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Sippy Cup: A Guide for Parents

A sippy cup helps babies and toddlers learn to drink from a cup. It bridges the transition from bottle or breastfeeding to drinking from a regular cup independently.

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Things worth knowing about "Sippy cup"

A sippy cup helps babies and toddlers learn to drink from a cup. It bridges the transition from bottle or breastfeeding to drinking from a regular cup independently.

What is a Sippy Cup?

A sippy cup is a specially designed drinking vessel for infants and toddlers that supports the transition from breastfeeding or bottle-feeding to drinking independently from a regular open cup. The cup is designed to help children learn controlled swallowing and develop oral motor skills while minimizing spills.

Sippy cups are available in a variety of designs: with a spout, a soft drinking lid, as so-called 360-degree cups, or with a straw. Each type promotes the child's oral development in a different way.

When Is a Sippy Cup Appropriate?

Most pediatricians and nutrition experts recommend introducing a sippy cup from around 6 months of age, when solid foods are introduced. At this stage, children are generally ready to hold a cup with assistance and show interest in new ways of drinking.

6 to 9 months: First contact with soft spout lids or 360-degree cups
9 to 12 months: Transition to straw cups or hard-spout cups
From 12 months: Gradual move away from the sippy cup toward an open cup

Types of Sippy Cups

Spout Cup

The classic spout cup features a hard or soft nozzle through which the child drinks. It is easy to use but, with extended use, can negatively affect tooth alignment. Dentists therefore recommend transitioning to other cup types early.

360-Degree Cup

The 360-degree cup has no defined spout. The child can drink from any point along the rim, mimicking the drinking motion of an open cup. This type is favored by many nutrition experts as it better supports natural oral motor development.

Straw Cup

With a straw cup, the child drinks through an integrated or replaceable straw. Sucking on a straw trains the lip muscles and serves as a good stepping stone toward drinking from an open cup.

Open Training Cup

Some manufacturers offer special open training cups with a low rim or cutout, allowing children to practice drinking from an open vessel without bumping their nose. This is the method most recommended by health professionals.

What to Look for When Buying

Material: Opt for BPA-free plastics, glass, or stainless steel to avoid exposure to harmful substances.
Ease of cleaning: All parts should be easily disassembled and dishwasher-safe to prevent bacterial growth.
Age appropriateness: Follow the manufacturer's age recommendations and match the cup type to your child's developmental stage.
Handles: Side handles are helpful for younger children who are learning to hold the cup themselves.
Leak-proof design: Valves or sealing rings prevent liquid from leaking unintentionally.

Importance for Child Development

Learning to drink independently from a cup is an important developmental milestone for young children. It supports oral motor skills, hand-mouth coordination, and growing independence. At the same time, it trains muscles that are also important for speech development.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends gradually weaning children off bottles after the first year of life, as prolonged bottle use can increase the risk of tooth decay and interfere with dental development. Sippy cups can serve as a useful transitional aid but should not be used indefinitely either.

Hygiene and Care

Regular and thorough cleaning of the sippy cup is essential to protect the health of the child. Valves and sealing components should be regularly inspected for wear or mold and replaced as needed. Washing at a minimum of 60 degrees Celsius or in the dishwasher reliably eliminates germs.

References

World Health Organization (WHO) - Infant and young child feeding: Model Chapter for textbooks for medical students and allied health professionals. Geneva, 2009.
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) - Healthy Drinks for Children Under 5. HealthyChildren.org, 2022.
Koletzko B. et al. - Nutrition and Development in Early Childhood. Monatsschrift Kinderheilkunde, Springer Medizin, 2018.

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