Sippy Cups to Promote Speech Development

If you feel stressed about choosing the best sippy cup for your child, you’re not alone. Many parents don’t give it ENOUGH thought. The market is huge for sippy cups, and companies are looking to cash-in but are not necessarily considering the best interests of your child. Yes, a no-spill sippy cup sounds like a wonderful invention. But, have you thought about the way that cup/spout can affect your child’s facial growth and speech development?

Hallie Bulkin, a feeding specialist, emphasizes that the “suckling” motion required for traditional sippy cups can negatively impact oral motor development, potentially leading to issues with tongue posture, swallowing, and even speech development. (Hallie Bulkin, “Skip the Sippy”, August 14, 2024, https://halliebulkin.com/skip-the-sippy.)

What to Consider in Sippy Cups

The purpose of a sippy cup is to provide a transition from breast or bottle, to regular open cup drinking. 

• Introduce an open cup and straw cup at the same time you introduce a sippy cup, allowing your child to gradually adapt to a new style of drinking.
• You can introduce a cup at around 6 months of age, or when your child is able to sit independently.
• Prolonged use of a sippy cup can lead to low and forward tongue posture, which potentially contributes to open mouth posture, narrow palates, and misaligned teeth.
• I recommend beginning to transition away from sippy cups around 10 months of age, or when a child starts being able to hold and manipulate an open cup, or straw cup.
• Not all cups will be appropriate for all children. Ultimately a cup that enhances the most natural and safe swallow, drinking efficiency and independence, is the best choice. The best choice may be different for each child depending on their unique situation.
• If you are that parent that just can’t handle another spill, then let them practice open cup drinking in the bathtub (minus the bubbles, of course!).

If you already have concerns for your child’s communication or feeding skills and want professional input, seek out speech therapy for toddlers in Devils Lake. An SLP can help guide you with ways to improve your child’s speech and language development as well as avoid any noxious oral habits before they develop.

My Favorite Cup Options (with links Amazon links)

EZPZ Tiny Open Cup (4 months +)

Talk Tools Cut Out Cups

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 +)

Thermos Funtainer Straw Cup

If you find you are having a challenging time with this transition, contact a feeding therapist to address any challenging feeding concerns .Click here for a local feeding therapist.