Toddlers & Sippy Cups

Lyons_in_2007

At DS's 18 month well visit, we received a routine handout on developmental milestones, etc.  One bullet mentioned that toddlers (18 month +) should no longer be using sippy cups, but should be drinking exclusively from open mouth cups.  WTF?  Are we just lazy (and/or anti-mess), or does this seem a bit extreme?  I mean, he drinks from our water bottles and glasses, from time to time (with a bit of assistance to reduce complete and total spillage); but I can't imagine just handing him a glass of milk to chug. 

JenRose05

erm... Ben still uses a sippy at 2 1/2. Sure he can drink out of a regular cup but he often dribbles and it's a senseless mess. I couldnt imagine having an 18 month old completely weaned off of sippys

Mrs.Cooley2bee

Eeeek!  DD is only 15 months old but half of the time she still takes a drink from the sippy and wings it across the kitchen.  I don't see us getting rid of them any time soon.  Like you said, she can take a drink out of a cup but I wouldn't leave her with one.  I just started trusting her with a spoon!

Meg41208

I think that pamphlet was sponsored by Stanley Steemer. 

A couple weeks ago I stopped for lunch with Katie and I hadn't brought milk with us, so I bought some.  I poked the straw through the foil on the top of the milk jug and she was fine drinking it.  She wanted to take it with her in the car, and our next stop was literally 1000 feet across the parking lot, so I let her take the milk in the back of the car.  BAD IDEA.  I got out of the car to find her soaking Elmo with milk - I guess I should be pleased she was trying to share but mother of god was that a mess.  I should have been suspicious when she kept repeating "melmo. milk. melmo. milk." 

Long story short, we are so not ready for any kind of cup that does not have a gasket. 

Mrs.Cooley2bee

Meg41208:

 I should have been suspicious when she kept repeating "melmo. milk. melmo. milk." 

This is hilarious.  Made me LOL a little :0)

MrsMoher

We switched over to sippy cups that have a straw about 2 years and we let his use open mouthed cups now (maybe the last 6 months or so) at meal times at the table.  When we are in the family room or car, you best bet he gets the ones with lids/straws still. 

Meg41208

Mrs.Cooley2bee:

 I just started trusting her with a spoon!

Oh, speaking of that, our pedi asked us at our 15 month appointment whether DD was using cutlery @ meals.

I got a little paranoid about it then, but now I realize that it's absolutely absurd to expect young toddlers to use forks and spoons to eat their food.  We give K a fork at meals, but she doesn't use it consistently.  It's just practice!  She can feed herself yogurt with a spoon but gets fed up/bored about halfway through and gives up on it - and yogurt is one of her favorite foods.  Have the pediatricians who write these guidelines ever met 15 to 18 month old children?

Lyons_in_2007

Okay, thanks.  I was beginning to feel like we were really stunting his future success in life by "holding him back" with the sippy. 

Lyons_in_2007

Meg41208:

Mrs.Cooley2bee:

 I just started trusting her with a spoon!

Oh, speaking of that, our pedi asked us at our 15 month appointment whether DD was using cutlery @ meals.

I got a little paranoid about it then, but now I realize that it's absolutely absurd to expect young toddlers to use forks and spoons to eat their food.  We give K a fork at meals, but she doesn't use it consistently.  It's just practice!  She can feed herself yogurt with a spoon but gets fed up/bored about halfway through and gives up on it - and yogurt is one of her favorite foods.  Have the pediatricians who write these guidelines ever met 15 to 18 month old children?

They must be using Owen (and his Mensa counterparts) as their golden standard. 

adamsbabble

Ava is 3 and in preschool and they ask that the children use sippy cups with lids there.  I'm okay with that because it's what we are still using at home.  I used to work in preschools as well and it was a skill we just started working on in the 3 year old classrooms, so I never even thought of giving Ava a regular cup before now.  I will say that instead of buying anymore of her Nuby cups I'll probably get some of those Tupperware tumblers b/c they can be used as regular cups or with a lid option.  I think it will be a good transition cup.  

JLPT830

Maybe Catrina will chime in here, but maybe when they said not to use sippy cups they meant the ones with valves?  It can have an effect on oral motor development.....if I understand correctly.  That being said, my DS still uses a sippy for soy milk in the AM and a straw sippy in the car or out and about. 

l.m.k.

haha "melmo. milk. melmo. milk."

My good friend is a speech therapist and recommends the straw sippy cups - maybe that's a good alternative? 

Brougham7-15-06

That is crazy! Jacob still uses a sippy and he is 2 years and 3 months.  We have been working with him on regular cups, but sometimes it is just a huge mess.  Our pedi said at the 2 year to start weaning from the sippy...but 18 months???

sistrkate

I'm just impressed that you read the handout and assessed DS's progress against the milestones.  I personally just use Bump lore and urban legend to assess my DCs' success and failure at meeting milestones. 

Lyons_in_2007

sistrkate:

I'm just impressed that you read the handout and assessed DS's progress against the milestones.  I personally just use Bump lore and urban legend to assess my DCs' success and failure at meeting milestones. 

Yep - I just peed my pants.

KristenBtobe

Fact. Owen eats breastmilk with a fork, knife and spoon.

Maggie uses the straw sippy cups, and occasionally drinks from a regular cup but that results in a similar outcome as Melmo milk. Usually it's her saying "be careful!" while spilling ice water all over the floor.

Lyons_in_2007

KristenBtobe:

Fact. Owen eats breastmilk with a fork, knife and spoon.

::dead::