Teach a baby or toddler how to drink from a straw with these tips!

Описание: This is the easiest way to teach your child to drink from a straw: First, hand over the cup and see if your child is able to figure it out on their own. If not, don’t worry- try this strategy:

First, trap a little bit of liquid in the end of the straw by holding your finger over the other end. Then offer your child the straw and wait for them to open their mouth and lean and to accept it.

If they are a little worried or don’t let you place it in their mouth, then just hand the straw over and let them play with it a little bit so they can familiarize themselves with the straw as an object.

If they let you place the straw in their mouth, release the liquid and help them learn that something comes out of this thing!

Repeat this, but gradually wait a little bit longer before you release the liquid. You’re looking for your child to close their lips around the straw and maybe even initiate sucking. Once they do that, then release the liquid. You’re teaching them that they have to do something now to get the liquid from the straw.

Then, gradually lower the straw until it is in a typical straw position. Your child will now learn that we lean in and suck to bring liquid up the straw.

Lastly, put your straw cup back together and hand it over to your child to help them practice their new skills!

Babies and toddlers who are new straw drinkers often will spit out water after taking a sip.

The reason this happens is usually because they aren’t yet able to manage that much liquid in their mouth at once. They should improve over time; for some children it improves more quickly than others.

You can help by switching out the water for a thicker liquid by adding purée to the water or using thinned down baby food. This will be easier for your child to control!

As they get better, you can try regular water or milk again!

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