Make it a habit explicitly, so they learn to drink on their own. When out and about, both of you take five sips of water every hour. Do it as a team, make it fun (count out loud, make up a song, etc.) Probe Tip - This is the most versatile & popular tip attachment. It's bumpy on one side and striated on the other side for different levels of sensory input (the bumpy side provides more input than the striated side). In some therapy circles, the honey bear is an obvious adaptation that is used to help kids learn to drink from a straw. I was unaware of this great use of a honey bear for many many years, and it was kind of a “duh” moment when I learned about using it. You don’t actually have to use a honey bear, and I have used condiment squeeze bottles as well because I did not want to wait until I finished all of the honey and I could buy an empty picnic condiment bottle at walmart.

Bite Tube Tip - These tips are similar to the Bite-n-Chew Tip, but with a hollow center so that you can put puréed foods (applesauce, yogurt, etc.) inside the tip for functional biting & chewing practice. Once you bite down on the tip, you get 'rewarded' with a taste of food.

Kary Rappaport, a Solid Starts feeding specialist, teaches her daughter Lucy, 7 months, how to drink from a straw with the pipette method. Straw trainer method In this step, you will begin to teach your child that if you squeeze, the liquid will come out. To do this, pair your language with your actions. For example, “Squeeze the bear’s tummy.”&“Look, here comes the milk!”. Your child has already learned that the straw can go in their mouth and they can swallow. With the Honey Bear Cup, the idea is that when they see the milk coming up the straw, they will put their mouth to it. It also comes with some extra lids and straws which can be very helpful! Have Fun With Teaching Your Little One Cup Drinking! Use a straw that provides a little more resistance and a slower flow so baby has to "work" at it a bit more. Ideally, this encourages baby to close their lips more forcefully around the straw, thus helping keep the liquid inside the mouth. The Munchkin weighted straw cup is a good one for this kind of practice (our product suggestions are never sponsored). There are a few cups out there that actually help bring the liquid up the straw. The "Mr. Juice Bear" therapy cup, or honey bear cup is made just to teach straw drinking. Although not made for this purpose, the take and toss straw cup has similar functionality and is less expensive. These cups have a very short shelf life because your baby basically outgrows it as soon as it does its job—which is to teach your baby how to drink from a straw! (Babies will also catch on that they can squeeze it and use it like a fire hose!) However, we mention it because it’s really effective for babies who are struggling with the straw. If this is your baby and the pipette method did not work, here’s how you can employ straw trainer cups like Mr. Juice Bear or a take and toss straw cup:

When choosing an open cup, we recommend using a small cup that’s easy for baby hands to hold. Since you’ll be dealing with many, many spills, look for a cup that holds no more than 1-3 ounces. A small cup also makes it less likely that your baby will flood themselves with liquid. There are many cups on the market that fit this description, but a shot glass or small glass yogurt cup will do just fine, too! Chase the why. If your baby is older than 8 months and/or starting to show outright refusal or frustration, continue to stay calm and unruffled. Take a minute to ask yourself, “why?” Does your baby want to do it independently and you’re trying to help? Is your baby just completely baffled about what to do with the cup or straw? Allow your answer to guide your support. For example, if your baby is independent, you may need to be hands-off, even if that means your baby spills water over and over again. Put only a small amount in the cup, bring a towel to the table, and remain calm. Modify the recommendations above based on what you suspect might be contributing to the refusal. A small reminder: learning to drink from a cup is a skill, and like all other skills, this will take time and practice to develop. Stay calm, supportive, and patient as your baby learns. What age should a child drink from an open cup?

Step 1: Put a small amount of breast milk, formula, or water* (1-2 oz at most) in a cup. Show your baby how it’s done by bringing the open cup to the table at mealtime with 1-2 oz of breast milk, formula, or water in it. Before using the Honey Bear Straw Cup, it’s essential to clean it thoroughly and follow the manufactures instructions. Mini Tip - This is a smaller version of the Probe Tip, designed for smaller mouths (about 2.5 years and under). This age recommendation is not a hard-and-fast rule though - we've seen younger kids use the Probe Tip and older individuals use the Mini Tip. Popette Tip - This tip attachment is an adaptor that lets you use lollipops with the Z-Vibe. Just twist the Popette Tip into the Z-Vibe handle, then press a lollipop into the Popette Tip. Lollipops are a fun way to get kids interested in sensory oral motor exercises. Wait it out. If your baby is 6-8 months old and not interested in cup drinking, but otherwise interested in food and not upset by the cup, simply bring the cup to each meal and show your baby how it’s done. Give your baby time to show interest and try on their own.

Be patient and let them learn at their own pace, and don’t force them to use the straw if they aren’t ready. Using and Maintaining the Cup The Bear Bottle holds approximately 8 ounces of fluid (225ml). The bottle measures approximately 2" x 2.5" x 6" (5cm x 6cm x 15cm) Many of these processes can be modified and adapted through close observation. Weekly intervention and counsel with a speech and language pathologist can also be quite helpful.Encourage them to drink from it frequently and monitor the straw’s cleanliness, replacing it if you notice any signs of wear or tear.

Step 3: When baby accepts the straw in their mouth, take your finger off the top and allow the liquid to pour into their mouth. This usually helps your baby understand to close their lips, and that liquid comes out of the straw.Remember to clean it thoroughly before use and encourage your little one to explore and learn at their own pace.