Sippy Cups

[Blackcat31]

I don't use ANY type of covered, lidded, handled or cups with straws.

I use only 5oz Dixie cups with ALL children enrolled.

Kids are allowed to drink ONLY at the kitchen table while seated.

For my non-verbal children, we either teach them to sign for water when thirsty or they simply take drinks when offered (in regular intervals between meals/snacks).

[Lavender]

My kids are all babies and only drink in high chairs, but we still get leaks. Most often it happens when they accidentally drop their cup on the ground and the stopper falls out (common with the cups with the single plastic stopper) and sometimes it happens if their cup is simply lying on it's side on their tray. They are too young to understand that it is leaking or how to prevent it.

[lovemylife]

I went out and purchased one of each! Hopefully one of them works. The big kids understand to leave cups in the kitchen but still end up spilling or knocking it over. My oldest now is 3.5. I don't trust them with Dixie cups, those would be so nice thou. Maybe when they are older.

[Blackcat31]

My kids are all babies and only drink in high chairs, but we still get leaks. Most often it happens when they accidentally drop their cup on the ground and the stopper falls out (common with the cups with the single plastic stopper) and sometimes it happens if their cup is simply lying on it's side on their tray. They are too young to understand that it is leaking or how to prevent it.

I went out and purchased one of each! Hopefully one of them works. The big kids understand to leave cups in the kitchen but still end up spilling or knocking it over. My oldest now is 3.5. I don't trust them with Dixie cups, those would be so nice thou. Maybe when they are older.

How old are your DCK's?

I have kids 12 months to 4 yrs old.

If I had one younger than 12 months, they usually use a bottle but for anyone over 12 months I start training them with the cup, adding only one sip at a time until they've mastered tipping it correctly without spilling.

I gradually add more when they start to understand how far and fast to tip it. It does not take long for them to figure it out and use a cup like big kids.

I also don't leave cups with liquid in them sitting out. We are required to give fresh water and wouldn't be able to get away with liquids standing in a cup for more than the length of a meal/snack time.

fwiw~ I am by NO means saying that using sippy cups is wrong or bad... I just HATE them so I've figured out a way around having to use them.

One of my biggest pet peeves is seeing a big kid lug around a cartoon cup filled with a drink...makes me think of those hobos with their flasks or brown paper bags....

Plus a kid who is addicted to their sippy cup is usually impossible to potty train.

I think Americans are so obsessed with eating and drinking constantly or on the go that it is sad.

Everything needs to be portable.... I don't think it's like that in other countries and I admire them for that.

[Rachel]

I am starting Blackcat's idea tomorrow. I have cups (ikea ones) that I will be using at the table. My oldest (15m) walks around with the sippy all the time. I want to start teaching them to use a cup at the table. They are between 6 & 15 months (two under 12m have a bottle). Wish me luck!

[Lyss]

I have the take and toss hard ones, they are designed to be thrown away :confused: but I wash them as it seems like a waste and a bit ridiculous to just use and toss. I hate straws and soft top ones. I haven't had issues with them leaking when knocked over but I only use them for a month or so with each kid then we're onto cups only by 14 months.

[Lavender]

How old are your DCK's?

I have kids 12 months to 4 yrs old.

If I had one younger than 12 months, they usually use a bottle but for anyone over 12 months I start training them with the cup, adding only one sip at a time until they've mastered tipping it correctly without spilling.

I gradually add more when they start to understand how far and fast to tip it. It does not take long for them to figure it out and use a cup like big kids.

I also don't leave cups with liquid in them sitting out. We are required to give fresh water and wouldn't be able to get away with liquids standing in a cup for more than the length of a meal/snack time.

fwiw~ I am by NO means saying that using sippy cups is wrong or bad... I just HATE them so I've figured out a way around having to use them.

One of my biggest pet peeves is seeing a big kid lug around a cartoon cup filled with a drink...makes me think of those hobos with their flasks or brown paper bags....

Plus a kid who is addicted to their sippy cup is usually impossible to potty train.

I think Americans are so obsessed with eating and drinking constantly or on the go that it is sad.

Everything needs to be portable.... I don't think it's like that in other countries and I admire them for that.

My youngest is 7 months, oldest is 15 months not including an 18 month old we have a waiver for because he is tiny and behind (born at 26 weeks). It would be very difficult for me to help them do one sip at a time during meal times when I am feeding as many as 8 at one time depending on the age and feeding schedule of the kids present that day. I am already the one transitioning them all from bottles to sippys and to cold milk and water. The next room transitions them to more normal cups. They don't potty train until the room following that (2 yr old room) and they are all drinking from open cups by then. I do not give drinks outside of meal times unless a child indicates they are thirsty. Most of my kids transition to the next room around 15 months.

FWIW my own kids go get water all day whenever they are thirsty. I have water bottles for them to take to school and sports (required).

[lovemylife]

How old are your DCK's?

I have kids 12 months to 4 yrs old.

If I had one younger than 12 months, they usually use a bottle but for anyone over 12 months I start training them with the cup, adding only one sip at a time until they've mastered tipping it correctly without spilling.

I gradually add more when they start to understand how far and fast to tip it. It does not take long for them to figure it out and use a cup like big kids.

