For babies, sippy cups can make the process of transitioning from nursing or drinking out of a bottle to drinking out of a cup a lot easier. These cups, which are usually made out of plastic, have tight-fitting lids that are designed to keep the liquids inside from spilling. The goal of these cups is to teach kids how to drink out of standard cups without making a huge mess along the way.
When it comes to how to choose a sippy cup for your child, there are a few different things that you need to consider. The first is safety. Like any product that your child comes in contact with, it is important to make sure that the cup you choose is safe. In this case, that means looking for a cup that doesn’t contain any chemicals like BPA that could leach into your child’s beverages. The safest way to avoid any contaminants is by choosing a sippy cup that is made out of non-toxic materials like glass, stainless steel, or silicone.
The next thing to think about is the way that the liquid is delivered into your child’s mouth. There are three basic styles available: cups with spouts, cups with straws, and spoutless cups.
When sippy cups first came on the scene back in the early 1980s, they all had spouts. Today, you can still find cups with spouts for sale. For babies who are used to sucking on bottle nipples, switching to a spout is an easy transition. Some experts recommend avoiding cups with spouts since they may interfere with proper mouth development. Fortunately, there are other options available as well.
Sippy cups with straws have a small straw that sticks up out of the center of the cup. These cups don’t interfere with the development of the child’s mouth. However, they can be a little bit difficult for them to learn how to use. The drinking action involved in sipping out of a straw is a lot different than what they are used to. You may need to spend quite a bit of time teaching them how to use one of these cups.
The third option is to go with a spoutless cup. These cups have a unique leak-proof lid that is designed to only release liquid when a child is sucking on the edge of the cup. Unlike other types of sippy cups, they aren’t equipped with a spout or straw. Instead, children can drink out of them just like they would with a regular cup. Although these cups can be a little bit difficult for kids to master at first, they make transitioning to standard cups extremely easy.
This information should make it easier for you to choose a sippy cup for your child. Ideally, you should look for a cup that is made out of non-toxic materials. Out of the three different liquid delivery methods that are available, most experts recommend either going with a straw cup or a spoutless cup to avoid any potential issues with the development of your child’s mouth.