Re: OT: Sippy cup/sensory issue?

[Guest guest]

> Our 5 yo son will not,cannot,drink from a straw or regular cup. Any

suggestions? Kindergarten is 3 weeks away and they do not want the

sippy cup in school.(If you just read my last post,I think I will

have a constipated ,dehydrated son on my hands. The school is not

trying to be mean but just doesn't want to carry on these bad

habits.) Any suggestions?

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HI .

I have to agree with . I do not consider it a bad habit, and the

school should support and work with him on this issue.

(after all there would be a lot less mess for them to clean up as

well). ;-)

Also, if he is in a special class, I do not think the other kids will

make fun of him,; but he may be ready to move on, just not all at

once (the school start and the sippy cup going away). You may have to

play it along, and I believe the school should help you deal with it.

Did you actually talk to his teacher? Sometimes the school will say

something, but the teacher may be more flexible and willing to help.

The school have policies (also for hygiene reasons), but the teachers

are sometime more understanding of the particualr issue.

Whether he is in a special class or not, I think he needs some time

to work it out anyway.

I know there have been some talking about the lining inside the

juices (like the caprisun etc.-we don't use them anyway); but, have

you thought of teaching him to sip out of those? they are actually

fun. And maybe start with a flavor he really goes crazy on? (if he

drinks only water, you can refill a few using a siringe bulb) When my

son was little, he used to love those. It was the first time he

learnt to use a straw. Now I put a straw in his cup, for fun; and

BTW, sipping is a sensory issue, a need they have of stimulating

their mouth.

One more suggestion, may be to take out the little rubber part inside

the sippy cup, and have him drink like that. He may figure out that

he doesn't have to make so much effort to get liquid out, and learn

slowly to wean out of the cup-of course, you'll have to watch for

spills-then he may transition easier from that to just a cup.

From time to time, I still catch my son drinking out of my twins'

sippy cups. It is just a need they have. Even if they are ready to

move on, they have that need to stimulate the palate.

Have you tried some brushing-gums, tongue, palate-? If you have OT,

ask about that; it can help, if that was the case of course.

Hope this helps.

Cristina-WA

Mom to 4.7 ASD, & 23 mo NT twins.

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