Weaning off a Sippy Cup

I personally don't think it is a big deal. My 3.5 yo son takes a sippy cup or water bottle with water in it to bed also. He rarely drinks much, but keeps it in his bed in case he gets thirsty. He is not sucking on it to get to sleep. It's a sippy cup (or water bottle) because that won't leak in his bed. He does know how to drink out of a regular cup.

Many adults also like to have a glass of water near the bed at night. I usually get a sip of water when I get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.

I wouldn't worry about it.

Why? I think kids don't drink enough water and I keep one on the counter all day for my kids to drink from. When they get to be about 4 I change it to a sports bottle. I don't like spills. To me this isn't a battle that's very important. As far as potty training, don't worry about it until she's 3 for night time or if you see signs earlier.

Sounds like she's using her sippy cup like other kids use their "lovely." As long as it's only water and not milk in there I would just let her have it. I guarantee she won't be drinking from it when she graduates college! :-)

Does she take it at nap? If she does then start by taking it away at naptime then gradually start taking it away at bedtimes. Make it gradual. She will most likely cry and throw a fit but it is best she doesnt have anything to drink at bedtime if you want her fully potty trained. We had the same problem. My son would always sleep with a sippy and would pee out of his pull-up at night. So I started gradually taking it away and now he doesnt have anything to drink an hour before bed and he wakes up dry.

I would try switching sippy cups if it leaks. Having water at night is alright. If she is really wet in the morning then try putting less in her cup at night. If she drinks it all before she falls asleep then it also has less chance of leaking while she is sleeping too. I see no problem with her having a cup at her age. I didn't start trying take my sons cup away at night until he was 3 and then he just put it on his night table and could get it if he wanted it, just like I do at night. If you really want to get rid of the cup then I think I would just start adding less and less water to it until she gives up on it.

A.,

It's so tough as a parent to know exactly what to do when we're confronted with challenges that are perplexing, and have possible longer term consequences for our children. I myself have some of those I'm working on with my own, just about, two-year old. As I've considered how to proceed on each issue, I've decided that I will always follow one particular rule or value as my measuring stick in determining the right (we always hope) course of action. My ultimate value is this: Whatever course of action I choose to pursue, the ultimate outcome I want is to maintain for my child a feeling of safety, wholeness, value, and trust that they can and will make important growth steps when they are ready. What I am not saying is that to obtain this outcome it means we have to sacrifice discipline, rules, boundaries, or appropriate behavior. On the contrary, maintaining this value as I discipline, set and maintain rules and boundaries, and help shepherd my children's appropriate behavior, I have found that we are both freed from a significant amount of stress, anxiety, and contention. In other words, as you make your decision about what to do, be really clear about what your ultimate objectives are with your child--let these ultimate objectives be your guide. They are far more important than issues of sippy cups, finger sucking, and temper tantrums.

Blessings to your efforts.

At about that age my daughter had to have her pacifier to go to bed. So we took her to the store, told her this was a big day for her, she was going to be able to trade it for a present. She traded it for a Winnie the Poo laptop. For the first 2 nights she cried and asked "why did I want a present? I really just want my paci." It was sad but she did great. She slept with the laptop for the first 2 nights and then it was over.