Is your 2-year old not willing to let go of the Sippy bottle? Does he/she refuse to drink from a glass or a mug?
It is observed that, once children turn 2, they tend to behave differently, often leaving parents surprised at times. For example – kid will suddenly become averse to foods that they once ate without any problem or would want to sleep in a specific room or in a certain way. Moving from a Sipper to glass also falls in the course of this behavioral change.
Firstly you need to understand that it is common for kid to hold on to a Sippy and not let go of it. The good news is that it’s not impossible to make them let go of the habit. You just need to keep a few things in mind and follow some simple instructions.
Here’s how you can make the switch from a Sippy cup to a glass.
- Break the attachment:
Kid spend a good amount of time with a Sippy cup which makes getting attached to one quite common. Breaking the attachment instantaneously may not be a healthy approach.
Kid are at the age where they are developing coordination and hand skills needed to hold a cup. Because of which they are always looking for something to hold. Taking away the Sippy cup just creates a void you need to replace.
Toys, especially the one’s kid can cuddle, help replace the need for Sippy cup. However, even that can take some time.
- Timing is everything:
When to wean off the Sippy cup is also an important part of the switching process. For example – if you plan to shift to a new place or there is a sibling expected anytime soon, then it’s best to let the event pass and then begin the change. Stressful events or too many changes around the kid can make him/her insecure, which will take them back to holding on to the routine.
- Communicate:
Not all changes that take place during this phase are going to make your kid happy. Hence, the process will be much smoother if you talk about drinking from the glass before you help them make an actual switch.
Try explaining that they are big now and big boys and girls drink from a big boy/girl cup or glass.
Demonstrating how to hold the glass and how to drink from it will help too.
Once that’s done, let your kid try it without any liquid at first. You can add liquid to the glass once they are comfortable.
- Let the process be slow:
While you are weaning away the Sippy, ensure that you take it slow. Factoring at what time of the day will be the best to introduce the switch from the Sippy to glass is crucial too.
For example: Handing your kid a glass of water as soon as they wake up may not go well with them. Kid prefer familiar things around them as soon as they wake up. So, handing the Sippy bottle once they are up is fine. However, as the day progresses, you can give them a glass to sip from.
While following the above steps, refrain from:
* Rushing the process
* Scolding your kid if they fail to adapt to the glass
* Starting with juices or other flavoured drinks
* Hiding the Sippy bottles to get the child to drink from a glass
Every phase is going to be challenging and tough for your kid. Thus, it will require you to be very patient with your little one. Also, encouraging them will help them adapt to the process faster and in a positive way.
