The Sippy Cup Debate

bunnymama625

We've been giving Cam a big girl cup, but she positions it perfectly, and then doesn't tilt it far enough, gets ticked and chucks it over her shoulder. We tried a shot glass-- it's just a smaller projectile for her.

In the interest of my floors, I was looking into getting her some kind of cup.

I know sippy cups aren't recommended by the American Dental Association, but they seem to ok straw cups? Any more info anyone has on sippy vs straw appreciated!

Has anyone else tried straw cups and how did you get them to understand the sucking?

Nickiechan

Huh... Didn't know there was a debate on sippy cups. We purchased a Playtex sippy stage 1 cup, but haven't tried it yet.

nirern626

I've never heard anything about not using sippy cups!  I swear that every time I turn around someone is telling me I shouldn't do something with my child lol (not you, just the collective "they").  I just started using a nuk beginner sippy the same time I started with solids.  I just put about an ounce or two of water and let her play with it.  She likes it, and has figured out that she has to tilt it back but doesn't seem sure what to do when she actually gets water lol.  She never takes in very much.  My pedi was good with it.

bunnymama625

My cousins is a speech therapist or I probably wouldn't have heard of it either-- I know she told me NO spout sippy, but she isn't getting back to me on why or what I CAN use....

CarlaAndJames

We're using a regular sippy cup for now, not too worried about her teeth since she's really just learning it and I don't plan to let her use it until she's 5. I know people say the straw cups are better since that teaches a usable skill, but I like that with a regular sippy she's learning the idea of tipping a cup up to drink.

I know there are straw cups where you can squeeze the bottom to make liquid come out, and that helps them learn it faster? We may start cycling these in once she learns to drink from the regular one. But she's nowhere close. Right now she just chews on it and bangs it on the high chair. If I tip it up and pour water in her mouth she makes an awful face and lets it all dribble back out.

bunnymama625

CarlaAndJames:

I know there are straw cups where you can squeeze the bottom to make liquid come out, and that helps them learn it faster? 

 

oooh-- that would be perfect!! Now off to figure out who makes those...

wendy46001

bunnymama625:

CarlaAndJames:

I know there are straw cups where you can squeeze the bottom to make liquid come out, and that helps them learn it faster? 

 

oooh-- that would be perfect!! Now off to figure out who makes those...

I'd like to know as well. We've been trying with the sippy cup (heard it could rot teeth due to juice being in their mouth too long or something) but we were going to use it anyway. She just cant figure it out...lol

bunnymama625

Here's the article that got me started--- I know there is another that mentions straws, but I can't find it now...

 

https://www.ada.org/sections/scienceAndResearch/pdfs/patient_36.pdf

CarlaAndJames

i think these are the straw cups I've seen recommended -

https://www.playtexbaby.com/CupsMealtime/Lil-Gripper/LilGripperTrainingCup

kimeve

You could try a Doidy Cup. It's a regular cup but it's slanted so they don't have to tilt it so much.

bunnymama625

kimeve:

You could try a Doidy Cup. It's a regular cup but it's slanted so they don't have to tilt it so much.

 

Is that like the Tilty cups? I was looking at them, but waaaay too expensive.

kimeve

bunnymama625:

kimeve:

You could try a Doidy Cup. It's a regular cup but it's slanted so they don't have to tilt it so much.

 

Is that like the Tilty cups? I was looking at them, but waaaay too expensive.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_5?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=doidy+cup&sprefix=doidy

AlyciaandRich

We have that straw cup and then water does come out when pressed, we will keep trying but lo hasn't gotten the hang of it yet. We also have a doidy cup and lo prefers it.

MrsI

We have that straw cup also and DD can't figure it out yet.  I'm not a big fan of squeezing it either.  I taught my nephew how to drink from a straw very early by using a "real" straw and just putting the tip in and holding my finger over it to get just a couple drops in it, then in his mouth would release a little water.  Eventually he would wrap his lips around the straw and then started sucking when I wouldn't release water. 

I haven't really worked on the straw with DD because we eat out less and she does fine with her Avent sippys which I personally prefer right now anyway. 

GL!

JayElleJayCee

I started with a Nuby sippy cup. It's really just like a bottle with handles. lol. The spout is soft like a bottle nipple so she knows what to do with it. She isn't too fond of the water in there though! She also makes a face.

I really haven't considered using the straw cups yet.

Those Doidy cups are neat. I've never seen that before.

cfisher2008

I help DD as needed with tilting. SHe's starting to get pretty good. You can also teach them to drink out of a regular straw- would that help? I will not give DD a sippy. I've seen the research. I know to most people it's not a big deal, but I'd rather DD learn to drink from a regular cup and straw. Just keep practicing.

cassoppea

I am glad you are looking at ADA articles!  That is great and it's good that these are getting to the public.

