We’re back to the drawing board, plotting a new strategy for transitioning Baby Champuru from bottle to cup — and formula to whole milk.

Operation Cold Turkey was an utter failure.  Baby Champuru’s Pediatrician recommended going cold turkey with the transition from bottle to cup — and also from formula to whole milk.  I must have been on crack to think that it would work with Baby Champuru, my adorable, intelligent, funny, and very determined, strong-willed child.  He said that she would eventually get thirsty enough to drink milk from a cup if we persisted long enough.  Well, her will must be stronger than mine, because after three days and a terrible case of constipation due to lack of liquids, I relented and put her back on the bottle.  I was amazed that she simply would not give in to the cup — even at the expense of staying regular.

Here’s what we tried:

- Offered her formula in a cup.  Tried nearly every type of cup imaginable and she flatly refused.  She would not even put the spout of the sippy cups in her mouth.  She would drink small amounts of water from an open cup, but as soon as she saw the formula in the cup she would shake her head vigorously while saying, “no no no no no!”
- As per the doctor’s suggestion, we allowed her to drink water (only) in the bottle to help her drift off to sleep at naptime.  Thankfully, she drank some water from the bottle — still not as much as she would drink if it was formula, but I was relieved that she actually got some hydration.
- Offered her whole milk in a cup. Again, adamantly refused.
- After three days of drinking very little liquids, a bad case of constipation resulted and I put her back on the bottle with her beloved formula.  It took her a day before she started drinking normally again.  Thankfully, she also acquired a liking to diluted prune juice (served in the bottle), which helped with the constipation.
- Once her constipation was resolved, I started mixing the formula with a small amount of whole milk (4 ounces of formula to 2 ounces of whole milk).  She doesn’t seem bothered by it and will drink it willingly in a bottle.

I discovered that Baby Champuru will drink LOTS of water through a fast-flow disposable cup with straw.  (Thanks, Kory, for the suggestion!)  According to the packaging on the The First Years Take & Toss Straw Sippers, it’s is for babies 18+ months but I figured that I would try it anyway.  She loves it. The only downside is that since it’s a fast flow (no valve, just a straw), lots of liquid will flow into her mouth and if she sips too much, much of it will end up on the front of her shirt.  I have not tried putting milk into the cup yet.  I am hoping to get her to drink water from the cup regularly and learn to love it first.  I am also working on the transition from formula to whole milk, intending to gradually increase the ratio of formula to whole milk so that eventually it will be all whole milk and no formula.

I’ve decided that we’re going to proceed at our own pace and not stress out about it.  I’ll post more status updates about these two transitions in the upcoming days/weeks.  I appreciate everyone’s feedback and insights.  It is so helpful and encouraging.  Keep the comments coming.  Even if I can’t respond to all comments, I read and appreciate each and every one of them.  Thank you!