My son is 7.5 months old and I am wondering when to introduce a sippy cup. We have a Born Free and a Dr Browns soft spout I have tried them both with him but they are so difficult to get anything out of...he has to suck super hard compared to a bottle and so he mainly just plays with it and chews on the nipple. Any suggestions on a brand to try that is easier to come and a good starter cup?
My other question is about table food and babies feeding themselves...right now he is eating 2-3 level 2 baby food things with 1 tbsp of cereal mixed in...he is starting to grab for the spoon but he either chews on the wrong end of it or gags himself. I have tried puffs and those wagon wheels and he just plays with those also...sometimes they make it in his mouth but he usually spits it out. Maybe it's too soon for that kind of thing....
We skipped the sippy and went straight to the straw cups. Actually I think we tried a sippy once and she didn't like it. I know the straw cups say 12+ months, but we used them as early as 6 months with no problem.
Sippy: you just have to experiment or take the valve out at first, it's a little messy but it helps.
Feeding: just keep doing what you're doing. Practice makes perfect & the fact that he seems interested in the food & spoon, is an indication that he will progress quickly.
I like the nuby cups because they have a soft silicone spout. The hard plastic ones are difficult to use. Food is an adventure, so playing with it is a great way to start! just give finger foods and eventually they will end up in the mouth and tummy. It can just take a while. I always bring at least 2 spoons to the table, but usually more like 4. One for me to use and 3 for the baby to use/play with/throw on the floor....I really like the take and toss ones from Walmart for like $1. They can be washed in the dishwasher, but they are cheap and plastic so they are safe...the gagging thing just takes time to get over.
With my first, I had luck with the Nuk learner cup: http://www.amazon.com/NUK-Learner-Silicone-Single-Colors/...
Did NOT work with my 2nd. With my 2nd, we finally struck gold with the spout on the Nuby: http://www.amazon.com/Nuby-2-Pack-Spill-Super-Spout/dp/B0...
The food thing will come, just keep offering!
The soft spout Nubys were the best, and so affordable. However, I'd say that if he continues to have a hard time with the sippy cup & finger foods, he may not be ready, and to wait a little while & try again. He's still a baby, there shouldn't be a rush on getting him to be grown up.
He is a little young for a sippy and to be feeding himself with a spoon. Continue to leave out puffs, etc and he will eventually start to master eating those. We my 2 kids, we started with a sippy around 1 year. That was all trial and error trying to find which one they liked the best. I can't remember when my kids used a spoon, but I know it was after a year. You are doing a great job and he will catch on in a few months. :)
My son (8 months) really likes the Avent starter sippy cup. Its nipple is soft and very similar to the bottle so this may be a good transition. We started with the 4month one and moved up from there.
As far as eating.....every kid is different, but here is what my son eats right now. For breakfast he eats 3-4 tbsp of oatmeal or 1 yo-baby yogurt in addition to a 4 ounce bottle. For dinner he eats 1 stage 2 food and 1 stage 1 food (veggie+fruit, 2 stage 2 food seems too much for him for now). We don't give a dinner bottle, but give him a sippy cup with water instead. We have not started lunch feeds yet, but they are coming soon. He also gets 3 other bottles during the day (8oz) for a total of 4 bottles daily.
For snacking, he loves snacks!! We started out with Mum-Mums around 5 months old. They are big enough to hold and they dissolve pretty easy. From there we moved to the yogurt melts and puffs. Now he wants a bite of pretty much anything we will agree to give him! So, to answer your question -- I don't think he is too young, but he may not be interested. I think it is a good skill for him to work on, but don't worry to much about it if he doesn't eat them or want to eat them.
Hope this helps!
Either wait a few more months or try different ones.
I've bought several at Wal-Mart that have worked great.
Look for ones with medium size holes. Too small & she will have to suck too hard ending in her giving up.
It might be a little more time until he's ready to eat those. Keep trying.
