Beema, I started DD on the straw at 5 months.........yep. The midwife actually suggested it to me as I was BFing and bottle feeding due to working full time and I was very concerned that adding a teat to the mix would equal nipple confusion. At 5 months we could suck and spit, at 6 months I thought about giving up as she was still sucking and spitting but then she suddenly got it and since about 7 months, she's been drinking a cup of water easily. These days she can easily get rid of 50 or 60 mls in one big gulping session. LOL