What age do you introduce a sippy cup? And how?

First off... Abby is 6 months old. Reason I'm thinking about this is because Abby has an ear infection and it was recommended to me to try and give her some juice in a sippy because she doesn't have to suck. (sucking hurts her ears right now) Well I tried to show her how last and tried to get her drink out of one.... well she totally didn't get it. She loved trying to hold it with the handles and she would stick it in her mouth but she couldn't figure out that she was supposed to drink out of it.

We tried it several different times last night for a few minutes each... but she just doesn't get it. Is she too young to get the concept still? I swear I have seen pictures on here of babies her age holding a sippy cup.

Maybe she isn't too young and just could use more practice, but i don't want to push it on her if she isn't old enough.

opinions please!

We started both girls out on sippies at about 5 months. But it wasn't until they were around 7 or 8 months that they really got the hang of them.

I'd suggest taking the valve out of the sippy cup for the time being. That way she doesn't have to suck so hard to get the juice out. She probably doesn't even realize that there is anything in there to drink right now. And once she gets that concept and learns how to bring the sippy to her mouth and drinks fairly easily, then put the valve back. That's what worked for both of my girls. :) HTH!

I agree with Mandi. Jacob didn't get the hang of it until we took the valve out, then he was a pro! :aok: I don't think she's too young at all :nod: I'm debating starting my girls on them in 3-4 weeks as well :nod:

We have let Emma fool around with a couple different types this past week but have left the valve in. I am not sure if she gets the hang of it or what I am seeing it drool (we just have water in it right now). I think I have seen her swallow a few times so I think she may have figured it out. Might have to try without the valve.

Anne

I gave madison one when she was about 5 months. She sucked on it fine but it took a while to get her juice and she held it ok. The one I gave her doesnt have a valve and the top is silicone not hard plastic.

I have the avent sippys... how do you take the valve out.. I didn't know there was one!!!

We had Avent bottles and Avent sippies, and since they are all interchangeable, we just put an Avent sippy top on one of my son's Avent bottles. He recognized the bottle, and could see what was in it, so he knew that there was something in there he wanted to drink, and once he had the hang of it, we just switched over to using the regular sippy without the bottle. :)