Special Needs

slow flow sippy cups?

I need recommendations!  :) Aiden won't drink from a sippy cup.  His SLP really wants him to start.  I just can't find any he is willing or actually can drink from.  For one he doesnt like the feeling of the spouts (soft or hard.) So he will chew on them but wont try and drink from them.  He cant get any liquid out to try it (the few times he has tried over the past couple of months.)  Without the flow control valves I can squeeze and get some in his mouth but it comes out too fast.  Does anyone have recommendations for sippy cups that have smaller openings/holes (but not a flow valve) or ones that your LOs have accepted if they have oral sensory problems?  Also, his liquids have to be thickened.  Thanks!!
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Re: slow flow sippy cups?

  • What I did was teach my son how to use a straw instead of sippy. Not sure what your son's dx is, but straws are better for low tone. I used a capri sun to teach him and pushed the liquid up the straw and anytime he put his lips around the straw, I gave him a squirt. he finally put two and two together and started sucking. Capri Sun straws are very small and narrow so he won't get much wihich will help with the slow rate. Once he learned that, I bought the take and toss straw cups. They are not spill proof b/c they don't have a valve but are 90% spill proof b/c it's such a tight fit. I took out the provided straw (too hard of plastic and my son bit on it too) and replaced it with a soft, bendy straw (the cheap ones you buy at the grocery straw). Then I thicken his juice in it. There you go - a soft straw, virtually spill proof, no valve that allows for thickened liquids. Best part is that it only costs $3!!! These cups aren't expensive like other fancy cups.
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  • We use the Nuby cups. No valve and I actually cut out the little flap in the spout so that I can give her smoothies. 

    When DD first started using sippy cups she chewed on them a lot. Eventually she figured out they were chew toys and doesn't bite them anymore.

    I think it'll just take time for him to get use to the spout and not chew as much. 

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  • imagePMQ:

    The Tilty Cup looks amazing, and they have optional slow flow lids. They're still working on shipping to Canada so  idon't have one yet but they look perfect!

    https://www.tiltycup.com/

    I just saw that the other day!  I am def going to buy one to try!  Thanks!! 

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  • imageGreenEyesinNC:
    What I did was teach my son how to use a straw instead of sippy. Not sure what your son's dx is, but straws are better for low tone. I used a capri sun to teach him and pushed the liquid up the straw and anytime he put his lips around the straw, I gave him a squirt. he finally put two and two together and started sucking. Capri Sun straws are very small and narrow so he won't get much wihich will help with the slow rate. Once he learned that, I bought the take and toss straw cups. They are not spill proof b/c they don't have a valve but are 90% spill proof b/c it's such a tight fit. I took out the provided straw (too hard of plastic and my son bit on it too) and replaced it with a soft, bendy straw (the cheap ones you buy at the grocery straw). Then I thicken his juice in it. There you go - a soft straw, virtually spill proof, no valve that allows for thickened liquids. Best part is that it only costs $3!!! These cups aren't expensive like other fancy cups.

    Wow!  Once he learns to drink from a straw I will def try that  :)  SLP doesnt think he is ready for straw cup yet.  But we agreed that we can try if we thicken it to honey consistency (or more.)  I am going to order some pre-thickened juice boxes and the bear straw cup (so I can squeeze it) to try.  He is still aspirating on some nectar...so I am hesitant to try a juice box that isnt pre-thickened.  THANKS!  

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  • imageamajane:

    We use the Nuby cups. No valve and I actually cut out the little flap in the spout so that I can give her smoothies. 

    When DD first started using sippy cups she chewed on them a lot. Eventually she figured out they were chew toys and doesn't bite them anymore.

    I think it'll just take time for him to get use to the spout and not chew as much. 

    Yeah- we have been trying the nuby ones (without valves)...but the built-in valve is really hard for him to squeeze and suck at the same time.  I know it will take time....he is def used to his Dr. Brown bottle nipples....when we tried to even introduce new nipples he wouldnt take them.  :)  Thanks!! 

