Holding a bottle or cup

[meowcatuk]

My nine month old is still not holding her bottle or cup, I went to visit my healthvisitor and she said she should be started to. Any tips on how to encourage her?

No tips, just to say that my DD was not at all keen on holding her own bottle - and although she was capable of it, did everything she could to avoid it. She learnt to hold her water cup first - but not till over a year old, and never did choose to hold her own milk bottle until the day she gave up bottles altogether (17 months). She's now 22 months, and into her independent phase, and beware anyone else trying to hold her cup for her! So I wouldn't worry too much about it....

some kids just don't wanna hold their own cup! she'll do it in her own time... i certainly wouldn't worry about it at 9 months.

grrr at health visitos saying such stupid stuff!

oh and as for encouraging her, just leave her cup wuithin reach while she has her dinner... or give it to her afterwards... she may just play with it for a while, but eventually she will drink from it by herself

my dd never held her own bottle but at least that way I got to have control over it!! She stopped having bottles at about 14 months. She didnt really hold her own cup until she was 8/9 months and that was through us offering the cup during meals and then leaving it on the highchair tray so she could examine it, pick it up, etc. I dont think its a big deal as long as you're not still holding the cup when she's 5 years old!!!