Sippy Cups

[dave4him]

At what age is a good age to get rid of the sippy cups? My twins will be turning four on Saturday and I am wondering if they are really necessary, or if they are just causing dental problems

[daycarediva]

2.



I transitioned to straws, then open cups at that age. All kids in my program age 18m-5yrs, use open cups. I don't offer sippies.

[dave4him]

Straws..... probably a good idea.

[melilley]

I start practicing with open cups when they are around 2. Surprisingly, most do very well with them! The only problem I run into is teaching them that it's not ok to dump out what they don't drink. If a child isn't doing well with the regular cups, I give them a sippy or straw cup for meals and they practice at other times.

[AmyKidsCo]

I start at 2 also. First with water, then about an inch of milk, then more milk as the child gets better. By 4 they should be able to handle open cups at meals and water bottles when traveling.

[TheGoodLife]

I try to phase them out by 2. My youngest DD stopped at 18 months, but she had her big sisters to watch. They may (will) be a few accidents here and there, but it's good for them to practice. And I second the straws if they have trouble- but I don't start with them; it is very different to just sip a straw than to tip a cup and at 4 they are probably ready Good luck! happyfacehappyface

[Meyou]

I use sippies until about 18 months. I currently have a 13 month old transitioning to a open top cup because he seems ready. I would definitely take sippies away from a 4 year old and only allow them an open cup at the table.

[dave4him]

I think since they are heading into preschool next week, its going to be listed among the changes around here.

[Blackcat31]

I don't use sippy cups at all.

I train the kids to use a small child sized cup from the get go.

NO food and/or drink is ever allowed away from the table so spilling is not an issue.

[Unregistered]

I use sippy cups until one and then regular cups. They have water bottles with straws available but other then that all eating and drinking is done at the table.Even the water bottles are to be left on a small table,not to be drug all over the daycare.

[dave4him]

The real trouble is getting my kids to drink just plain water.

[Heidi]

I use sippies until about 18 months. I currently have a 13 month old transitioning to a open top cup because he seems ready. I would definitely take sippies away from a 4 year old and only allow them an open cup at the table.

[Meyou]

Don't serve anything but milk one meal a day and water the rest of the time for a week. No juice at all. It doesn't take long for kids to adjust. I stopped buying juice two years ago cold turkey and even my teens stopped complaining within a couple of days. My daycare kids stopped complaining by the first afternoon when they were nice and thirsty.

[Heidi]

I don't use sippy cups at all.

I train the kids to use a small child sized cup from the get go.

NO food and/or drink is ever allowed away from the table so spilling is not an issue.

Dave, do yourself a favor. Take them to the dollar store, and let them pick out their own mugs. Then, go home and THROW AWAY the sippy cups. Much easier with 4 year olds if they are "trading" something for it. Actually, take the sippies with you to the store and drop them in the garbage can there. You can't go back then.

If you have dc kids using them, then wean them off if they are over 18 months.

[dave4him]

Good idea. Thanks.