Attachment of the child to the nipples and bottles suggests that it is more comfortable for him, because they are associated with his mother. The baby feels safe, therefore, does not want to switch to another way of drinking. We will talk about how to teach a child to drink from a mug on his own in order to avoid the unpleasant consequences of constant use of the bottle.
What causes the long use of nipples
Often you can see children who drink tea or another drink from a bottle with a pacifier. Many parents, thinking that their baby is so comfortable, do not insist on changing this habit, which is a big mistake.
Tightening with weaning the baby from the nipple threatens with such problems in the future:
- Malocclusion
- Problems with the development of teeth.
- Bottle caries.
- The lack of independence of the baby.
Remember that the question of how to teach a child to drink from a mug is raised by many doctors who talk about the need to choose the right dishes. It is important to pay attention to the cup, which will be the first for the baby. Properly selected dishes for children are half the success.
Difficulties that may arise
Young children are very stubborn, often they react to many factors quite differently from what we expect from them. They do not understand the disastrous consequences of drinking from a bottle, but this is not the only difficulty that you will encounter.
So, remember these points:
- If your child eagerly drinks juice from a cup, this does not mean that he will freely start drinking milk.
- If the children of friends and girlfriends easily switched to a cup, this does not mean that your baby will not encounter difficulties.
- Forget that the older the child, the easier it is to teach him. It is a myth.
- Often it is the mother who is to blame for the fact that the baby does not recognize the cup. She believes that the child will not drink enough milk from the cup and abuse the pacifier.
- Do not require the child to immediately fulfill your desires. He just won’t understand you.
Children's circles are not all the same. Pay particular attention to your baby’s first cup.
What should be the dishes for kids
Baby drinkers differ in color, shape, size, material of manufacture and many other factors. When choosing a cup for a child, remember these points:
- Choose a mug that the baby will like in appearance. It should be bright, beautiful, striking, so that the child is interested in a new subject.
- Dishes should be convenient primarily for the baby. It is possible that you will have to buy more than one cup option to please the child.
- Perhaps your child will prefer a non-spill mug. Let him do this, as this dish will be a transitional stage to a full cup.
In order to wean the baby off the nipples without problems and nerves, please be patient. Do not show your child your irritability, otherwise he may be afraid to pick up a cup, and you will become a frightening factor for him.
Children's dishes are different from adults. It should be comfortable for the child, not for parents. In addition, dishes should be made of unbreakable materials, light in weight and non-toxic. Please note: cheap products are often substandard. Pick up the dishes for the child whose properties you will be sure.
How to teach a child to drink from a mug
In order for the baby to switch to drinking from a mug without problems, follow this sequence of actions:
- At 7 months, invite the baby to abandon the nipple. Even if you breast-fed him, do not offer him a nipple, immediately go to the cup.
- Show your child how to drink from a cup.
- Bring the mug to the child’s mouth and tilt it slightly so that the baby can take a small sip.
- If the child shows a desire to take a cup in his hands and drink on his own, let him do it. Children love to experiment, this is the best tool for learning.
- Do not scold the child if he accidentally spills liquid from a cup, because he is only learning.
- If the baby has not finished the liquid, do not worry. Give him a drink from the same mug when he is thirsty again.
- Praise the baby - this is a prerequisite. Praise and distract from the nipple so that he does not return to thoughts about her.
If the child does not periodically drank liquid from the cup, do not need to solder it with a nipple. Take a mug and bring it to your child’s mouth with his own hands so that he drinks all the contents.
What can not be done
Children's cups are designed exclusively for children. Remember that you cannot drink a child from your mug. This is the first rule. Moreover:
- In no case do not wait for a convenient moment for acquaintance of the baby with a cup. The optimal age is 7 months. If the child is 2 years old, and he still does not know what a cup is, this threatens serious health problems, as well as strong tantrums of the child when trying to take his nipple away.
- Never allow yourself to drink the baby from the bottle. The principle of comparison will work. The child will see that drinking with a nipple is more convenient, that he is allowed to drink from a bottle. Over time, the baby will refuse to drink from the cup at all.
- Often we see children under 3 years old carrying a bottle everywhere. Do not let your child do this. This habit is hard to break. It will be difficult morally for both you and the child.
- You can not give one drink from a cup, and the second from a bottle. You do not want the baby to drink juice willingly, but categorically refused milk? By sharing drinks, you create a conditioned reflex in the child’s subconscious that juice is a cup, and milk is a bottle, and nothing else. No tantrums in this case can not do.
Children's circles are different. Let's talk about such a variety as shedding.
A little bit about the spill cup
When trying to teach your baby to drink from a mug, buy a non-spill cup, which is a very convenient assistant. The fact is that any liquid is poured out of it in such a way that the baby does not choke and does not choke. It flows out very slowly, so the child can independently use such a mug.
But remember that shedding is one of the periods of a child’s development. As soon as he learns to drink well from it, you need to replace it with a regular mug. Do not delay this so that the baby is not used to it. Otherwise, the effect will be the same as with the pacifier. The child will get used to the spill and will not want to give up a convenient drinker.
Is it possible to introduce a child to a cup before 7 months
Many parents seek to develop their child from an early age, which is why the question arises of the early accustoming of the baby to the cup. Dishes for children are designed for babies of the earliest period, so there is no clear age limit. Moreover, many doctors claim that it will be possible to teach a baby to a mug more efficiently if you start doing it from 5 months.
The fact is that at this age, children are very inquisitive. They are interested in everything new, so the new dishes will undoubtedly be to their taste. The right step on your part would be to give your child a beautiful, bright cup in his hands, so that he can examine it and hold it in his hands, perhaps play with it. So he will get used to the new subject and will no longer react to it unexpectedly.
Dr. Komarovsky about children's cups
The recommendations of an experienced pediatrician Komarovsky, as a rule, help mothers cope with difficulties in raising children. Asked for advice on how to teach a child to drink from a mug, Komarovsky made several comments, including the following:
- If you drag out with the child’s training in the cup, then by 10 months the child will not want to drink from it.
- Young children have a habit of pulling any objects into their mouths, take advantage of this by giving them a drinker.
- The kid can repeat some actions for adults, showing that he is an adult. Drink from a cup with him to make him feel older.
- It happens that the child does not want to drink from the usual dishes, but he willingly makes it out of a beautiful new mug.
- The kid will not be able to take a few sips at once, take it calmly. At best, he will learn this six months later.
- In no case do not try to force the child to drink from the cup. This will not lead to good consequences, but it will perfectly place an aversion to circles in the child.
- Baby drinkers can be purchased at children's stores or online. The main thing is that your child likes the cup.
Thus, accustoming a child to a circle is a gradual process. Be patient and understanding, and soon your child will begin to drink from a drinking bowl and delight you with the results.