Re: Not drinking from cup ( Big problem)

January 13, 2002

,

I do not know how old your daughter is, or your custom with bottles, etc.

But, I do know that it could be the change in cup, as in change or it could

be an obsession or a sensory issue.

I take it she is drinking well from her bottle for the milk? So probably

that rules out any sore throats or canker sores or something that might

make swallowing hard. Sucking from a nipple is pretty hard, so if it was a

pain thing, I'd think it would hurt with the bottle as much, if not more.

There are different kinds of sippy cups. Did she have a problem initially,

or is this developing and new after being successful formerly?

You could try buying two or three cups and giving her a choice every day.

Which cup do you want today and allowing her input.

Does she just drink water and milk? Would she drink chocolate milk or

lemonade or juice?

Because you might try offering the best stuff in the cup, but at this time,

leave the milk issue alone, and let her drink it the way she has been. You

don't want her to start to refuse all liquid. Instead, maybe up the reason

to want a sippy cup, if she'd be excited by any of the other drinks. If

not, I'd pour a little water in the sippy cup, and attach a contingency to

it. She drinks a little bit of water and then gets to choose her snack.

If you set a new routine, little snack and then video, or little snack and

then swings or something, she might be more inclined to drink her water and

have a sippy cup.

Also, do you think she'd like a straw more? Does she have any interest in

mimicking you, a sibling or peer?

You could use very short straws and you squeeze at the bottom. Some people

have used those honey bears filled with liquid to drink. They are really

cute. You could call it a Bear Cup and maybe read some bear stories while

having the snack. I think that as long as it is not a physical reason, you

can experiment with the cups and/or contents, and reinforce for having the

drink. I'd do it more subtly though by combining snack, now a little

routine with the cup, and then a favored activity, so that it does not

become a power struggle. Again, I don't know her age, so I don't want to

second guess where she is at emotionally or developmentally and what her

self help level is.

Jennie

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