Why We Say No Sippy Cups & What to do instead
Children are ready to drink from a cup between five and seven months of age. Sippy cups are often the first cup children are given. Parents and caregivers give children sippy cups because the cups allow children to easily consume liquid without spilling. BUT Sippy cups and spouted cups are NOT recommended. Here is why:
Children drink from sippy cups/ spouted cups in the same way they drink from bottles. Therefore the use of a sippy cup can prevent children from developing a mature swallow pattern.
Sippy cups/ spouted cups do not promote the development and strengthening of the orofacial muscles and structures that we use for speech.
Often when children drink from sippy cups, liquid is left in the mouth. This can lead to tooth decay.
Instead of sippy cups, children should first be introduced to cup drinking via an open cup. Open cups are most similar to breastfeeding, as the cup rests along the bottom lip similar to a breast. Then between six and 12 months of age children should be introduced to straw drinking. To ensure that children continue to develop a mature swallow pattern when straw drinking, keep the straw at the tip of the mouth away from the tongue. Avoid allowing the straw to hold the tongue tip down.
Children having trouble transitioning from breast or bottle feeding to an open cup and or straw should see a speech-language pathologist. Green Light offers in-home feeding therapy covered by most major insurance companies. Green Light evaluations get to the root of the issue, while treatment is individualized and includes parent coaching to ensure that parents are able to support their child throughout the week. For more information, reach out to Green Light!
