Are you the mother of a just-turned-toddler who refuses to use a straw? Or maybe your baby is older and still can’t manage drinking from a straw? If so, then this article is for you. Learn about 3 ways on how to teach baby to drink from straw.
If your baby won’t use a straw or has difficulty learning how to use it, it might feel like an impossible challenge. You may even be concerned that they will never learn. But rest assured that yes, your baby can learn to use a straw! Some methods will make teaching them as natural as possible. The trick is knowing where to start and having all the right tools. I have compiled everything you need to know about teaching your baby to use a straw in this article, what makes some children reluctant, how to get started with these techniques and how you can keep things fun and engaging for both of you.
Why does baby have trouble using a straw?
There are many reasons due to which you would face challenge to teach straw drinking. Following is the list of the most common ones below –
- Gripping Ability – Babies should not use straws before they have developed the strength to hold a cup properly. The recommended age is around 8-12 months of age, as the baby’s hands and coordination are still developing and they need to be able to grip the cup with strength and confidence.
- Oral Development: Babies must have all of their teeth to be able to use a straw. The recommended age is anywhere between 9-15 months. A baby who has not yet got all of its teeth should not use a straw as it can choke on it.
- Awareness And Attention: Babies must be aware of the cup in their hand and able to focus on drinking from it. The recommended age is somewhere between 8-12 months. Younger babies who are not yet aware of their surroundings may accidentally spill the contents of the cup and older babies who are busy playing with everything around them will not be able to focus on drinking.
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How to teach baby to drink from straw
To teach straw drinking, you must start by introducing her to it at an early age. They will be curious about it once they discover its purpose. Your baby might not understand how drinking directly from the straw benefits them until after several attempts and some help from you. Even if your baby doesn’t master drinking from a straw at first, continue trying different approaches and methods until she does. Here are 6 steps that will help teach straw drinking.
Use a Straw to Feed Your Baby
If you are breastfeeding, you can use a straw to feed your baby whenever you are away from home. If your baby is too young to drink from a straw, you can put the tip of the straw in a cup of water, let it sit for a few seconds to allow the water to cool down, then feed it to your baby.
As your baby gets older, you can use a straw to drink water or juice. This will help your baby get used to the sensation of drinking from a straw, as well as give them hydration. If your baby is also eating solids, you can use a straw to feed them some of their water. This will allow your baby to have more control over the amount and speed at which they are drinking, as well as prevent them from choking on the water.
Offer an Easy to Grip Cup
Not all cups are designed for babies to drink from. You should find an easy-to-grip cup with a large opening, so your baby can easily put her mouth on the cup to drink. There are also baby cups that are made with a hole at the top, allowing your baby to drink from a straw. You might want to consider getting this type of cup if your baby is old enough to drink from a straw, as it will make the transition from drinking from a straw to drinking from a cup easier for your baby.
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Let your Baby Hold the Straw – Don’t Force It
Babies love to explore their surroundings by putting their hands in their mouths. To teach straw drinking, you should let your baby hold the straw once she is old enough to do so. This will allow your baby to feel and explore the straw, making the transition from sucking on their fingers to the straw easier. If your baby is still too young to hold the straw and put it in her mouth by herself, you can hold the straw for her and let her explore it in her hands. Your baby might even learn how to drink from the straw while you are holding it for her.
Hold the Straw for your Baby While He Drinks
If your baby still can’t grasp the concept of drinking from a straw, you can help her by holding the straw for her while she drinks. You will want to hold the straw at a slight angle, with the tip of the straw in the water, letting your baby sip the water through the straw. As your baby gets used to the feeling of drinking from a straw, you can slowly angle the straw straight again.
Place Objects on the Other Side of the Straw
You can also use the straw as a teething toy, letting your baby place an object on the other side of the straw. This might help your baby get used to the feeling of drinking from a straw, as well as the process of moving the water from the straw to her mouth.
Try Different Shapes and Sizes of Straws
To teach straw drinking, try different shapes and sizes of straws when introducing your baby to the concept of drinking from a straw. You might find that your baby will find one type of straw easier to use than another. If your baby is still having difficulty using the straw, you can try blowing bubbles through the straw, making it easier to drink from.
Conclusion
Babies are curious by nature, which is why they will probably be interested in the straw as soon as they notice it. But how to teach baby to drink from straw when they can’t even hold it? There are a few ways to get your baby familiar with the straw. You can put the tip of the straw in water, let it sit for a second so that it is cool enough for your baby to drink from, then let your baby explore the straw.
Once your baby is interested in the straw, you will have to show her how to drink from it. Don’t force your baby to drink from the straw, as she will get frustrated and might never drink from a straw again. Instead, let her hold the straw and feel it in her hands, then let her explore the water through the straw until she is ready to drink from it on her own.