I am a pediatric dentist and see a lot of issues with children who use the sippy cup for prolonged periods.  The problem with some sippy cups is that they are used the same as bottles - kids suck liquid from them all day.  The more they are exposed to the liquids in the cup, the more likely they are to get tooth decay.  That is, if you are putting anything but water in the cup.  This is why us dentists hate sippy cups almost as much as bottles. 

The AAPD (American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry) recommends weaning children from bottles (and anything else they drink from that acts like a bottle) by 12-14 months.  At this point they are fully able to drink from a straw cup.  

So right now your child may not be developmentally ready to use a regular cup and needs a bottle or sippy cup with help.  The point is, you want to guide them in the direction of using a regular cup by a year old.  Valved cups act the same as bottles and don't teach a child how to drink from a regular cup.  So for kids under 1 year, I recommend practicing with a non valved sippy with water only.   You can also introduce straw cups to get them used to that idea and they will eventually catch on. 

AshleyPT

Zoe started using a straw cup last week. No teaching needed. I got her one because she was sucking on her regular sippy cup so it just looked like she would be able to use a straw. We got one from Whole foods and I actually don't know the brand, but it's a little leaky and holds way too much water so I wouldn't recommend it.

CarlaAndJames

cassoppea:

I am glad you are looking at ADA articles!  That is great and it's good that these are getting to the public.

I am a pediatric dentist and see a lot of issues with children who use the sippy cup for prolonged periods.  The problem with some sippy cups is that they are used the same as bottles - kids suck liquid from them all day.  The more they are exposed to the liquids in the cup, the more likely they are to get tooth decay.  That is, if you are putting anything but water in the cup.  This is why us dentists hate sippy cups almost as much as bottles. 

The AAPD (American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry) recommends weaning children from bottles (and anything else they drink from that acts like a bottle) by 12-14 months.  At this point they are fully able to drink from a straw cup.  

So right now your child may not be developmentally ready to use a regular cup and needs a bottle or sippy cup with help.  The point is, you want to guide them in the direction of using a regular cup by a year old.  Valved cups act the same as bottles and don't teach a child how to drink from a regular cup.  So for kids under 1 year, I recommend practicing with a non valved sippy with water only.   You can also introduce straw cups to get them used to that idea and they will eventually catch on. 

I guess I don't understand how the exposure to liquids in a cup all day are any different from a straw cup than they would be from a unvalved sippy?

I wasn't planning to offer her anything except water from it when she's away from her high chair.

(not arguing, honestly asking! I haven't done any research on this and you guys have me intrigued!)

bunnymama625

CarlaAndJames:

I guess I don't understand how the exposure to liquids in a cup all day are any different from a straw cup than they would be from a unvalved sippy?

I wasn't planning to offer her anything except water from it when she's away from her high chair.

(not arguing, honestly asking! I haven't done any research on this and you guys have me intrigued!)

 

cassoppea can correct me, but I think its something that with a sippy, the liquid is washing over the teeth, but with a straw you are sucking past the teeth and straight into the throat?

There's also something about the muscles you use with a straw being more the muscles you use when speaking, but the ones for a sippy are the bottle ones that are already developed? so they aren't learning to use a higher level of mouth muscle-- again, I'm third handing this!

I just ordered the Doidy!

JayElleJayCee

Oh wow. This is getting interesting. I am so horrible at researching these types of things. This is all good info to know.

cassoppea

bunnymama625:

CarlaAndJames:

I guess I don't understand how the exposure to liquids in a cup all day are any different from a straw cup than they would be from a unvalved sippy?

I wasn't planning to offer her anything except water from it when she's away from her high chair.

(not arguing, honestly asking! I haven't done any research on this and you guys have me intrigued!)

 

cassoppea can correct me, but I think its something that with a sippy, the liquid is washing over the teeth, but with a straw you are sucking past the teeth and straight into the throat?

There's also something about the muscles you use with a straw being more the muscles you use when speaking, but the ones for a sippy are the bottle ones that are already developed? so they aren't learning to use a higher level of mouth muscle-- again, I'm third handing this!

I just ordered the Doidy!

 

With a sippy, the liquid is constantly bathing the teeth and children tend to drink from these for a long time.  With a straw it somewhat bypasses the teeth and children take sips, rather than holding it in their mouths for prolonged periods of time.  That being said, you can still sip all day and bathe the teeth in liquids - that's no good either. So it's not only what your child is drinking from but also what they are drinking and the frequency that they do so.

CarlaAndJames

Makes all kinds of sense! Thanks for the explanation.