introducing a cup?

[Cheezywotsit]

Hi all. I have a query about drinks and introducing a cup. My baby is exclusively breastfed and we will start weaning next month at the 6 month mark (going to give BLW a whirl as it seems to suit my slummy mummy ethos ;)). Baby hardly ever has a bottle, only when I need to be away for over 3 hrs which has happened a handful of times since birth, and then DH has a real struggle. Anyway, I intend to fully breastfeed until I can introduce cows milk at 1 year old. So, when should I introduce a cup? Do I start giving milk in it? In which case should I pump and give instead of a milk feed? Or should I offer water with meals (havent given water yet as fully BF). Sorry if this is a stupid q...Also - is tap water ok post 6 months? I have a doidy cup (was a gift) - they look so cool - like little drunken cups! Can I use that straight away or do I need to but something with a spout. Sorry - thats loads of questions isnt it!! I really appreciate any help!

I started giving a cup of water along with meals when I started solids. I did use a lidded cup (a free-flowing tommee tippee one) as I figured it would be less messy. Tap water would be fine as a drink from 6 months. I never offered milk in the cup until ds was around 9 months.

I offer my 7 mo BLW baby a doidy cup with water at each meal. Started at 6 mo and she now drinks properly from it (with me holding the base, she holds the handles). It still can be a bit messy if I don't hold on tightly enough, but then the whole thing is messy anyway! She will also drink from other open cups or a glass if we are out (drew lots of attention in Pizza Express the other day with her glass!). I give tap water.

Thanks very much Belinda and Seona. Ill start off with tap water in that case with meals in the doidy cup (seeing as I have it in and you had success belinda!).

Just to say I was interested to read this as am at the exact same stage with DS!

Seona, was there a reason for not giving milk in the cup? Is it because milk is so important, it HAS to go in? Sorry for ignorance

ds was bottle fed so up till 9 months or so I felt it was important that he maintained his milk intake - they tend to take a lot less out of the cup especially to start with. Once he was taking more in the way of solid food I felt his milk intake wasnt quite as important and started offering 1 milk feed in the cup and the rest by bottle. He took to it very well and eventually took all of his milk from a cup by the time he was 10 1/2 months old.

I used to give my ds water in his cup and milk in the bottle, then when he was around 10 months old I gave him a MAM trainer cup for easy transistion from bottle to cup...by 12 months he had ditched the bottle. He is two now and uses a cup.