Breast to Cup?

[EvanMom]

I would like to exclusively breastfeed ds2 who is 4 months old until at least 6 months. Has anyone breastfed for this long and then successfully weaned their baby directly onto a cup at this age? I would like to miss out the bottle altogether. (He does not use a dummy and so will not then have anything to suck on (other than hands/fingers)).

My reason for wanting to do this is that it took a while to get ds1 to take a bottle, then ages to take a cup. Perhaps breast to cup is better all round??

If you were successful, then which cup did your baby take to?

Thoughts?

I may not be much help here but I hoped to do exactly the same for the same reasons as you and although my daughter was happily drinking water from a cup at 6-7 months she wouldn't drink milk from it, even breast milk. But my mom swores I did when I was little. The cup I found my daughter took to best was a Mothercare one which has unfortunately been discontinued but there are others similar. It's got 2 handles, is very small and has a moulded lip which is quite hard. All the ones she had to suck on she didn't really take to even though she did eventually take to a bottle.

I went to no-spill cups or beaker cups rather than a bottle. I think a cup is too ambitious for a 6 month old to handle. Unless you plan to always be holding the cup up to her lips?

To clarify, I meant the non-spill/beaker cups, Zebra, and certainly not an open cup!

Ah, right then, I can definitely give some experience!! I think any 'soft' beaker will do you (Heinz do one), as long as you sterilise (I would chemically sterilise unless it says safe to heat-treat). The Avent 'Magic' Nopsill lids/cups (Boots sell?) come highly rated from about 4 months, but I haven't used them personally. My DD could use an Anyway up cup from 6 months, but I think that's very unusual. My 2 definitely never really took bottles, but could sort of use soft beakers (with some head support) from 3 months.

Hello. Can you put my mind at rest? My dd will drink breast milk and water from a cup, although I am also breast feeding-she has the cup with a lid at mealtimes and I would like to gently wean onto it full time. The only thing is that she doesn't seem to want to hold it for herself. When she does hold the cup she waves it gaily in the air! She is 8 months. I am usually very laid back about her doing things in her own time, but for some reason I am feeling a little anxious about her not be able to do this yet.

Both my ds1 and dd went from breast to beaker: ds1 to a small Heinz soft spout then quite quickly to an anywayup. He was always very interested in drinking from an ordinary cup/glass too. Dd refused an anywayup, but took an Avent 'magic' cup (huh! magic my ar$e! B*dy thing leaked all over the place all the time with every new spout). Refuses a cup (now 3!!!) and we've compromised on a KOTG (from Boots) bottle-thing with a sports cap. Ds2 (now 11 months) started quite well with soft spouts but now hurls it to the floor and I have the most success with a proper plastic cup and he swallows a lot (and spills a lot). I'm obviously holding it to his lips, but given problems with dd and cups I'm quite keen to encourage him. Still persevere with the beaker in the hopes that being able to do it himself will be an incentive. Wouldn't it be dull if our children just went through the stages without any problems? God, give me dull....

Hello hellbell, my ds is nearly 11 months and still just waves his beaker in the air. He has got it in his mouth once, and then he was so surprised he dropped it. I have seen a 5 month old manage it effortlessly. It's amazing how differently they pick up skills.

all of my 3 have gone straight from breast to cup (magic then anywayup) and all have refused a bottle!

With all I started with a spout without the "no spill"(but still leak) insert, so that they got the hang of milk coming out. they usually liked to chew it and I just tipped a little out while they were chewing. they then do a funny face and with in a few further sips they get the hang of it. then progress to insert when they are sucking at the spout. anyway up cup takes a good sucker!
I wouldn't bother with bottles.

by the way the avent magic spout (available separately) does fit into a wide neck bottle ring making and wide neck bottle a cup!

also have a look on the thread about beakers.....serach today - might even still be in active conversaiotn

Thanks. I know I should just let her get on with it. I have also seen the 5 month olds and got the jitters! Funny how we all get anxiety about these things now and again. Cheers.