Using Cup with No Lid

Give it to him in the bath. Not bath water, but juice or milk (not water so he thinks he can use bath water) You have to watch that they are drinking and not playing and talk about not drinking bath water, but let him "play" with his tounge at first. Putting his tounge in is just experimenting because there is no lid. This is normal and will pass, so a few bath time drinks and it should be over. I also gave them water outside to practice. So if it spilt no big deal. Small cups to start are a good way like little dixie cups.

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Best wishes,
J.

Try using a Dixie Cup. They are small enough to fit in your child's hand and you just put a little in at a time.

My daughter used to do the same thing when we would give her a cup with no lid. But after practicing a few times she figured out on her own that keeping her tongue out of the cup is better. Give him a cup with just a little but of water (no stains from spills) and let him figure it out on his own. He will get it. Maybe if you drink from a clear glass along with him he will watch and catch on faster. A tip: use a cup that is not real wide at the top. My d tends to really tip those up and spill everything all over herself.

My daughter learned to drink with a cup at daycare at around 15 months. They gave her those small waxed dixie cups with water, and just let her make a mess as she figured it out. It took her about 2 weeks, and she really loved those tiny cups. I would caution you about cutting back too much on the liquids because your son could get constipated, and the pooping is the hardest part of the potty training.

Honestly, I'd keep the lid on for another year. You can buy the toss and go cups with the lids that snap on, it's more like a big kids cup. Or the sport bottle type water bottles, which are everywhere now. They are BPA free and most are over 10 dollars but you only need 2. And you don't want to limit the amount of water, especially in the summer...my 2 year old always has a sippy around the house so he can drink whenever he's thirsty. I still put lids on the 4 year olds cup too, I get tired of cleaning constantly!!

I think my son picked it up watching his older sister, but I'd try water in a small cup outside when it's warm. You don't have to worry about spills and water doesn't stain clothes. He'll get the hang of it. My 2 year old only really gets to use a regular cup when he brushes his teeth. Otherwise we still use a sippy or cup with a straw just because someone ends up knocking over a glass and there's a huge mess. (I usually make my 6 year old use cup and straw just for the same reason) Just because they know how doesn't mean it makes sense for every situation.

I would try giving him a cup in the bathtub let him get familiar with it and he will do the rest in his own time. If I have learned anything about children its they will do things in their own time.

When my kids were little we would practice drinking in the bathtub. I was tired of all the spills! So, every night during bathtime we gave our kids small cups filled with water to practice drinking. Just watch them closely because they will want to refill the cup with bath water to drink! This way, they can hold the cup themselves and not worry about spilling.

I wouldn't worry about it...My girls are 4 and still use sippy cups about 90% of the time. It isn't just about the drinking but about the coordination of hands, ability to not swing their arms at the dinner table. I know meal times and snack times are much better and peaceful when I'm not cleaning up spilled milk or juice every time.

My two thoughts. Don't offer so much juice. Even in sippy cups, give water, milk, and less sugary drinks so he will not consume just for the taste. When my kids were that age, I always had a cup of something out and available to them, but not juice (we get enough sugar with our treats and desserts).

Have you tried straws? It's just another type of cup to try. Offer as many different kinds of cups as you can find. He won't be so attached to one type.

I also second the idea of open cups of water outside. You can even give him a small pitcher to practice pouring with. He'll love to play "tea party" and pour and drink until he's floating away.

They can NEVER drink too much. Especially in this weather.Let him stick to the sippy cup until he's 4 so he understands more about playing in food with his body parts. Work on the potty training for now. Remember to get him to the potty everytime he has a drink..and don't fill the sippy if you really feel he's drinking too much mommy.