From Bottle To Cup: Tips To Help Your Child With Down Syndrome
A common question I hear amongst parents of children with Down Syndrome is “How do I transition my child from the bottle to a cup?”
Going from a bottle to a cup for our children with Down Syndrome can be tough. Our kids have hurdles to overcome that others do not and learning to drink from a cup and using a straw may take longer. It’s an important transition to make though as it can impact speech development.
Hey Mama Bears, full disclosure here. There are affiliate links in this post so if you click on the link and buy the product I will earn a small commission. Now that we’re clear on that let’s get back to rocking life with special needs!
Now Mama Bears, keep in mind you are in charge of you and your family and you are the expert when it comes to your child, not me. Every child and situation is different so read this post, take away what works for you and your child and don’t worry about the rest. I would also recommend you consult with any of the other experts in your child’s life such as their physician or speech therapist!
Why Drinking From A Cup May Be Harder For Your Child With Down Syndrome
There are several reasons why our children with Down Syndrome may struggle when transitioning from a bottle to a cup and they include the following…
Low Muscle Tone - Low muscle tone impacts all muscles including the muscles of the mouth which makes drinking from a cup or straw harder.
Tongue Thrust - Children with Down Syndrome tend to have a tongue thrust where their tongue protrudes forward.
Anatomical Differences - Children with Down Syndrome may have a smaller jaw or higher palate.
Sensory Issues - Reduced oral sensory awareness can make it harder for kids with Down Syndrome to be aware of liquid in their mouth which triggers the swallowing reflex.
Why Wean My Child With Down Syndrome Off The Bottle?
Knowing the obstacles our kids face some parents may wonder why they should make weaning their child with Down Syndrome off the bottle a priority.
When drinking from a bottle an immature swallow pattern is used rather than a mature one. Drinking from a cup or straw helps develop tongue retraction (tongue back posture) and eventually tongue tip elevation which helps with speech. Drinking from a bottle or sippy cup does the opposite. It encourages the tongue to move forward and backward which we want to avoid. The longer a child continues with the immature swallow pattern the higher the chance of developing habitual tongue thrust.
When Should I Wean My Child With Down Syndrome Off The Bottle?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends weaning your child off the bottle around 12 months of age, aiming for them to be completely off of a bottle by 18 months of age.
How Do I Wean My Child With Down Syndrome Off The Bottle?
Weaning your child off the bottle can be hard. I recommend doing it gradually once they reach 12 months of age. The first thing I would eliminate is their daytime bottle. After a few weeks of this eliminate their morning bottle and after a few weeks of this eliminate their nighttime bottle.
Tips For Transitioning Your Child With Down Syndrome From The Bottle To A Cup Or Straw Cup
Tip #1 Start Early
Introduce an open cup and/or straw cup early at 6 months of age. We introduced an open cup to Max at meal time with a focus on dinner.
Yes, it was messy but putting a splat mat underneath his high chair helped a lot. We would also put a small amount of water in his cup and refill as necessary rather than filling it up right away. Dinner was a great time to focus on him using the cup because we could model how to use it as we were drinking from our own cups. It helped motivate him too!
Our occupational therapist recommended we start out with the cut out cup for Max’s first open cup and it definitely made a difference. A cut out cup also called a “Nosey Cup,” is a great starter cup because you can tilt the cup up to drink out of it without needing to tilt your head back.
Our first straw cup was the Honey Bear cup. I loved this cup because it allowed us to gently squeeze it to get the liquid into the straw and into Max’s mouth so he would understand the concept and be motivated to drink to get more.
Tip #2 Skip The Sippy Cup
Listen, I get it. Sippy cups are super convenient. They’re spill proof, easy to carry for you and your little one, and pretty much indestructible given how much kids like to drop and throw things.
That being said, they are not what is best for your child’s progression in feeding, tongue positioning, or speech development.
Tip #3 Positive Reinforcement
Any attempts at drinking out of an open cup or straw cup need to be encouraged. Channel your inner cheerleader and do not get hung up on the mess. It will be messy so be prepared.
As I talked about before we’d put a splat mat underneath Max’s highchair to protect our floors and we’d often strip him down to his diaper for dinner as he was learning to feed himself and drink from a cup. Bath time was right after dinner!
Tip #4 Work With Your Therapist
If your child is working with a speech therapist or occupational therapist consult with them!
These people can be a wealth of information and can help guide you so your child is successful. Some children won’t be able to drink water starting out as it is too thin. Your child may need thickened liquid at first such as milk thickened with yogurt, baby food purees (the ones found in pouches are often a nice consistency for this), and thick juice smoothies.
The Best Cups For Children With Down Syndrome
As I mentioned we started out with the cut out or “Nosey Cup” for the open cup and Honey Bear cup for the straw cup. There are lots of options out there though. These cups are loved by many families of kids with Down Syndrome.
Open Cups For Children with Down Syndrome
Cut Out Cup or Nosey Cup
Straw Cups For Children with Down Syndrome
Honey Bear
So there you have it Mama Bears! An ultimate guide to help your child with Down Syndrome transition from the bottle to a cup! I hope this post helps you rock this special life. If you enjoyed it, check out these posts…
10 Tips For Leaving Your Child With Down Syndrome With A Caregiver
7 Common Behavior Issues In Children With Down Syndrome And Tips To Manage Them
How To Teach Colors To Your Child With Down Syndrome
How To Deal With Temper Tantrums: A Guide For The Special Needs Mom
Let’s rock this special life!
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