The Sippy Cup Dilemma
Sippy Cups. Some even call them the black sheep of cups. So what is the dilemma with these handy dandy, take-along, no-spill wonder containers for babies or toddlers? To better understand why most feeding therapists and dentists don’t recommend sippy cups, I invite you to do a little activity with me.
Let’s practice mindful drinking and take a sip of your favorite liquid (coffee, water, or even wine). Try it and pay close attention to what happens to your lips and tongue. Specifically, your tongue in relation to your teeth and roof of your mouth. First, your tongue is always inside the ridge of your teeth. To propel the liquid back, your tongue tip elevates behind your upper teeth. This is followed by the elevation of the middle of your tongue, propelling the liquid further back. This then triggers your swallow reflex… and tada, you have successfully taken a sip of your favorite liquid. Now do the same with your child’s sippy cup. Practice the same mindful drinking exercise as you did previously and take some consecutive sips. Notice anything different? The cup’s sprout limits your tongue movements. Your tongue tip cannot lift and hovers over your lower teeth
Sippy cups prevent the typical drinking pattern from happening. When the tongue cannot elevate, it rests forward in the mouth. Over time this can cause problems with the proper growth of the mouth and the alignment of teeth. It can also cause changes in the mouth’s roof. This is referred to as “paci-mouth” and is evident with children who suck pacifiers for too long. (Journal of American Dental Association, August 2005). Additionally, a study published in the Journal of Dentistry for Children, approximately one-third of toddlers with tooth decay problems used sippy cups. This is because kids tend to drink sugary drinks in cups, most of them before bed (milk at bedtime).
So, what can we offer instead?
First, let me cite a few of my additional requirements for a good drinking cup for babies/toddlers:
- Safety first. The cup should be made out of a material that is both safe and firm enough so it will not break when tinny teeth bite on the rim.
- It should provide a clear view of the child’s mouth.
- It should not require a child’s head to tip back too far to retrieve liquids. Tilting your head back increases the risk of aspiration.
- The size, shape, and weight should be appropriate for the child’s tinny hands and mouths.
- It should encourage and teach independent drinking skills.
Now, with these requirements in mind, these are my preferred drinking cups. I use these with both my patients and my own kids. It is important to note that all of these recommendations are based on function and my professional experience working with children in a clinical setting.
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While the above cups and bottles are the ones I recommend to my patients and use with my own children at home, there are many other options out there. As a parent, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of feeding-related products available. However, you should not let that confuse you or lead you to buy something that is not developmentally appropriate.
When purchasing cups or bottles for your children, keep in mind the golden rule: cups should encourage lip seal (around the cup rim or straw) and the tongue should stay inside the teeth and be able to elevate. If you’re unsure, just take a sip from it and compare to how it feels to a regular cup or straw. As always, we appreciate your feedback. Send us a message and let us know what you think. Happy drinking to you and your little ones.
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Cindy was born and raised in Aruba, which fostered her fluency in four languages and a passion for the language arts. After graduating with her master’s degree from the University of Central Florida – GO KNIGHTS! – she had the opportunity to move around the country and work in Orlando, Boston, and Chicago, before settling in sunny Miami with her husband and 2 kids. At each of these career stops, she was fortunate to be part of extensive pediatric medical teams, working closely with and learning from fellow speech therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nutritionists, lactation consultants, pediatricians, gastroenterologists, neurologists, early developmental specialists, respiratory therapists, behavior analysts, nurses, special education teachers and of course, parents and caregivers. Throughout her career, she’s enjoyed being an advocate for families whose primary language is not English and treasured the opportunities to help multiple families along their feeding journey.
Becoming a parent in the Spring of 2015 completely transformed her career perspective and approach. Understanding firsthand the anxieties and concerns that come with parenthood has propelled her to become a different type of clinician. One who’s more empathetic and focused on educating families and providers. Spurred by this newfound passion, and armed with 15 years of experience in the pediatric field, she decided to venture into a new approach to therapy.
Cindy is currently a clinical specialist at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and an adjunct professor of Dysphagia at Carlos Albizu University.
