Transitioning a breastfed baby to a sippy cup can be overwhelming and expensive. Even getting a breastfed baby to take milk from a bottle can be difficult. Trust me, I’ve been there. I would leave breastmilk in the baby bottle when I went to work and they would still refuse the bottle. They want their milk straight from the tap (the breast ) can you blame them? LOL And when it was time to wean them off and transition them to another milk alternative besides me, it was a challenge. I’ve had many bottles thrown at me. Lol. Here are some of the sippy cups I’m using now, that helped me transition my kids from the breast to bottle.
When Can I Give My Baby a Sippy Cup?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is good to introduce your baby to a cup at 6 months. I believe I waited much later as a first time mom, but the second time around I introduced a sippy cup at 4 months. But you are your child’s mother and only you know best.
My children are exclusively breastfeed babies. Therefore they are picky about the type of nipples in their mouth. I tried the traditional hard nipple sippy cup and that was a no. Breastfed babies need a nipple that mimics their mother’s ; a soft nipple or even a cup that has no nipple. The traditional hard nipple sippy cup can also interfere with a child’s oral development including speech, language and teeth. Below are my favorite sippy cups for breastfed babies.
The Best Sippy Cups for Breastfed Babies
1. Munchkin 360 cup
2. Thinkbaby Stainless Steel Sippy Cup
This cup mimics a mothers nipples. It is wide and soft. It also comes with handles, so it makes the transition interesting for babies and work on their motor skills at the same time. I also love that this cup is stainless steel and spill-proof.
3. Thinkbaby Stainless Thinkster Bottle
Another stainless steel option. This cup comes equipped with a soft straw that has a small opening for learning infants and toddlers. I love that the cup comes with an easy on and off protector. I can attest that it is indeed spill-proof.
4. Munchkin Cool Cat Stainless Steel Cup
Another great stainless option. The cup is 8oz, which is great for beginners. I love that the straw is soft and narrow, for beginners. It is also equipped with a handle.
Can You Put Breast Milk in a Sippy Cup ?
Yes, I have all these cups. I particularly love cups with handles, because all my kids know how to do is hold a breast LOL. These cups made transitioning easier. In the beginning of our transition, my kids would refuse a regular baby bottle from me even though it had breast milk in it, so I would have to put breastmilk in the sippy cups. These cups also helped with weaning them off the breast. When I introduced the children to plant-based milk, the only way they would drink it was if the milk was in one of the sippy cups.
What To Do If my Baby Refuses the Sippy Cup?
Of course, your baby will refuse the sippy cup, but keep introducing it. You drinking out of a star or cup is a great way to get them interested. Doing cheers with my kids was a great way for us ; it made it fun. Whatever you do, don’t force it on them. They will eventually try it and love it ! Although we have transitioned to sippy cups. I am still Ahinee’s preferable source of calcium. I have been breastfeeding since 2018.
How To Clean a Sippy Cup ?
Lastly, the most important thing about sippy cups is cleaning them properly. If not cleaned properly mold and build-up can start to grow and the cup will start to stink. Stainless steel sippy cups are less degradable and a great eco-friendly option. Below is a tik-tok of how I clean our cups.
