DS finally drinking a bit from a cup (no spout) but soooo messy - what can I do?

[SamJohnsMum]

DS (7mo) is BF (apart from solids obv) and refuses a bottle. I have tried various cups and over the past few days he has really started to drink both milk and water from a tommee tippee cup without the lid on. I don't know what made me try it (Desperation? Sleeplessness? Madness? Divine inspiration?) but I could hear him swallowing and he liked holding the handles while I held it to his mouth. But, although he definitely drank a fair bit, lots also went down his chin and soaked his bib and pat of his top.

I am keen to wean him off Bf over the next few months and if we could go straight to this sort of cup, I would feel like the hassles of him not wanting a bottle would all have been worthwhile!!

Any advice? Special bibs or cups maybe?

plastic bib that covers his whole upper body

Mines the same age as yours and he'll also only drink from open cup and not one with a spout. I've started to give it to him in the bath in the evening so that he can learn how to do it properly and I don't care about the mess. Seems to work a bit...

only put a teeny tiny bit in. you almost need 2 cups. one has the drink in, the other you pour teeny bits in for him to drink from. gradually you build up the amount.

also, maybe try a very small cup, like a shot glass size. OR you can get 'doidy cups' a brand shaped at a slant so the child can see in the cup while they drink so not overspill as much.

Hmmm - I have had an identical experience (DD refusing bottle, LOVES cups with handles, got the milk everywhere etc). However, she is equally messy drinking from the spout bit as she doesn't seem to like swallowing a lot at once (well that has been mine and DH's conclusion). She is very keen to take a lot into her mouth them just holds it there and spits it out.

I realise this is not very helpful as I am not sure what to do about it either and she is starting nursery in a week!

Just wanted to add my dd loves the doidy cup and tends to lap up the liquid with her tongue! But it's messy too. I think ruddynorah's suggestion to put only a small amount is a good one.

I gave DS cups to play with in the bath - though you have to not mind them drinking the bath water! We transferred to a cup no problme but then he was quite a bit older than 7 months - would a 7 month old have enough control to drink wihout spilling?

My DS loved the doidy at first (5-6mo), as I think he found the feel of a spout in his mouth odd, but we gradually got him used to the tommee tippee by offering that often and he now drinks from that most of the time. It is a lot less messy than the doidy albeit still goes everywhere. I found a cloth bib best as it soaks up the water, but TBH I don't worry as he is a messy BLWer so has about 3 changes of clothes a day anyway!

I TRIED to be relaxed about it, although did have a few posts on here obsessing about how he had only drunk 10ml and would he die of thirst etc. Anyway he really got the hang of drinking from a cup at about 8mo. Now nearly 9.5mo and can pick up and drink from tommee tippee himself.

Kewcumber's idea of playing with cups is a great idea. DS was fascinated by us drinking cups of tea so we would give him the cup after we'd finished drinking to practise drinking from. Even today, he was obsessively watching me drink my water so I gave him a drink from my glass. It takes them a while to get used to it, so just let them try it whenever and however they want. I also offer outside of mealtimes so he had plenty of practice with the cup.

Also, as your DS is bf, he will be getting enough liquid in him so don't worry if he only drinks v small amounts of water.

As for formula, I'm trying to wean DS now and he won't take formula from a cup or bottle - have now realised it is clearly a taste thing as he has no problem with water.

Meant to finish by saying - it took my DS a while but he now is a lot less messy than he was and more water stays in than goes everywhere. Practice makes perfect etc.