When is your baby ready for an open cup?

As your baby grows older, the switch from a bottle to an open cup will happen naturally. But when is your baby ready for an open cup?

Many parents worry about when the right time comes for such a transition. This is logical: drinking out of an open cup requires new motor skills of your baby. Open cups also supports the natural oral development, because your child no longer needs to make any sucking movements, which you need when using bottles or sippy cups.

Learning to drink out of an open cup is an important step because it impacts the oral development in your child. By starting at the right time, you help your baby to drink without choking or spilling. Your child is now training important muscle groups that will be needed later for eating, talking, and swallowing.

It will often become obvious by itself when your baby is ready to drink from an open cup. When your baby can sit up by him/herself, shows an interest in your glass or cup and makes coordinated hand movements towards the mouth, you can start practising. If your baby spills less when drinking out of a spout or a leak-proof cup this also shows that your baby has greater control of the cup.

If you show your baby how to do this correctly, this phase will proceed in a responsible and relaxed manner.

Advantages of drinking from an open cup

There are other important advantages to practising with an open cup: it makes the mouth and jaw muscles stronger, encourages a natural drinking pace, and is better for oral health.

By practising during short and regular practice sessions, your baby will gradually discover how enjoyable drinking independently from an open cup can be.

How do you teach your baby to drink out of an open cup?

You teach your baby to drink out of adifferent drinking cupby practising calmly, step by step. Start with a small, lightweight cup with only a small amount of water in it. Hold the cup together, tilt it slowly and let your baby take small sips.

Gradually release your own grip on the cup more and more often. It is best to practise at the table when your baby can sit up and is relaxed. By practising in regular short sessions and repeating a lot, your child will naturally learn to drink from an open cup.

Transitioning from a bottle to a cup: step by step

Teaching your baby to drink out of an open cup starts by short relaxed practice moments. Fill the cup with a small amount of water and let your baby discover how to tilt and turn the cup. Let your baby practice on his/her own as much as possible and only support his/her hands if needed.

Is your baby refusing to practise? If so, skip the practise session and try again later. Forcing your child to drink out of an open cup will be counterproductive. There is no need to put away the bottle straight away when you're practising. The use of  the baby bottle is reduced gradually and you offer the open cup more and more often.

By practising regularly and by adapting to your child's learning pace, it will gradually become easier to drink from an open cup.

Cup materials and types: which ones work best?

There are different types of open cups that help your baby learn to drink in a safe and independent way. A lightweight plastic open cup is excellent to practice on since it doesn't move much and sits easy in small hands.

Silicone practice cups have soft edges that feel comfortable for small hands. They reduce the risk of spilling. There are also low, wide practice cups that offer extra stability and don't tumble so easily.

For older babies, there are open cups with a non-slip base or extra grip that offer greater control. When choosing an open cup that suits your baby's ability, pay attention to weight, material, and shape.

Tips for parents: this is how you ensure a smoother transition

Spilling is part of learning to drink from an open cup, but with a few simple steps you can make learning to drink from such a cup much easier for both you and your child.

Always take the time to teach your child to drink out of an open cup. Use a bib or an absorbent mat to catch any spilled drinks. This way, your child will gradually gain control and the drinking from an open cup becomes easier and easier. Do you want to start practising straight away in a relaxed manner? If so, order an open cup from Difrax webshop and start today. Questions? Contact us.