New Dimensions Learning Center

New Dimensions Learning Center
3612 Belfort Rd.
Jacksonville, FL 32216
Phone: (904) 739-1062
NDLCPreschool@aol.com

October

Teachers: Ms. Danielle, Ms. Karen, Ms. Jerri

Classroom Activities: We will be making little baby feet ghost the first week of this month and
little baby hand bats the second week of this month.
Classroom Updates/News:
Some of the babies in our room are at the age of slowly transitioning to a sippy cup so here is
some information that I gathered for you.

Sippy cup do's and don'ts
When should I introduce a sippy cup?
Some babies enjoy a sippy as early as 5 or 6 months, and others aren't interested until after their first
birthdays. Most babies seem ready around 7 to 9 months, though.

What's the best way to transition to a sippy cup?
Some babies take to a sippy cup immediately; others take a while to get used to the idea. Here are some
tips on making the transition easier:

• Start off with a soft, pliable, nipple like spout, which will feel more familiar to your baby than a hard plastic
spout.
• Show your baby how to raise the cup to his mouth and tip it up to drink.
• Give it some time. Until your baby masters the maneuvers, you may want to put only water in the cup.
When he shakes or throws it, even a sippy might not keep purple grape juice from hitting the carpet.
• Don't worry if your baby doesn't use the sippy cup properly for a while. It makes a fine toy, too!
• Try different models until you find one that suits your baby. Some cups have valves that are so effective at
keeping the liquid from spilling that children really have to work to get a drink.
• Encourage your child to use a regular cup when you think he's ready.

What should I do if my child refuses the sippy cup?
Babies have all kinds of reasons for rejecting sippy cups. And of course, there's no law saying he ever has
to use one. Some babies graduate from breast or bottle straight to a regular cup. If you'd rather your baby
learn to use a sippy, though — for convenience, or because you think it'll make a good transition for him —
moms have used these tactics successfully:

• Dip the tip of the sippy spout into the milk or juice and then give it to your baby. He may just need a hint!
• Show your baby that the spout is like a nipple (it needs to be sucked on). Try touching the tip of the spout to
the roof of his mouth to stimulate his sucking reflex.
• If he drinks from a bottle, give him half of his formula in the bottle. When it's empty, switch to the sippy cup
for the second half of the feeding (continue to hold him as for bottle-feeding). Or put a bottle nipple (without
the bottle) in his mouth and after he starts sucking, replace it with the sippy spout. Some moms have even
had success telling their baby it's time for the "ba-ba" — and simply substituting the sippy for the bottle.

What not to do
Using a sippy cup may seem like a piece of cake, but there are some pitfalls you'll want to avoid:

• Never let your child take a sippy cup of juice or milk to bed. The sugars can pool in his mouth and cause
terrible tooth decay. The same goes for walking around with one in hand, nursing it for hours on end.
• Don't expect the sippy cup to be the magic answer to weaning. For some babies the sippy simply replaces
the bottle and presents you with another weaning challenge. Still, many parents find it more acceptable to
see their growing child with a sippy than a bottle in hand. And if used properly, a sippy cup can be less
damaging to your baby's teeth than a bottle.
This was gathered from: http://www.babycenter.com/0_sippy-cup-dos-and-donts_1439508.bc?page=2

Special Reminders:
-        Wipes are due the first week of the month.

Classroom Wish List:
-        “D” Batteries
-        Tissue (Kleenex or Puffs) 1 box

Precious
Infants