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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Tell me your system for switching from bottle to cup...

2 replies

2plus2more · 25/03/2011 09:37

We switched children 1 & 2 to cups at 5 months by going "cold-turkey". Child 1 didn't drink much for a couple of days but wasn't fussed about it (he's remarkably laid back!) and then by about day 3 just got it and away he went. Child 2 definitely fussed (she is NOT laid-back!) and also didn't drink much for a couple of days but then got it and away we went with her.

(I should say that my HV was fully supportive of doing it this way and we ensured that they had plenty of milk and other liquids in their food for those few days.)

Children nos. 3&4 are now 7 months and we need to make the switch. We started on Wednesday and twin 2 got it straight away and sucked quite happily. She didn't take a huge amount, but was quite happy and able to suck and swallow. Twin 1 was less happy about it, but still made a few attempts to suck so we knew she could do it, although she had very little throughout the day. Yesterday they both drank a good amount at breakfast, albeit with ALOT of screaming from Twin 1. They then drank very little the rest of the day and were not very happy about the cups! They aren't bothered in between feeds, aren't showing any signs of being extra hungry or anything and still have plenty of energy. They are eating fine, just don't want to drink out of the cup. Today they have both screamed and arched their backs and refused to drink. I have managed to get some down them both and they had plenty mixed in with their cereal but it was only a small amount.

I know they are capable of drinking out of the cup - they just don't want to. Going back onto bottles and trying again in a few months isn't an option - they have teeth coming through and I'm not happy with them having a bottle once they have teeth. (This was part of the reason for doing the other 2 at 5 months as that was when they got their first teeth)

So how did you do it?

(apologies for the long post - I always like to read OPs with as much info as possible!)

OP posts:
hillyhilly · 25/03/2011 09:43

In all truth, I don't really remember! I think we just put a cup out with their meals and let them get on with it, I did breast feed though so I guess we didn't have to worry too much about intake.
You could perhaps give a bottle at nap and bed time when they are quiet and less likely to chew it maybe?

4FoxAche · 25/03/2011 09:47

Well, ds1 was switched to formula at 6 months and we just used bottles but he would drink water from a cup straight away. Don't know what I did, just offered it all the time I suppose.

At 12months I just threw away all the bottles after getting a new cup (a normal sippy cup for water and a different cup for milk so it was easier to to know which was which) then started offering his milk in a cup.

It took about 2/3hrs of crying before he gave in and took the cup of milk.

Ds2 is BF but I started offering a sippy cup of water with his meals. He makes a right mess but understands what to do.

I wouldn't get too cut up about getting them on cups because of teeth. As long as they aren't walking around with the bottle in their mouths and are finishing the bottles quickly rather than just sipping. Just make sure their teeth are brushed and just keep offering the cup until they get it.

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