Tips for using a doidy cup

[neepsntatties]

dd is 4 1/2 months and refuses a bottle. Just offered her some ebm in the cup and she didn't cry so that is progress! Any tips for helping her drink from the cup? I was thinking of trying a little bit at least once a day.

[HarrietJones]

That was our plan but we kept forgetting/being busy etc. Dd3 is now 8 months & is happy to take it but still doesn't have it regularly

[flickor]

Giving DD water as weaning her and using doidy cup. I give it her at meals times. What is DD like in evening ? Might be good to use it then.
One piece of advice - use pelican bib and one of those plastic overalls they use for painting - it does have a tendency to go down top at first.

[neepsntatties]

I am going back to work so need her to take something. Not sure how much she drank and how much she spilled. Will try a pelican bib thanks!

[PenguinArmy]

when are you going back to work, next few weeks?

[PenguinArmy]

also what helped me was I figured babies can sleep through at this point, so tried not to worry about lack of day feeds. She was a 2hourly feeder day and night anyway so she couldn't exactly reverse cycle on me.

[neepsntatties]

August so got a bit of time yet, also she will be on solids by then too. In Sept I have to go away for two nights though.

[PenguinArmy]

you'll be fine, if needs be to for her to go without during the day by then.

two nights away will be trickier, is it with work because as BF mother I think you should have some protection there. Other option is for the baby and babysitter to come with, then you can do a few feeds.

You've still got a good while for her to get used to the cup though, so I would try and relax for the next 4 weeks and just see how it goes and hopefully people will be along with more tips. DD had a valved cup at this age and would normally be able to feed herself providing she was lying back (counter to normal advice I know but she did get fussy with the bottle at that age and DH found this to work)

[neepsntatties]

I think going back to work will be ok, it's the weekend away that I am worried about more. It is for a course and is in London while I am in Scotland so can't really bring anyone with me. Just have to keep trying that bottle I guess.

[tatyr]

I used to demonstrate what to do first with an empty cup, let her have the empty cup (and she would inevitably try to copy what i had just done) Then I would put a tiny bit of milk in the cup, make sure that she could see there was something in there, and let her take it up to her mouth again, and some would go in. i would try to stop her slugging the whole lot in as she couldn't really cope with it, but she would get some, and lick her lips!
I used to do it either with her sitting in a Bumbo-type seat, or in the middle of my folded legs, so she didn't have to work on sitting up at the same time.
Try to keep it light hearted and like a game, because she won't want to play if you are getting stressed out