It might sound a little silly, but did you know babies can learn to drink from an open cup first? Even before they try straws, sippy cups, bottles… you name it.
As a feeding therapist, I absolutely love seeing my tiny patients begin open‑cup drinking as early as 6 months. Sure, they’ll need support, whether from parents or therapists, but hey, isn’t every new skill learned with a little help?
There will always be patients whose current skill level or aspiration risk makes open-cup drinking unsafe. This article is not referring to those cases. Our focus here is on typically developing infants and young children who can safely work toward open-cup drinking as part of their feeding progression.
Why Open Cups?
Open‑cup drinking isn’t just a preference, it’s a developmental building block.
It encourages more mature oral motor patterns, supports healthy orofacial growth, and sets the stage for strong, safe swallowing and speech development.
Think of it as skill architecture, not a convenience.
Why Sippy Cups Hinder Development:
Traditional sippy cups can promote immature suck‑swallow patterns, think suckling motions, jaw thrusts, and neck extension. These patterns may slow or disrupt healthy oral growth and, in some cases, even impact airway integrity.
Basically, any cup that encourages a bite‑or‑suck strategy? Developmentally, let’s pass.
Age Guidance for Cup Introduction
- Around 6 months – Sitting independently; starting solids → Introduce open cup with guided support
- 6–9 months – Practicing cup skills alongside feeding → Begin straw or open-cup trials
- 10–12 months – Holding and manipulating cups → Phase out sippy cups gradually if they were ever introduced
- By 2 years – Mature, safe cup drinking from real cups → Fully transition to open or straw cups
*I’ve included age references for those patients who were already using sippy cups when you came on board. Your job as a feeding therapist will be to educate parents on the benefits of open cup and straw drinking and help them get away from sippy cups as much as possible.
Most children can self‑drink with minimal guidance by 10 months, and are typically using open cups exclusively by 36 months
Therapist-Approved Cup Picks
These pair developmental awareness with real parent-friendly options:
- Miniware 123
- Ark’s Bear Straw Cup – gently squeezable to teach straw flow
- Thermos Funtainer & Foogo Straw Phase 3
- Beaba Straw Cup
- Lollacup
- Grow With Me Stainless Sippy Cup
- Thermos 10 oz Stainless Steel Straw Bottle (similar to Foogo)
- Thinkbaby Thinkster
(Note: Always tailor your recommendation to each child’s needs, no one-size-fits-all.)
You’re not just teaching “cup skills” here, you’re scaffolding orofacial development, building healthy oral patterns that support feeding, speech, and airway safety.
Parents wanting to know when to practice open cup use without such a mess? You may suggest the bathtub or outdoors. Both are great options and lead to less stress and more practice.
