Why are 360 cups not recommended?

This cup may cause your child's tongue to rest in the front of their mouth (anteriorly). With “normal” drinking patterns, the tongue is not meant to stick forward. Some children tip their head back when they drink from the 360 cup. When they tip their head back, it forces their tongue to work in an abnormal pattern.

feedinglittles.com - The Ultimate Guide to Cup Drinking - Feeding Littles

Which has more sodium V8 or tomato juice?

Sodium. Both the V8 and tomato juice are high in sodium. A 1-cup serving of the V8 juice contains 420 mg, and the same size serving of tomato juice...

Last updated Feb 21, 2018

How often should you fast to lose weight?

One study reports that alternate day fasting is effective for weight loss and heart health in both healthy and overweight adults. The researchers...

Last updated Nov 5, 2019

Weird “juice ritual” removes 65lbs in weeks

This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.

Learn More »

Promotion

Before we get to teaching specific cups and how to progress to more advanced skills, we wanted to answer some important questions.

Q: When should I introduce a cup?

A: Around 6 months, when your baby starts food (Baby-led Weaning or Traditional Weaning/spoon feeding).

Q: What type of cup should I use first?

A: An open cup, then a straw cup (see schematic and videos below).

Q: How do I know when to move on from an open cup to a straw cup?

A: When your baby can successfully swallow a small amount of water from an open cup that you assist in holding. (They don’t need to be able to do it independently to learn a straw cup.)

Q: What are your favorite straw cups and water bottles?

A: In each section below after the video, look for the links to individual sections of our Amazon Store for specific cup buying recommendations.

Q: What should I put in the cup?

A: Water or breast milk/formula.

Q: What about juice?

A: We only recommend juice for constipation (prune, pear, peach juice diluted with water). Otherwise, juice isn’t necessary for babies and young children – fruit is a better option!

Q: How much water can a 6 month old have?

A: No more than 1-2 oz – we don’t want it to displace baby’s milk feeds.

Q: Why should I offer some water at 6 months? Aren’t breast milk and formula perfectly hydrating?

A: Yes, they are! However, water in a cup has a few important functions: Offering water in a cup helps wash down food. Teaching cup drinking is an important skill to learn for when baby is eventually weaned from the breast or bottle. A small amount of water helps prevent constipation when food is introduced. We want babies to like water so that when they’re older they have a drive to drink it!

Q: How much water can my baby drink?

A: In general, we recommend no more than 1-2 oz around 6 months and 3-4 oz max around 9 months. Around 12+ months baby can have as much water as they want but will likely still be drinking breast milk, milk and/or formula along with it (see last question about milk needs, below). Many pediatricians consider a water maximum (after 6 months) as number of ounces equaling baby’s age in months; thus, no more than 7 oz of water for 7 months. For most babies this would be far too much water for them to also drink enough of their milk, but it’s a nice maximum guideline if baby is sick or for some reason isn’t drinking their milk.

Where is weight loss noticed first?

Body-weight loss is usually noticed around the belly, waistline, and thighs first. This is because your body stores fat in different locations. For...

Last updated Dec 10, 2022

Do detox tea make you poop?

Several of the herbs found in Yogi DeTox tea may act as natural laxatives to help stimulate bowel movements and support regularity. Apr 12, 2021

Last updated Nov 16, 2021

7-second natural hack eats through 64lbs of belly flab

This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.

Learn More »

Promotion

Q: When should I ditch the bottle?

A: Start working on transitioning off the bottle around 11-12 months. It may take many months for your toddler to stop using the bottle entirely and transition to cups, but the biggest issue with prolonged bottle use is the potential effects on your toddler’s teeth. If using a bottle before nap or bedtime, try to brush your toddler’s teeth before they go to sleep. We have a detailed Milk and Weaning eBook included in our Infant and Toddler online courses that addresses all of this. It can also be purchased separately here.

Q: How much fluid do toddlers and older kid need?

A: Toddlers and kids need more fluid than you think! Below are averages recommendations of total fluid per day. Read more specifics about your child’s needs – and how to calculate them if you’d like – here.

1-3 years: 4-6 cups

4-8 years: 7 cups

9-13 years: 9 cups (girls), 10 cups (boys)

14-18 years: 10 cups (girls), 14 cups (boys)

Q: How much breast milk or formula should my baby (under 12 months) drink?

A: Babies will vary wildly in how much their bodies need for adequate growth and development. Some babies drink 26 oz a day, while others need over 40 oz. Most babies need at least 24 ounces of breast milk or formula until they’re closer to one. This equates to 6-12+ breast feeds depending on baby’s milk transfer. Talk to your doctor, dietitian or lactation specialist if you’re concerned about how much milk your baby is drinking.

Q: How much milk should my toddler or child drink?

Why am I so gassy all the time?

Excessive flatulence can be caused by swallowing more air than usual or eating food that's difficult to digest. It can also be related to an...

Last updated Jan 7, 2021

Can you healthily lose 15 pounds in a month?

Can You Really Lose 15 Pounds In A Month? Yes, it is possible for you to lose 15 pounds a month. However, this would only be done in the unhealthy...

Last updated Aug 3, 2019

Weird “juice ritual” removes 65lbs in weeks

A potent powdered supplement, based on the diets of among the healthiest, longest-living hamlet in the world.

Learn More »

Promotion

A: This is a tricky question and depends on your child’s overall diet. If you have our Toddler Course, head to Step 16: Calcium, Milk and Beverages. If your child is drinking cow’s milk or an alternative milk, general guidance recommends no more than 16-24 ounces per day to allow your toddler or child to also eat enough food and not fill up too much on milk. Drinking too much cow’s milk can increase a child’s risk for iron deficiency anemia as well. Many families continue to breastfeed far into toddlerhood, and some families choose not to use any milk after infancy. Feeding Littles firmly believes that there’s no one right solution for every child – some kids thrive on cow’s milk while others breastfeed far into toddlerhood. Some kids eat high-calcium, high-fat foods and get all of their calories from solid foods and no milk. Every child is different and will vary. Please refer to our Milk and Weaning eBook in both courses or here for more details about choosing a milk for your child.

Q: What about smoothies?

A: Smoothies are OK as of 6 months in small amounts, as long as they don’t contain artificial sweeteners or herbs (found in protein powders). Most straw cups made for thin liquids are too narrow for smoothies and the thicker smoothie consistency gets stuck. Check out our smoothie cup video and product recommendations at the end of this list!

feedinglittles.com - The Ultimate Guide to Cup Drinking - Feeding Littles