Training Cups

When we moved Lily onto solids she took to the transition really well. Some feed times she is like a starling, opening her mouth for the next mouthful before I have time to load the spoon! 

As she was doing so well on the eating side of things, I figured that she may be ready to move from the bottle onto a training cup. The choice available was a little overwhelming though. There seemed to be all manner of designs, colours, shapes and sizes. And, of course, price points.

I ended up buying quite a few different types, figuring itf one didn't work out right now we would probably get use out of it somewhere down the line. None of them were overly expensive as they aren't branded (in other words not produced by a particular baby manufacturer)and so we were able to pick them up in our local supermarket.

The first cup I tried her with was a non spill version and to begin with I offered it to her to play with so she could get used to holding it and bringing it to her mouth. Success on both counts. Next step was to introduce liquid into the cup. This didn't fare so well. Lily could see the milk in the cup, was bringing the teat to her mouth but wasn't able to actually get the milk out. In the end she simply used the cup as a glorified teether!

I later read online that non spill cups aren't the best first cups for babies because they are a little more difficult for babies to get the milk/juice out of. If only I had come across that advice first! Fear not though, I thought, as I had bought two different cups which weren't of the non spill variety.

Bigger in size and with softer teats, I hoped these might prove a little easier for Lily to work with. While she has managed to extract a little milk from the bottles, it still seems to be a little too difficult for her and in the end, probably frustrated with trying, Lily turns the bottle upside down, shakes it and lets the milk fly everywhere!

I am sure Lily will get to grips with these training cups eventually and while I know other friends babies have adapted to them at a younger age I am conscious that babies develop at their own paces. Just because a certain type of cup can be used from four months doesn't necessarily mean your wee one will get to grips with it at this age. I guess it is just a case of persevering and so I continue to offer Lily the cups from time to time.