Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Original poster

I'm having trouble teaching my 6 month old to drink from an open cup.

72 replies

Walkingtree · 14/04/2023 16:53

I'm trying to tech my 6 month old to drink from an open cup. I wondered if anyone has experience of this.

He's had a go a few times but mainly just tips the water out then plays with the cup.

Am i expecting too much from him? How long does it take most children?

All The examples i've seen show young children obediently letting their mums pour water in to their mouths, but he doesn't like that. (We're doing baby led weaning as he only likes to feed himself aswell)

If anyone has experience teaching an independent little soul...i'd love to hear it!

OP posts:
WhisperingAutistic · 14/04/2023 16:55

What's wrong with a tippy cup?
6 months is very, very young.

BringtheJury · 14/04/2023 16:56

No two children are the same and 6 months is still very little, will he drink from a sippy cup, much less of a palaver !

roseopose · 14/04/2023 16:57

Sippy cup at that age. I don't think DD nailed drinking independently from an open cup until she was between 18-24 months.

Hotvimto3 · 14/04/2023 17:00

Give them a cup they can use

LittleBlueBrioTrain · 14/04/2023 17:01

Doidy cup in the bath

FlounderingFruitcake · 14/04/2023 17:01

Just use a sippy cup! At that age one if mine had the a mam soft spout cup, the other preferred the basic tommee tippee one. They both managed 360 cups at about 9 months old, then had straw cups as young toddlers, but I wouldn’t give them a properly open cup until about 2 as they’re too likely to knock it over and make a huge mess.

And I’ve never seen anyone pour water into baby’s mouth like that, sounds mad, and totally unnecessary.

Donotgogentle · 14/04/2023 17:02

Why would you try to teach a 6 month old to use an open cup?

popopop · 14/04/2023 17:02

My 2.5 year old can barely drink from an open cup...

Linio · 14/04/2023 17:03

Stop thinking those Instagram mums are the ideal role model for parenting.

I don’t know a single 6 month old who drank from an open cup.

Woodywoodpeckerharrison · 14/04/2023 17:04

Why? What's the rush?

MathsNervous · 14/04/2023 17:04

Sippy cup

SunnySaturdayMorning · 14/04/2023 17:05

Have you tried a dinky cup or a doidy cup?

Original poster
Walkingtree · 14/04/2023 17:06

Thank you! I'll try him on the Doidy cup!

OP posts:
LittleMrsPerfect · 14/04/2023 17:06

My baby is 20months and can’t do this.

were you BF as jn my experience it’s only the BF babies that manage it as they have never had a bottle

Noideawhatiam · 14/04/2023 17:08

I gave my DD an open cup at 6 months.
We had the tiny "shot glass" sized baby cups. Filled it to almost full so she didn't need to tip it much and just let her practice every meal time.
She was able to get the hang of drinking quite quickly but still tips out the remaining water now at 16 months.
It can be done but you need to accept they will pour the water out.

CatOnTheChair · 14/04/2023 17:09

My 2 never had a bottle.
We used open - doidy - cups from weaning. Very little water in the bottom! Although there is a balance between having to tip too far to drink and potential mess!
Only time we did free flow spouted cups was when out and about for extended periods - so maybe once a month.

Totalwasteofpaper · 14/04/2023 17:09

Doidy was a waste of time for us and my 13 month old still cant use it reliably but good luck

Original poster
Walkingtree · 14/04/2023 17:09

Yes, he's bf. I was wondering if he he just needs time to get used to the idea of drinking anything, he can physically do it, i just don't think he has the concept of water quenching thirst yet.

OP posts:
ImNotAsThinkAsYouDrunkIAm · 14/04/2023 17:11

I tried every cup under the sun (including sippy cups, straws, etc) with my eldest and he eventually got the hang of it with one of those disposable plastic cups that have a lip round the edge - he was able to ‘latch onto’ the lip, if you see what I mean. Not suggesting you use a disposable cup forever but it might help dc get the hang of it.

Glamgwen · 14/04/2023 17:11

There's so much mess with an open cup – why put yourself through it?! Just get one of those (cheap) Tommee Tippee free flow sippy cups (this is what they used at DCs nursery). I honestly didn't give my DC an open cup until he was about 4. Doesn't seem to have done him any harm.

Original poster
Walkingtree · 14/04/2023 17:12

Thank you, that's helpful. I'm fine with mess, só i've been wondering if filling it only a little was makingbit harder for him

OP posts:
Kitcaterpillar · 14/04/2023 17:12

Mine started drinking from a tiny open cup at 6 months and probably cracked it at 9 months. But I only did it because it amused me to see someone so tiny drinking like a grown up and I didn't mind the water hurling. It does still amuse me now at 2 because her cup of choice is a tankard.

DoesItHaveKosovo · 14/04/2023 17:12

This is odd. Use a 360 cup or a sippy cup!

ACynicalDad · 14/04/2023 17:12

wait for summer and teach them outside with not a lot of clothes on, maybe summer 2024...

Original poster
Walkingtree · 14/04/2023 17:13

Thanks

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread