It’s about that time. Your baby is sitting in a highchair. They’re showing interest in what you’re drinking and they are getting closer to a year of age. You head to Target and hit the baby feeding aisle and suddenly you are beyond overwhelmed. There are so many choices, where do you even begin?
Did you know the United States is one of the few countries in the world that uses sippy cups. Sippy cups are something that are there for parents not for kids. Using a sippy cup is not a developmental milestone or a skill your child needs to master. It is a convenience item that exists so that learning to drink from a cup is less messy.
Sippy cups encourage and perpetuate immature oral motor patterns. Drinking from a sippy cup, especially one with a spill proof valve, requires sucking, just like a bottle. It limits the movement of the tongue and can delay lip strength and coordination. Why does this matter? Well, the muscles you use to eat and drink are the same ones you use to talk. Now, this doesn’t mean you can’t ever use a sippy cup but it does mean that other cup options are better for oral motor and speech development. My favorites are straw cups and open cups.
You may have noticed that straw cups are all the rage these days. You find them in every store and made by about every company that makes baby gear. The big question is though, “how do I teach my kiddo to use a straw?” Believe it or not it’s a lot easier than you may think.
- One easy way to start is with a regular straw and liquid. Use your finger on one end of the straw to hold the liquid in it. Then put the straw in your baby’s mouth and wait for them to close their lips on the straw. You will then release the straw so small amounts of liquid goes into your baby’s mouth.
- Use a straw cup that is soft enough for you to squeeze to start the flow of the liquid. Ones I’ve had particular success with are the “Take and Toss straw cup” and the “Rubbermaid Litterless Juice Boxes.” These are both available on Amazon and you’ll often find them at Target or Walmart. To use these, put liquid in the cup, put the straw in and place it in your baby’s mouth. When they close their lips gently squeeze the sides of the cup so that the flow of liquid starts up the straw. You will see them start to suck and then you can release. It takes most kids only 1-2 times of practicing before they learn how to do it themselves.
- When introducing a straw, the goal is for babies, kids and adults to only use their lips to suck the liquid not also their tongue. If your kiddo puts too much in their mouth consider using your fingers between the top of the cup and their lips to limit how much of the straw goes in their mouth or you can try cutting the straw shorter.
- Straw facts. The larger the hole the easier it is to extract liquid. The shorter the straw the easier it is to extract liquid. The smaller the straw the harder it is to extract liquid. The longer the straw the harder it is to extract liquids. You may want to start with a firm plastic or stainless steel straw that cannot be bit closed/chewed on while teaching how to use a straw
Open cups are what the majority of countries and people in this world use to drink and learning to drink is no exception. Offering an open cup can be tricky so here are some tips.
- Use smaller cups for little ones so that they don’t have tip their head so far back to get the liquid. That is often where the coughing starts.
- Offer cups when seated in their highchair. Wide based cups tip less. You can offer sips of breastmilk, formula or water from an open cup as soon as your kiddo is sitting in a highchair and working on finger foods.
- To offer your baby a sip be sure they’re seated upright, place the rim of the cup on the lower lip, give the cup a small tip so they get a little sip of liquid and then tip it down. Always try to remember to tip the cup down before pulling it away from the lip so the flow of liquid stops and then the cup is removed.
- Know that there will be spills and that is okay. You want you give your kiddo a chance to practice. Give them small amounts of liquid so if they do spill it’s less to clean up but it’s okay if they spill. That’s why you be sure they’re seated.
If you’re struggling getting your kiddo to take a cup you’re not alone and there is help. Did you know you Family Chatterbox will come to your home and help you with all things feeding related. For many one or two visits is all it takes to get the ball rolling. Whatever you choose to use however, have fun, make mistakes and don’t be afraid to spill. It’s all part of learning.
-Tricia
