The transition from bottle feeding or breastfeeding to a “big kid cup” generally involves a sippy cup. Sippy cups make it easy for toddlers to consume beverages without the worry of spills. Unfortunately, sippy cup design usually lends itself to a child’s upper teeth being immersed in liquid whenever the child has access to the cup. “Sippy cups were created to help children transition from a bottle to drinking from a regular cup, but they’re too often used for convenience,” says Philip H. Hunke, DDS, president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD). “When kids sip for extended periods on sugared beverages, they’re exposed to a higher risk of decay. Sippy cups should only contain water unless it’s mealtime.” Drinks that are high in sugar should rarely if ever be used in sippy cups, including:
Juices
Soda
Sweetened water