Baby Cups | The Right time to introduce them

Feeding & Nutrition

Cups can be introduced anytime when the baby is between 5-9 months old. Different kids comes with different skills taking this into consideration we are giving a wide range of 5 to 9 months. Babies who are already holding bottles might ready accept the cups and it won't be difficult for them to use it. Whereas the babies who were on mother’s milk might find it difficult to hold the cup initially, but you never know as the motor skills and the interest of the baby also plays a key role.

Before introducing cups always bear this in your mind that no matter what the age or skill of the baby is a cup should not replace the baby’s feeding habits whether it is breast-feedings or bottles. Cups are just an addition to the diet, something which can be used to provide those new meals and can be washed easily.

The right type of Cup

Kids readily accept the cups with straws and the sippy type of cups. Some parents prefer to choose the sippy cups with valves as they will prevent the cup from spilling no matter what position they are kept in. the kid may have to suck the fluid out and they are pretty much used to it as they have been doing it since birth. These types of cups are mostly preferred as they keep the baby and everything around the baby clean. Another type of cup which comes with a straw is also commonly used. Kids will like this type as well. The advantage of using this cup is when you go out frequently to eat you can carry this cup which is handy to keep and use. But keep in mind that if you use these cups you may have to go through the same course of training for the second time when your child grows older and moves to cups without lids. We advise you to use no-spill cups unless it gets essential to use like when you are going out in a car. Use a cup without a lid or with a lid with no valve at home so that your kid will learn to eat without spilling.

Types of liquids

Always try to start off with water especially when you are using a cup without a lid or valves. Put little amount of water maybe about ¼ cup or few spoonfuls to start with. At the beginning definitely there will be spills and lots of wastage so you can avoid all this by giving plain water. Once your kid understands the use of a cup and gets a hold of it you can start giving other fluids like the expressed milk or formula in it. When your child is 6 months old, you can start to offer some juice. But be careful that you should not give more than ½ a cup the whole day or 4 ounces as giving more juice might lead to problems like cavities and diarrhea. You might also notice that the baby has stopped eating all the other healthy food you offer. There are a lot of cases where the kid becomes reluctant to nutritious food when compared to the sweet food. You can keep your kid entertained by giving the cup after he is done with eating instead of before or during the meal.

More Tips for Introducing a Cup

• Do not try to force the cup on your child. If he child isn't interested, try again later. It is not important that your child should eat only from the cup to get nutrition and it is not replacing the nutrition he is getting from elsewhere. So it’s not a necessity.

• The kid should always sit in the upright position while drinking to avoid choking. If you are using sippy cups then it’s not essential, so encourage your child to drink sitting up.

• Don’t get annoyed or discipline your child over the spills or accidents. They are still learning to use the cup and is just a skill which needs practice so be patient.

• If you are giving fruit juice to the baby then try to provide 100% pure fruit juice without any sweeteners added. This will provide nutrition to the baby. Avoid coke, sugary juices cocktails or any other soft drinks which does not benefit your child’s diet in any way.

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