When did you start using a beaker for milk?

[houmousandcarrotsandwich]

DS is 8 months old, has 3 meals a day & 3 milk feeds a day(mix feeding BM or FF).
He has a beaker (tommee tippee flippy hard nib type with no valve) with water in at meals times & with my guidance will drink happily.

When should I start using a beaker for milk feeds?
He usually has a bottle mid afternoon, would that be a good time to try?
Also should I use a different style beaker or even is it ok to use a different style beaker?

Your advice and experiences welcome

My DD was fully BF so didn't introduce milk from a cup until 1 yr. I found she wouldn't take it from her tippee cup that she associated with water so gave her it from her doidy cup - initially with me in control, then with her holding the handles then just went for it at about 14 months - plenty of accidents but as she was in her high chair with a full bib on it was relatively contained. Has used a heavier china mug with 2 handles since 18 months as it's more difficult to knock over by accident.

I would say if he is ready from a co-ordination point of view to try a beaker for milk then go for it. I don't see the point in changing from bottle to a valve spout (others may disagree) as you'll only have to change again, so you might as well go straight for the tippee cup or open cup with you in control if he'll let you.

Depends on the child. In general though I would say they aren't great at drinking from a spout until about 1. You can try soft spouts earlier, but as notasausage said, just go for the tippee cup when you feel he will get anough from it.

I started giving my dd her mid-afternoon milk in beaker at about 8mo or so, because she was doing fine with water at meal times and figured it was better to start introducing a beaker with milk before she was 1, with the hope to be rid of bottles by her 1st birthday. She protested for a couple of days, but I stuck it out and she now has 6oz formula from her tommee tippee beaker at breakfast time and in the afternoon, with only her evening feed from a bottle. I introduced her cup at breakfast once there was no fuss with her having milk from her cup in the afternoon.

I think the trick is to remember that a day or 2 of not getting a full afternoon milk feed isn't a major problem and if you introduce it, you should stick with it for at least a few days, so that your dc learns that if they want milk in the afternoon, they get it from a cup. And if it's really not working, maybe he's just not ready yet.

I started giving DS milk from a beaker like this at about 8 months and we are now onto these . He was exclusively breast fed, so I just went straight onto these instead of giving bottles as I reduced the BFs. I found these types of cup better than the ones with non-spill valves in as they have to suck really hard from the non-spill cups, where as in the free flow cups it is easier to get the milk. Plus if he is already taking water from a similar cup, then you should have no problems!

Thanks everyone, think I might leave it a little longer so he is abit more coordinated.

Its reassuring to see others don't like the value beakers either. I tried using one and I found it hard to get the liquid out, so how a baby can do it is beyond me!
Free flow all the way!!

We moved to a 'sucka mug' at a year & DD1 got after about a week of sips. My main tip would be to get a mug with proper valve (rather than the Tommy Tippee leak mug) especially if you are planning on giving it later at bedtime, otherwise the leaks will mean you have bedding & other household items that smell of off milk - gross. I recommend the Playtex ones (available online) - they don't leak & they do a half pint one for bigger kids - DD1 uses her's at bedtime & in the car (with squash - since I also hate sticky car seats).