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  • I am a little suprised that your SLP wants to use a sippy cup.  DD's OT and feeding therapist are very anti-sippy.  They say it can cause issues with tongue thrusting and articulation later.  I asked the SLP at my school about it and she was also in the "avoid sippy cup" camp.  They all want DD to learn to use a straw instead.  We use a modified version of the capri-sun technique.  We are still working on it as well as drinking from an open cup.

  • Thanks ladies.  I am not sure why his SLP doesnt mind him learning to drink from a cup.  It may be that she would like him to primarily be off of bottle around 1 year- and that is the safest option for him right now?  His surgeon (for laryngeal cleft) said not to do open cup yet bc of his aspiration. We are practicing him drinking thin liquids once a day...hoping he will become more coordinated.  But, for right now they both say the sippy cup is the safest....but if we can teach him to drink from a straw safely I would love that too!  :)  Haha- I just looked up the take and toss straw cup online. We used that in OT a couple weeks ago- the problem we found is that we couldn't squeeze the thickened liquids to the top of the straw (the OT had never tried it with thickened liquids.)  Has anyone has success using it with thickened drinks?  Thanks!! 
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  • OK! I Have the answer for you! It's called a sip tip cup. Teaches you to drink from a straw AND can use thick liquids. Here's the link:

    https://www.amazon.com/The-Wright-Stuff-Sip-Tip-Package/dp/B000G39Z3E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1276357826&sr=8-1

     Where do you live? I have one that we only used once (b/c I did the capri sun thing instead) that I could give you if you live close to me in NC

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  • imageJustinlove:

    I am a little suprised that your SLP wants to use a sippy cup.  DD's OT and feeding therapist are very anti-sippy.  They say it can cause issues with tongue thrusting and articulation later.  I asked the SLP at my school about it and she was also in the "avoid sippy cup" camp.  They all want DD to learn to use a straw instead.  We use a modified version of the capri-sun technique.  We are still working on it as well as drinking from an open cup.

    Our therapists are also anti sippy cup.  We were told straw only because it is the same motion for sippy and bottle and we were to move to the different motion.  I used take and toss straw cups because Chris didnt' have the mouth muscle ability to use a cup with a valve.  We worked on thicker fluids, and it took him a year but now he can do straw with valve cups.

  • imageGreenEyesinNC:

    OK! I Have the answer for you! It's called a sip tip cup. Teaches you to drink from a straw AND can use thick liquids. Here's the link:

    https://www.amazon.com/The-Wright-Stuff-Sip-Tip-Package/dp/B000G39Z3E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1276357826&sr=8-1

     Where do you live? I have one that we only used once (b/c I did the capri sun thing instead) that I could give you if you live close to me in NC

    Oh cool!  Thanks for the link!  I haven't seen this one before! Haha- just googled it....Raleigh is about 5 hrs from us (we are near Hilton Head.)  

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  • Hey Mbitner, I PMed you. :)
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  • man! no sippys???? I wish this convo happened a few days ago. I bought a Dr. Brown's at Burlington.....Damn!
    WAY 2 Cool 4 School


    image
  • imageMummyGruetzie:
    Hey Mbitner, I PMed you. :)

    Just checked....no PMs :(  Can you try again.   

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  • imageMummyGruetzie:
    Hey Mbitner, I PMed you. :)

    Just checked....no PMs :(  Can you try again?  Thanks!

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  • Just resent it. :)
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  • imageMummyGruetzie:
    Just resent it. :)

    The bump must be messed up.  Want to try my email?  :) MarcelleRH@aol.com  

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  • imagePMQ:
    I think therapists being anti-sippy is highly dependant on diagnosis. I know everyone involved with Joey would be THRILLED if he drank from any type of sippy :)
    this SLP agrees. Prefer no sippy, but it's a child-by-child basis. PM if you have questions... If I can figure out how to get PMs :)
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