A sippy cup can be introduced as soon as a child is physically able to grasp it. It should be discontinued as soon as the child’s motor skills allow them to use an adult cup – usually around his or her first birthday. It can be tricky and a little bit messy, but the sooner a child is in the habit of using a cup, the better it is for oral health. It’s important for parents and caregivers to know that sippy cups are a temporary solution to help toddlers transition to adult cups. They shouldn’t be used as a means of pacifying children. Other sippy cup dos and don’ts include:
Do fill sippy cups with water
Do reserve sippy cups for mealtimes and snack times
Do transition to adult cups when motor skill development allows
Don’t fill sippy cups with sugary beverages
Don’t let children drink from sippy cups continuously throughout the day
Don’t let children take sippy cups to bed