12 months old won't drink from a cup?

Question

I have a really big issue with my daughter's drinking. From the beginning, she wasn't breastfeeding very well. She refused the bottle flat so I had to give her milk somehow. I introduced medicine dropper, which was a big mistake, and she loved it. Of course, all she had to do is swallow. I tried many times to get her to drink from cups, sippy cups, bottles, but she would rather starve and get her way. Now I am forcing her to drink from medicine cup, because this is the only way I can get her to drink anything. And even so, she just opens her mouth and waits on me to pour milk in. I am tired of this and dread feedings, every time she spills half of the milk, fusses and we both get upset. I feel I am not doing her a favor, but she doesn't show any inclination to be independent (she just started taking finger foods this late). I don't want to give in this time. I don't care whether she drinks from sippy or regular cup, but how to teach her to take it and start drinking on her own?

Answer 1

If that was how my children did things I'd be frustrated too!

You are just going to have to be strong willed and don't give into her tantrums.

Put her in the high chair, pull her up to the table with you, let her see how 'big girls' eat and drink. Give her, her plate and sippy cup and let her figure it out.

You can't continue to always do everything for her.

Answer 2

Maybe there is something wrong with her.

Answer 3

Have you tried the sippy cups that have the straws?  It may feel similar to the medicine dropper method.  My little one never did take the bottle either, she doesn't get the tip the cup thing with regular sippy cups, the straw cups were great for us!  Keep trying every different style of cup you see, you will find one that works for you both.

Answer 4

Your daughter might have issues related to swallowing difficulties. If she wasn't breast-feeding well, nor accepting a bottle, then she might've felt overwhelmed.  The consistency of liquids can be difficult to swallow for some people, especially infants.

Does she eat well? Does she eat foods of different consistencies and textures? Or does she lean towards certain types of foods? Have you tried using a straw?

Since your child literally takes the liquid by opening her mouth, pouring the liquid, and swallowing, she might be at risk for oral-motor deficits.

What I mean by that is this: drinking from bottles and cups allow the child to strengthen her lips, cheeks, and tongue by performing a labial seal around the item, sucking the liquid, and swallowing it appropriately.

If she doesn't strengthen those muscles, she might also be at risk for speech production difficulties.

She could also have sensory deficits-- where specific consistencies are not overall tolerated well.

If this is a serious issue, you might want to look into an MBS study (modified barium swallow study). It's pretty much a moving x-ray. They will feed her different liquids of different consistencies and x-ray her swallowing patterns.

You can talk to your child's pediatrician or ENT regarding a referral to obtain an MBS. You might even be able to consult an occupational therapist regarding the sensory concerns.

Answer 5

Hopefully this is the only time you have an issue with your daughter's "drinking". :D

Answer 6

well take her botle away slowly like when she eats give her her bottle for a couple of days then give her a sippy cup the next couple of days intill she is fond of it then give her a reagulur cup of juice or something

Answer 7

Well what I would do is either when she opens her mouth then try to put the bottle in and see if she will do anything also kinda like rub it on her tongue and then see what she does if she does not like that i would definitely not do the medicine cup thing cause then you never know how long she will do that and also if this gets to otta hand talk to your pediatrician or your doctor so i hope that you like the advice i gave you so good luck oh and remember she is only 12 months so well that's all i have to say now so i wish you the best bu bye