I also don't leave cups with liquid in them sitting out. We are required to give fresh water and wouldn't be able to get away with liquids standing in a cup for more than the length of a meal/snack time.

fwiw~ I am by NO means saying that using sippy cups is wrong or bad... I just HATE them so I've figured out a way around having to use them.

One of my biggest pet peeves is seeing a big kid lug around a cartoon cup filled with a drink...makes me think of those hobos with their flasks or brown paper bags....

Plus a kid who is addicted to their sippy cup is usually impossible to potty train.

I think Americans are so obsessed with eating and drinking constantly or on the go that it is sad.

Everything needs to be portable.... I don't think it's like that in other countries and I admire them for that.

11 months, she is also very tiny! She still wears 3 month clothing and just started crawling. 19 months (mine), 2, 3 and 3.5.

[Blackcat31]

My youngest is 7 months, oldest is 15 months not including an 18 month old we have a waiver for because he is tiny and behind (born at 26 weeks). It would be very difficult for me to help them do one sip at a time during meal times when I am feeding as many as 8 at one time depending on the age and feeding schedule of the kids present that day. I am already the one transitioning them all from bottles to sippys and to cold milk and water. The next room transitions them to more normal cups. They don't potty train until the room following that (2 yr old room) and they are all drinking from open cups by then. I do not give drinks outside of meal times unless a child indicates they are thirsty. Most of my kids transition to the next room around 15 months.

FWIW my own kids go get water all day whenever they are thirsty. I have water bottles for them to take to school and sports (required).

Like I said, I know it wouldn't work in all situations or environments but it works for me.

I serve 10-12 kids at one time and manage it fine but I am also limited on the amount of kids under age 2 I can have at one time.

Currently I have 3 under age 2 while the rest of the kids are age 2 and up.

[Blackcat31]

11 months, she is also very tiny! She still wears 3 month clothing and just started crawling. 19 months (mine), 2, 3 and 3.5.

I could see getting the 19 months and over aged kids using Dixie cups but I can see why you'd be apprehensive about training the 11 month old.

My own son used silverware and regular cups by age 9 months. He was also a tiny kid but very advanced developmentally. He walked at 6 months.

I am currently teaching both my 15 and 18 month old DCK's to use silverware and not their hands on a full time basis. It's hard, time consuming and frustrating at times but I'd rather teach them now then later... ::

[Lavender]

Like I said, I know it wouldn't work in all situations or environments but it works for me.

I serve 10-12 kids at one time and manage it fine but I am also limited on the amount of kids under age 2 I can have at one time.

Currently I have 3 under age 2 while the rest of the kids are age 2 and up.

To me it makes sense to just go straight to the kind of cup they will be on eventually if you are able to help each one master it. I probably also should have said that the center I work at only provides dixie cups. Anything the kids use before that is chosen and provided by the parents. I'm usually working with one or two kids who are just working on table food and I'm probably feeding baby food too along with taking care of all the normal eating kids as well. It is shocking to me how many parents continue to use warm bottles at home and expect me to get their kid off a bottle and on cold milk so they can move up to the next room. I suppose it is easier for them having me do all the hard work for them.

[Lavender]

I could see getting the 19 months and over aged kids using Dixie cups but I can see why you'd be apprehensive about training the 11 month old.

My own son used silverware and regular cups by age 9 months. He was also a tiny kid but very advanced developmentally. He walked at 6 months.

I am currently teaching both my 15 and 18 month old DCK's to use silverware and not their hands on a full time basis. It's hard, time consuming and frustrating at times but I'd rather teach them now then later... ::

Wow, your son walked really early! I thought my oldest was an early walker at 8 months.

I'm doing silverware with my older kids too. It's really easy to tell which kids are given them at home too and which are not.

[Blackcat31]

Wow, your son walked really early! I thought my oldest was an early walker at 8 months.

I'm doing silverware with my older kids too. It's really easy to tell which kids are given them at home too and which are not.

Yeah he was kind of a "different" kind of kid from the get go.....he stopped napping at the same time too.

He was booted from two different family daycares and one center before I decided to open my own.

He was the kid we all vent about here but not because of parents...he was just a tough kid.....he is 22 now and I think was just not cut out to be a kid....his friends have always been 10 or so yrs older than him his whole life.



about the silverware....TOTALLY can tell who gets to use it at home and who doesn't! I personally think the earlier they are introduced to it the better and easier.

[Cradle2crayons]

Yeah he was kind of a "different" kind of kid from the get go.....he stopped napping at the same time too.

He was booted from two different family daycares and one center before I decided to open my own.

He was the kid we all vent about here but not because of parents...he was just a tough kid.....he is 22 now and I think was just not cut out to be a kid....his friends have always been 10 or so yrs older than him his whole life.



about the silverware....TOTALLY can tell who gets to use it at home and who doesn't! I personally think the earlier they are introduced to it the better and easier.

My three sibling set.... When they started here, one just turned two the other had just turned three. Neither one had a clue how to use silver wear.

[TwinKristi]

These don't have the best reviews for some reason, but after seeing all kids of sippy cups come through my room at the center I work at, these are really the first ones I've seen that don't leak at all. I don't find it hard to clean either.

http://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Click...lock+straw+cup

This is what I use. They make a sippy spouted one as well and they're fairly inexpensive as well. $2.50ea at Target? I have one boy who can't use a straw well yet and one who can't use a sippy spout well, only a straw so these work well!!