Did you know that children can start to learn how to drink from a straw as early as 6-7 months?! Most babies will be ready around 10-12 months of age for this skill! There is so much controversy over the use of sippy cups and the development of oral structures and health, but straw drinking can be a great alternative! Straw drinking can help develop skills that are important for speech and feeding, too! You have probably seen our straw drinking posts as well, but learning to drink from a straw helps with lip rounding, lip protrusion (pushing out), tongue retraction (pulling it back), and jaw/lip/tongue dissociation (being able to move them all separately). These are movements that are important in speech and feeding! Below are some tips/tricks to know when and how you can help start this process!
When
- Most babies are ready to learn around 10-12 months of age
- It’s important not to start this and cup drinking at the same time. We want one to be solidified before introducing the other. Cup drinking is typically taught first (see previous blog regarding cup drinking for more information on that!)
- Find a time that your child is not starving, but is still motivated to learn/eat/drink
- Try the straw a few times, if they are enjoying it, keep going! Once they start to show signs of frustration, stop and try again another time (we want this to be an enjoyable experience!)
- Find a time that you have time to try! You don’t want to be rushed for this!
- Your child should show these readiness skills
- Sitting up independently and supported in high chair
- Shows signs of jaw stability (we do not want them to bite the straw!)
- Can close his/her lips on the straw independently
- Interest in using a straw to drink (reaching for yours)
How
- Make sure they are well supported in their chair and be at their eye level.
- Use a beverage that they prefer!
- Your child will likely not know what to do with a straw placed in their mouth, so you can show them! Start with a small amount of liquid in the straw (you plug one end with your finger to keep the milk in the straw) and put the end in his/her mouth and let the liquid go in. Continue this a few times and see what he/she does!
- There are also straw cups that can be used to help. Look for a straw cup with a good seal that you can squeeze the cup and liquid comes up the straw. Place the straw on his/her lower lip and see if they close on it! Once they do, squeeze a small amount of liquid into the mouth and leave the straw in. Remember, we do not want them biting the straw!
- If you notice your child pushing his/her tongue out frequently when using the straw, stop and try again in a few weeks. If you notice other signs of frustration or refusal, stop and try again in a few weeks.
Remember that each child is different in when they are ready and how fast they learn. Some children pick up on it quickly, while others may take a little while to grasp the concept! If you have concerns about your child’s development or questions related to feeding, do not hesitate to call one of us! We are happy to talk with you about it all!
-Amber-
