Answered by Linda Jonides R.N., C.P.N.P.
"I have worked as a pediatric nurse practitioner (P.N.P.) for over 30 years," says Linda Jonides. "I continue to thoroughly enjoy forming new relationships with parents and newborns and working with them through infancy, childhood, and adolescence."
Linda Jonides is a pediatric nurse practitioner in a private pediatric practice in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She received her Diploma in Nursing and Certificate as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from The Johns Hopkins Hospital. She is a past recipient of the Michigan PNP of the Year Award. She has a B.S. in Nursing from Eastern Michigan University. She has published articles and lectured on childhood obesity, infant colic, role of the P.N.P., growth and development issues, and infectious diseases. She was an author of "Clinical Insights Column," published biannually in the Journal of Pediatric Health Care for nine years. Jonides is past president of NAPNAP. Currently, she is a steering group work member of NAPNAP's HEAT (healthy eating and activity together) project. One outcome of this group's work is the clinical practice guideline, "Identifying and Preventing Overweight in Childhood," that was published as a supplement to the March/April '06 issue of the Journal of Pediatric Health Care.
Ms. Jonides has been married to John, a university professor, since 1971.
Question
It just takes time and practice. Drinking from a cup is quite different than breast- or bottle-feeding. Put very small amounts of liquid in the cup until he gets better at drinking from the cup. At first babies can usually manage one swallow at a time. Babies often don't learn to take several gulps in succession until a year of age or later. Many parents like using the sippy cups with lids and spouts that minimize spillage, and the spout is somewhat similar to a nipple. A cup with two handles is easier for him to hold on to and then bring the cup to his mouth. You may have to demonstrate how to drink repeatedly, but eventually he'll get the idea. If he gets very frustrated with the cup, wait a week or two and try again
Answer
It just takes time and practice. Drinking from a cup is quite different than breast- or bottle-feeding. Put very small amounts of liquid in the cup until he gets better at drinking from the cup. At first babies can usually manage one swallow at a time. Babies often don't learn to take several gulps in succession until a year of age or later. Many parents like using the sippy cups with lids and spouts that minimize spillage, and the spout is somewhat similar to a nipple. A cup with two handles is easier for him to hold on to and then bring the cup to his mouth. You may have to demonstrate how to drink repeatedly, but eventually he'll get the idea. If he gets very frustrated with the cup, wait a week or two and try again.
