2 Year Old Refusing to Drink Out of Sippy Cup What Can I Do?

Updated on May 02, 2018
R.D. asks from Burlington, NC
11 answers

So proud of my son, as he wants the cups we drink out of. He hates the sippy cups. But I am so happy and what a relief. Also one thing just to set things straight I don't just feed him soup. Don't know where someone on here gets off with that?.. I did clearly write that how do I feed him soup if he don't use a spoon? He hates soup anyways! He did have a bowel movement yesterday early then in the afternoon and today. Thanks for your advices! He will be ok. He is well taken care of thanks for all your concern..!
No one is a perfect parent, we all have had to learn at some point. So no reason for rude comments! Thanks..

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So What Happened?

how can I give him soups if he only eats with fingers? He refuses to hold spoons and other things!
where I live at is in Mexico not the US so there's not much where I am. I've tried the cup without nipple I took it out, and he don't want it. He wants nipples or something to suck. I will buy a cup on the weekend one with a straw. But I cannot get to the store to get one until weekend. I have been trying many things. But my son get stubborn, and the reason why i say he's being lazy is because he refuses to grab the cup. Like one week he will then regreses backwards. I know sounds crazy but I am trying so hard. But its hard if he refuses.I guess all I can do is keep trying.

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S.S.

answers from Atlanta on

why can't he drink out of a cup? Why can't he drink out of a cup with a straw?

You seem to feel that at 2 years old he should be doing more than he is. Back off.

Let him drink out of the cup he WANTS to drink out of. He's not having a bowel movement because of the lack of liquids. FOOD isn't going to help him go. WATER and JUICE will help him go.

The numbing meds on his gums makes it hard for him to drink. STOP. Let him chew on something. Let him drink out of a cup he likes to drink out of.

3 moms found this helpful

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D.B.

answers from Boston on

ETA: After reading your "So What Happened," I see that you don't have a wide selection of items and stores near you. That's fine. But I don't see why you expect a 2 year old to hold a spoon or do everything himself. What you do is feed him. Does it take time? Yes. But that's bonding time for you two, and it's how he learns to use a spoon, a fork, and other utensils. Watching you is how he learns to eat new foods. Holding a small regular cup and helping him is how he will learn to use that. You don't really need a sippy cup anyway - just a small cup so he doesn't spill too much.

What I see from all your posts is that you have unrealistic expectations of a young child. You expect him to learn everything immediately and at a very young age. You don't seem to have enough experience or enough experienced parents around you to give you perspective on what's age-appropriate, what a reasonable learning curve is, and what the reasons are for kids not doing things right away. Your prior posts and this one seem to blame personality and moods rather than inexperience and youth. I think that's going to hinder you long term, and make you very unhappy as a parent. I really hope you get some books on normal stages of development, the range of what's appropriate (like some kids potty train at 2, most at 3 or more, and quite a few after 4). They're people and individuals, not machines you can program or adult animals you can train.

Original answer:
There are lots of ways to get liquid into a kid. Popsicles, jello, soup, watery fruits like watermelon, and more.

And why not give him a cup he can use? If he's chewing on the old cup, you can try a travel coffee cup with a small hole and put a straw in it. You don't want to use plastic straws because they are so incredibly dangerous to the environment and animals that ingest them, but you can use one for a few days while you order paper straws or stainless steel ones (not chewable!). Kids who like to suck on things can use them sometimes better than sippy cups. If he's not having bowel movements, you need to increase fluids and fiber rather than fight the battle of the cup. In the short run, take him off all dairy (including cheese), bananas, rice etc. and increase fruits and vegetables. If he's not on whole grains, he needs to be.

If he doesn't have a bowel movement in another day, call the pediatrician and discuss what you can safely give him to help. Sometimes a stool softener or suppository works, but talk to the doctor first.

4 moms found this helpful
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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

let him drink out of the cup he wants to drink out of.

