Attached to his cup at 16 months?

Question

My son is 16 months and has been off the bottle for a few months now. He drinks his milk out of a hard spout sippy cup and his juice out of a straw cup. He still asks for his "ba-ba", (cup of milk) before bed. Sometimes throughout the day he will ask for it too but just stick the cup in his mouth and suck on it like he would a bottle but doesn't tip it back. Almost like he wants to just suck on it. I've noticed also the last few nights he has not really been drinking much milk out of his cup. It seems like he is sucking on the spout for comfort. I'm wondering if that is worse for his teeth than a pacifier would be? I really don't want to introduce him to a pacifier at 16 months though.

Any ideas?

Answer 1

It is okay for kids at that to still be using a "sippy cup" or "straw cup" but not for the comfort. His teeth actually can be damaged as far as the enamel because of any residual milk and or juice staying in his mouth or by continuously drinking. I realize you did say that he doesnt always drink the liquids in the cup but if there is any in there-he can. The teeth also can be damaged by the sucking just like with a pacifier. Maybe even more so because it is a harder more rigid material. I think the offering it only when he is thirsty and saying "cups are for drinking" is a giid idea. I would also recommend offering a regular cup with just a small amount of juice or milk at a time. Yes i know it can be messy but it doesnt take long for them to get the hang of it. Either that or take it away "cold-turkey" good luck

Answer 2

Allow him to suck on the cup.  It's a hard cup, it's not like a bottle or pacifier which is HORRIBLE for your child's teeth.

He's probably doing it for comfort because he's teething, and that's okay.  Allow him to bite and suck on the end of his sippy cup as needed.  

If it really bothers you or makes you that uncomfortable, you can always not allow him to carry the cup around.  Give it to him and allow him to drink, then take it away once you see him either finish drinking or begin to chew/suck on it.  Say "Cups are for drinking from, not chewing/sucking on."  If he says he's thirsty, give it back, but repeat if he begings the behavior again.

Good luck!

Answer 3

It's the milk, not the sippy that is bad for his teeth at bedtime. Get him to take water to bed in his cup and all will be well, lol. As to the sippy cup, he may of picked it to be his comfort item. My daughter does the same thing, and she carries her cup around with her all day, full or empty doesn't matter. When she's thirsty she puts it in my hand and says please, and walks to the kitchen to wait for me, lol. She's 19 months though, and hasn't shown a sign of picking a different comfort item, although I keep trying to expand her interest, lol. Even asleep, the sippy cup will fall out of your son's mouth and not have too much of a developmental impact on his teeth, whereas the sugars in the milk can rot them. Good luck!

Answer 4

If you have gone this long without a pacifier...don't start.  My baby loves to have his cup at night.  I just put plain water in it in case he falls asleep with it in his mouth.  That way the sugars won't stay on his teeth all night.  He didn't like it at first but if that is all you give him, he will give in.  In time he will not need the cup but for now it probably feels good on his gums.

Answer 5

Well, i deffinetly think it's a better alternative than sucking his thumb, which will, no matter what, cause a massive overbite.

Steer clear from the pacifier, though sucking being the purpose of the devise, 16 mo. is too old to just being introduced to it.

It's really hard to find a sucking devise that isn't bad for the teeth, but i strongly believe that the cup is better than thumb or pacifier.

there are blankets out on the market that have specially designed teething corners... this may help.

good luck