Cups

We haven't used a sippy cup successfully with John.

WHAT??? No sippy cup???

Yes, I typed that correctly. No sippy cup. We began without bottles (except when John was under the bililights). He totally rejected pacifiers when we offered them at two months. I tried sippy cups on and off, but those got rejected too. Usually, John just shook them upside down like he was trying to water his high chair.

Frustrated, we let him take sips out of our own cups. He was eating off our plates, so why not drink out of our cups? He did a great job. At the same time, I was reading some books about Montessori education that said children should be offered glass cups and real plates as soon as they start eating. What a bizarre idea - no special plastic stuff?

Since John was doing so well with our cups, we started pouring him his own drink in his own glass, though I keep them in the kitchen and off of his tray if he isn't drinking.

John is pretty good at taking a cup off the table and bringing it up to his mouth without spilling as long as the cup isn't too full. Unfortunately, after he's satisfied, he appears to forget that the cup may indeed still hold liquid and turns it upside down. Oops.

Last night, John held up his cup multiple times to ask for more milk. Each time Dan poured just over one sip worth. John brought the cup to his mouth well, drank well, and then poured milk onto his tray. We were splitting at the sides while trying to be respectful of John as he learns this new skill.

I've got to agree with (one author at) Slate.com. Children are funnier that the best movies.