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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Should my 2 year old be able to drink from an open cup?

16 replies

MumofJTM · 12/10/2009 21:31

My DS was is 2 and 2 months, and is still using an "Anywayup cup" with a lid. I have tried him with a Doidy cup and with cups without a lid, but he always seems to choke himself, and wants me to put the lid on again. Should I be persevering, or too early and not push it?

When did you experienced Mumsnetters get your LOs on to open cups?

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giddykipper · 12/10/2009 21:34

It just takes practice, like anything really, so I would persevere with it. DS has been using a cup properly since he was about 12 months.

hairyclaireyfairy · 13/10/2009 09:38

Personally i'd put the lid back on, he does'nt sound ready. He will let you know when he is

plod · 13/10/2009 09:42

My DS has only just mastered the art, he is 2 and 6 months. I have always just left the lid on the cup, very occasionally taking it off only for him to pour it down his front! So the lid went back on. Then all of a sudden, he got it. I usually still leave the lid on, but he often drinks from mine or DH drink and does it perfectly. It will come! Don't push it.

missorinoco · 13/10/2009 09:43

I'm not so brave.
DS is 2 and 5 months. I give one to him with a straw at mealtimes in the kitchen, i.e., when the mess is more controlled, but otherwise he gets a Tommee Tippee cup with a lid and spout.

He's getting better with an open cup, but it would just be so messy.....

vbusymum1 · 13/10/2009 09:46

I don't think its a question of should be able to but as others say its when they are ready and able to. My 19th old has been able to drink from an open cup for a while but he doesn't always want to and I don't always want him to as of course there are lots of spills.
Try not to worry if his friends can do it, it will come.

StealthPolarBear · 13/10/2009 09:47

DS is 2 1/2 and is perfectly capable of drinking from an open cup, however he can#'t be trusted not to mess around / blow bubbles / put things in it so apart from mealtimes he almost always has te lid on

MrsBadger · 13/10/2009 10:06

just practice

dd (2.2) can drink from an open cup no problem, but isn't as good when it comes to putting it down safely on the table, not swiping it with her elbow etc. So she has water in an open cup but milk in a sippy one to minimise mess.

The only thing that I might think about is that the anyway up cups have a valve that needs a pretty strong sucking action so one with a freer flow (the basic cheap Tommy Tippee ones are good) might help him with the transition.

NellyTheElephant · 13/10/2009 10:54

It's just practice and if you don't let them try (and tip it everywhere!) then they won't learn. I don't think I tended to give DD1 an open cup much before she was two (mess / spill etc etc), but DD2 was quite capable of picking up a cup and drinking from it from before her first birthday (as she would swipe DD1's juice etc). Sure she would tip it everywhere half the time too, much to my annoyance. I tended to use open cups at the table at mealtimes (with just water so if there are spills it's not such a problem) as they are a bit more focussed and careful when sitting down, and closed beakers at other times or with milk / juice etc. Even now that the DDs are 4.8 and 2.8 I still use closed beakers at times for convenience although they are both quite happy (and safe) to drink from normal glasses when at the table.

Like Mrs B said, it might be best to start by getting him used to freer flow - you can remove the round plastic valve bit from the anyway up cup and then drinks will flow freely through the spout (and of course can spill too.....)

lynniep · 13/10/2009 10:58

as the others have said.

DS was rubbish with an open cup until recently (he's 2.7) and we always practiced with smoothie type drinks which are gloopier so easier to cope with. He can now drink from a cup, but he's still clumsy putting it down and will knock it over, plus he messes about and spills it deliberately.

So normally he gets his tommee tippee with open spout. And when I can be bothered to supervise he'll his tommee tippee without the lid on.

Rollmops · 13/10/2009 11:26

Our twins are 21 months and both drink ONLY from open cup, lids are flung far with toddler disgust.
They started around 15 month, decided one day that enough of lids and presto...

Original poster

MumofJTM · 13/10/2009 13:18

Thanks for the tips, everyone!

Hadn't considered the strength of suck needed on the anywayup cup might be an issue - do you just hack the valve out with a pair of scissors or is there a knack to removing the valvev - think that might be a good first step! Nelly, any ideas?

Might also move back to Tommy cups - have still got some somewhere, I think!

OP posts:

ThingOneofYourNightmares · 13/10/2009 18:13

My DS1 didn't really like open cups, despite me starting offering them at seven months. At 5.10 he still sometimes asks for "a drink with a lid" when he's tired. He finds them very comforting. He has been able to drink out of an open cup for a long time but didn't like it. As he only drinks water I let him carry on for a long time. I just set a rule from probably about three and a half that he had to have an open cup at mealtimes.

My DS2 did take to the open cup at seven months and there was a lot of mess for a long time.

Scottie22 · 13/10/2009 21:11

My ds took a while to get used to open cups and I think it was because he always had an 'anyway up' cup which needs a strong suck to drink from. He mastered it at about 2.5 I think.

dd has been drinking from an open cup for a few months now and is coming up for 2.5 - we just started gradually and we still only have an open cup at mealtimes as she's clumsy so still use a lidded beaker out and about.

crokky · 13/10/2009 21:13

My children (DS 3.6 and DD 1.6) can both drink from an open cup, but I like to put the lids on the anyway up cups most of the time as I don't want the whole lot on the floor.

FimbleHobbs · 14/10/2009 09:05

tip from a lazy mum: I let my DCs practise drinking from open cups when they were in the bath so didn't need to worry about spills.

BornToFolk · 14/10/2009 09:20

DS is just two and has been able to drink from an open cup since he was about 15 months old, but this is solely down to nursery. They gave them open cups there and the kids all copy each other so he picked it up really easily.

But he does seem to be doing an odd regression thing recently where he's wanted a cup with a lid, and to use a spoon rather than a fork (to eat everything, very annoying!)

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