Refusing bottle, how early can babies use a cup?

[krc]

Hi. My 5 month old baby was initially receiving formula topups through necessity (at least initially). I stopped these after about 7 weeks (yay!) only to find 2 weeks later that he wouldn't take a bottle at all - expressed or formula. He occasionally took one for a while, but is now consistently refusing. Doesn't cry but just lets it lie in his mouth... He shows interest in drinking from a cup and I've been encouraging this. However, he certainly isn't able to drink effectively from it and is really just playing at the moment. I'm due to go back to work in 2 months time and will be full time with some out of hrs emergency cover too. Consequently, I think it'd be really unfair to him to have him spending all day at childminders (lovely though she is) plus have horrors about no mummy to bf. Hence, I really want to get it nailed well before May. I know work should allow some flexibility but there will inevitably be times when I can't get away. Has anyone else managed to get their baby drinking from a cup reliably by age 7 months? Any other suggestions? Would love to hear how others managed

DD now 14 months refused a bottle from day one and still won't take one, she was drinking from a beaker and cup from about 6 months (with a lot of help)
We also fed from a spoon in those early days

DS would take nearly a full feed from a cup by about 4.5 months - in the end he was happy to have a bottle at nursery as thats what the others did (I think that was it).
He was always better about an open cup that a sippy one, and now at 21 months will only have straws or open cups.

Thanks pedilia - good to hear it's possible! How old was she when she got better at drinking from a cup? I imagine it'll be a bit messy...

Fantastic, cmotdibbler - there is hope! DS also seems to prefer an open cup though is alot messier

It is messy ! Your DS might enjoy the straw option which is way neater - start by dipping the straw into the milk, cover the top with your finger, then put in his mouth and let it run into his mouth. Do lots of ham acting with a straw yourself, and they soon get the hang of it. You can get cups whose lids have a hole in to put a straw through which are fairly mess resistant even in my sons hands...

my MW friend sometimes feeds new borns with a cup so it can be done at any age

Mine had beakers at 5 months and ordinary cups by the time they were about a year. (wouldn't take a bottle)

Thanks all - cmotdibbler, will try a straw - I hadn't thought of that. Tommy - thanks too. My ds actually used a cup as a newborn, but didn't need much and was less able to throw the cup around! Will persevere with the cup/straw and fingers crossed!

My prem baby (born at 30+6) cup fed from 37 weeks - although I'm sure she could have done so sooner as she took to it like a pro (took upto 50ml per go)- SCBU were just a bit arsey about cup feeding (who other story) Towards term she got messier but apparently that's normal as prem babies are better at cup feeding - not sure why.

Anyway what I was trying to say was babies can cup feed really early! BUT tend to loose the knack before regaining it again