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J.C.

answers from Anchorage on

Try letting him drink from a regular cup if he does not like the sippy, just put small amounts in it at a time in case he spills.

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W.W.

answers from Washington DC on

Mami - he's 2, not 12.

HE NEEDS FLUIDS!! Let him drink from whatever cup he wants to drink from.

Give him watermelon to eat. Watermelon is GREAT for water and hydration and it's YUMMY!!

You can give him Popsicles - those get fluid inside him.
Oranges, Apples, other fruits are GREAT sources of liquids and fiber for growing kids! Well - for ANYONE!!

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M.P.

answers from Portland on

Could you take the nipple off the cup he"s.used.to? Or buy a similar sippy cup without the nipple.

*************
Later. Because he doesn't use a spoon, you eed him by holding the spoon and putting the soup in his mouth
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One of my grandchildren preferred a regular cup to a sippy cup. You could try that. As Diane B suggested put just a little amount in it. I used a juice sized plastic glass and held it for her until she was ready to try it. She held it on same day I started it.

As Diane B suggested, get fluids from food. Perhaps he'd like watered down juice. Juice with no additives. I like fruit canned without sugar. Lots of moisture in fruits.

Added after your SWH. I suggest you are in a power struggle with your son. No one wins in a power struggle. I suggest you stop trying to force him to do as you want. At this age babies are wanting/needing to feel more independent. Just put the cup in front of him and walk away. Let him decide to drink it. Keep doing this for several days until he realizes he actually has a choice. Drinking from a sippy cup and not giving him nipples is a major change for him. Accepting that he is becoming less dependent on you is a major change for you.

Fighting him over food and drink can have serious consequences. Bulimia and and eating disorders have been shown to be related to making a child eat and drink what you want.

Try giving him choices. Do you want to drink out of this cup or that cup. Give him soup with a small amount of liquid and vegetables to pick up. My granddaughter is 2. She still makes a mess with foods such as yogurt and she is learning because she wants to learn
She's been eating soup for months. She makes mistakes with using a spoon. She is getting more skilled with practice.
Babies have to learn by practice. They make a mess. Sometimes need a dunk in the tub and clean clothes. Keep a wash cloth handy to clean his face. I doubt you were able to eat without a mess when you were a toddler.

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N.Z.

answers from Los Angeles on

I would not give a 2 year old drinks from a sippy cup for dental/orthodontal reasons. Give him a regular cup or a cup with a straw in it. I gave my kids regular cups at 12 months.

As for constipation, try giving him a jar/pouch of prunes.

1 mom found this helpful

A.W.

answers from Kalamazoo on

soup??? YOU feed him! He's two years old!
On a regular sippy cup you can remove the plastic part that makes it spill proof, sometimes that helps. Do you have a water bottle of any sort for him to try? Or like others have said just a regular cup too. What are putting in the cup? just water? water is great, but might be time to try some juice too, just to get things moving.

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M.G.

answers from Portland on

Ditto what the moms said.

I bought a variety of cups and let them take their pick. It seemed to me they went through phases and I needed more than one anyhow as we'd invariably misplace one or leave in the van or something.

Once he gets the hang of it, he'll be able to switch back and forth between different varieties - so just pick up a few (maybe one with a soft straw etc.) and just a regular cup with soft rim, etc. and give it a go.

Change diet to have more fluids in it, etc. as moms suggested too. It will come :)

Mine sometimes didn't have a BM in two days. It's ok. Just soften stools with diet as well.

1 mom found this helpful

T.D.

answers from New York on

try variety. my kids had several different sippy cups to choose from., and i let them choose between 2 options every meal. they had a sippy of water always. an they always got to pick which cup they wanted for the day.
let the child pick the cup, offer water often. and if no poop happens soon contact the dr.

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

mami, have you taken any of the advice from your previous questions about your child to get some education on child development?

you continue to have these oddly skewed ideas about what your kid *should* be doing.

lazy? really?
khairete
S.

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