several kids IRL since then who would have total meltdowns if they didn't have their cup...).

INSTEAD, I bought a box of 3 oz Dixie (?) cups and she "played" with those instead.

[cristeen]

Water, absolutely. But like the pp indicated, not a lot of it. The dentist we went to see to have my son's tie clipped gave us handouts that stressed the importance of never putting anything other than water in a sippy (although the assumption was that BM wasn't available). And truth be told, the entire purpose is to learn, and what better to learn to drink from a cup than water? It's a good habit to form early (water only). Besides, if he's eating solids, some water is a good idea.

[elmh23]

We only do water in sippy cups. With both our kids, I've intro'd it between 5-6 months. For both of them, that was summer time here in New Mexico so I felt they needed something to keep them cool and hydrated in the car.

[lifeguard]

The rule in this house is water only in sippies. I don't think introducing juice young is wise - it's really just sugar - better to have the real fruit. On the occassion that ds does get cow's milk it's in a cup.

Plus, I know more than one person who has lost a sippy cup with milk in it only to find it weeks later - ICK!

[springbride]

DD got a sippy cup like this for Christmas (just a cup, not a thermos) and we have since given it to her empty a number of times to play with and figure out. When she's sitting in her highchair at the table with us I'll put a little warm water (boiled then cooled) in it and let her play. Right now she knows that something comes out, but more than that it's her favorite teether.
Seems pretty harmless to me, and keeps her occupied while we eat