Last week we talked about sippy cups and the “hidden dangers” to your baby’s oral motor development in this blog post. Be sure to read that post on why we don’t recommend using a sippy cup.
Sippy cups lead to low resting tongue posture → immature swallow pattern → tongue thrust → articulation disorder → open mouth posture → narrow palate/misaligned teeth → compromised airway.
At 6 months of age, or when your child is able to sit independently, you can introduce a cup and begin to let them practice this skill. It can get a bit messy. Try putting small amounts of water in a cup to begin with so that it is easier for them to manage. A small plastic shot glass (easily found on amazon or from many grocery stores) is the ideal size to begin with. After they have had ample practice with this, transition over to a real cup.
This week I want to give you some tips on choosing a cup that supports optimal oral motor development for your baby, toddler, or older child. Look for an open mouth cup or a straw cup. Smaller straws are preferable over large,thicker straws (e.g. camelbak.) Avoid straws that require you to bite and suck to get water and avoid straws with valves (usually on anything “spill proof.”)
Once your child is old enough, I love the Thermos Funtainer straw cup because it’s the closest to spill proof that doesn’t compromise oral motor development. It goes in the lunch box and on trips with us. (Please note- they can spill it if they decide to hold it upside down – but it has a lid and when closed, it does not leak.) And it meets the requirements for most daycares and preschools (do not send in the 360 cup!)
Some cup options that are approved by feeding therapists are below! We hope this helps you make the transition from bottle to cup or sippy cup to cup!
EZPZ Tiny Open Cup (4 months +)
Talk Tools Itsy Silicone Training Cup with Lid
Talk Tools Honey Bear Cup (great to teach straw drinking!)
EZPZ Mini Cup and Straw (9 months +)
Olababy Clear View Silicone Training Cup B (12 months +)
As always, if you find you are having a challenging time with this transition, contact a feeding therapist to address any challenging feeding concerns.
