Water?

[kofduke]

We're going to try introducing a sippy cup, since DS has been absolutely refusing the bottle. Is it okay to give him 1-2 oz. of water yet? He's 4 months old. I'd rather start w/ water, b/c I have a feeling the first two tries will end up with everything on the floor!

Kristin
mama to Aaron, 1/26/03

[prouddfofscorpio]

our dd has been drinking water (once ebm) out of a real cup with no probs for a while now, though we do hold the cup for her.
i have heard that the sippy cups can screw up a latch, so just use caution

[sugarmoon]

My ds loves water! We didn't introduce it quite that early, but I don't see why not, esp. if you need to teach him to drink out of something other than the breast (do you NEED to? if you don't, you could maybe just skip it until he's a bit older). My ds couldn't figure out the no-spill type sippy cup, and I didn't dare give him the kind with just a spout, cause he'd dump it everywhere. We use a rubbermaid juice box type containter, the kind witha straw down to the bottom and a spout that flips up and you suck from. It is great because he doesn't have to suck too hard. It does still make bit of a mess, b/c he likes to suck it in and then spit it out....

[DaryLLL]

One of mine was grabbing for my coffee cup at 3 mos. She knew just what to do too. Hang her upper lip over the top. My little genius. . (she clearly said "Kitty" at 9 mos. OK, enough about her!) So we started giving her water in a regular cup then. I would hold it for her of course. Most babies like to start a cup at around 4 mos, if you think to offer. You don't have to, of course. Breastmilk is 95% water.

I never had a problem with sip cups messing up breast latch, but your mileage may vary.

[kofduke]

I'll be going back to work in 2 months, so that's why we've been working on his accepting something other than the breast. Thanks for everyone's advice!

Kristin