Let’s start off with some quick background info…
My daughter has always been quite particular with her preferences — this became clear when she outright refused bottles at just 3 months old. This was a huge issue, especially since I was expected to travel regularly for work. Not only did she refuse bottles, but she also wanted nothing to do with pacifiers and had very specific tastes in sleep sacks. Needless to say, she was never a “go-with-the-flow” baby in *any* aspect.
Then, just as we were getting into a routine, I discovered I was pregnant again when she was about five months old. While I loved breastfeeding her, my milk supply dwindled due to the pregnancy hormones, and within three months, she was essentially dry nursing. I was getting increasingly anxious about how to feed her, especially with her refusal to take bottles. We needed a new solution—and fast!
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That’s when I came across the idea of using straw bottles for babies, thanks to the “MomTok” trends that dominated my TikTok feed. It seemed to be a trick used by many parents who wanted to skip the sippy-cup phase altogether, which sounded great to me! I had this hope that if I could teach my seven-month-old to drink from a straw, we might be able to move past the feeding issues and find some peace. ALSO, they now make a silicon bear cup just like it (whaaat?!) if you’re looking for a non-plastic solution! It’s semi-transparent, dishwasher safe, and MUCH cuter!
So, with cautious optimism, I gave it a go. Thankfully, after a couple of weeks, I was *actually* successful! If you’re interested in trying this method with your own baby, remember: DO NOT GIVE UP. There will likely be frustrating moments, but if it feels overwhelming, just take a break. Trust me, it’s worth it for the long-term ease.
Here are the steps I took to teach my baby to drink from a straw:
Step 1: Let Them Play with the Cup
The first step was just letting my daughter explore. I bought a few bear-shaped straw bottles and made sure they were cleaned and ready to go. Then, while she was seated in her high chair, I gave her one of the cups to play with. I found that only giving her the cup when she was in her high chair helped her associate it with mealtime, which I think was a good foundation to build on.
At this stage, she didn’t have milk or water in the cup yet—I just wanted her to get familiar with the object itself. She turned it upside down, chewed on the straw, and generally did whatever a baby would with a new toy. But she got to know the cup and straw in her own way, and I think that initial exposure without the pressure of “drinking” was very helpful.
Step 2: Introduce the Straw and Milk
Once she had a few rounds of just “playtime” with the cup, it was time to add milk to the mix. I would put a small amount of milk directly into the straw and then place the straw in her mouth, letting the milk flow in. This gave her the chance to taste the milk and understand that this straw could deliver what she wanted.
I repeated this process several times, and after a few tries, I would pause to see if she would position her lips correctly around the straw. This part was a bit tricky, and it took a lot of patience, but she eventually figured out that by wrapping her lips around the straw, she could get the milk to stay in her mouth. This helped her start associating the straw with “milk time.”
It’s important to note that perfecting this step at this point is not necessary, they will eventually get it with step 4 if they haven’t figured it out in step 2 or 3.
Step 3: Assemble the Cup and Squeeze
After she was comfortable with tasting milk from the straw, I fully assembled the cup with a little milk inside. Then, I’d place the straw in her mouth and squeeze the cup lightly, just enough to push a tiny bit of milk up. This step was crucial because it re-established the milk and straw association, but now with the cup assembled and the milk flowing from the actual cup.
At first, the idea of drinking from a straw with the cup in her hands was confusing to her. She had to figure out that milk would travel up the straw on its own without needing me to do anything. This was the step that required the most consistency and patience because babies are still figuring out cause and effect, and it can take them a little while to grasp that they control the flow of milk with their own suction.
Step 4: Wait for the Suck!
This is the moment of truth! Once she had gone through the previous steps enough times, I let her try to suck from the cup on her own. I placed her in her high chair, let her hold it, and allowed her to experiment. It took several attempts, and I sometimes had to revisit the “milk-and-straw association” by going back to Step 3 if she seemed frustrated or confused.
It took a solid week or two for her to consistently get it, and I’ll admit, this is the point where I had to take a break myself. Babies are perceptive, and they can pick up on your frustration, so if it’s stressing you out, it’s perfectly okay to put the cup aside for a day or two. The key is consistency, but also patience with both your baby and yourself.
Step 5: Stay Consistent and Encouraging
Your baby will learn in time, but consistency truly is the key. I found that using these bear cups made the process a lot easier. Not only are they adorable, but the tight-fitting straw and lid create a small amount of pressure in the cup that makes it easier for babies to drink from. The design helped give her a more controlled experience, and I think it contributed to her success in learning how to drink from a straw earlier than I anticipated.
Also, remember that every baby is different. If your baby takes a little longer, that’s completely normal. Keep going back to those foundational steps if needed, and try to stay positive. Babies feed off our energy, so being patient and encouraging can really make a difference.
Why Straw Bottles Worked for Us
Straw bottles ended up being the perfect solution for our family, mainly because they helped us skip the sippy-cup phase, which can come with its own set of challenges. I noticed that my daughter adapted quickly to drinking from a straw, and it eliminated a huge source of stress for both of us. Plus, the straw bottles are generally more similar to regular drinking than traditional sippy cups, making the transition to regular cups smoother later on.
If you’re considering trying a straw bottle for your baby, just remember that each baby’s learning curve is different. If it’s not going well after several tries, take a break, try again, and give your baby time to get the hang of it. The effort is definitely worth it.
Teaching a baby to drink from a straw can seem like a big task, but with a bit of patience and these simple steps, it’s possible! For us, it was a game-changer, and I hope these tips can help you and your little one on your own journey.
