how do/did you get your toddler to drink from a cup?? any tips...

[brightonbleach]

...hi all, lurker here, I haven't posted since I was on the gestational diabetes board but I do come looking for advice often! :o so... my DS has just turned 2 and I'm wondering how to get him to even try another cup other than the sports sipper he loves (he will not drink from any other cup even if thirsty! bats them away and shrieks unhappily), let alone get him to drink from an open cup... any wonderful tips appreciated, cheers, as am sure I should be encouraging him to try other cups by now, just wondering how others do this one,ta :)

Give him a cup in the bath. Then when he spills it doesn't matter.

I agree with DeWe, DD (21months) has really improved her cup drinking after drinking what seems like galloons of bath water whilst playing.

ooooh thats a great idea! I love it when people offer things I'd have never thought of, thanks :) I will try it. I don't mind the mess, just hoping he will even take another cup out of my hands and try it.... bathtime here I come, thanks for that

DS was nearly 3. He just spilled them before then.

You could try a doidy cup too. Although DD wouldn't drink out of hers for ages and it was only when she was coming up to two and turned it around herself that I realised I'd been giving it to her facing the wrong way .

You could try a straw in a normal cup, teach him how to blow bubbles and drink with it. Or a cup with a curly straw.

Regardless of how you teach him I think there will still be some accidental and even more intentional spillages.

Convo with DD tonight at dinner:
Me: DD be careful, hold your cup with both hands or it'll spill.
30 secs later: water splashing on the floor.
Me: You've got to hold it carefully, or you'll spill more.
DD: Didn't spill it, I poured it.

When I tried to move by daughter from a bottle to a cup I found it hard. Then one day I threw the bottles in the bin in front of her and she knew they were gone. Then we went to the shop and I let her choose a cup herself - a lovely Disney one that she loves and she didn't miss the bottles at all.