[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2024\/11\/bottles-and-sippy-cups\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2024\/11\/bottles-and-sippy-cups\/","headline":"When Should Children Stop Using Bottles and Sippy Cups?","name":"When Should Children Stop Using Bottles and Sippy Cups?","description":"<p>Letting your baby or toddler drink from a sippy cup may seem like a good idea, but you should use them sparingly. Here's what you need to know about sippy cups.<\/p>","datePublished":"2024-11-26","dateModified":"2024-11-26","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/pediatrics","name":"Pediatrics","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/pediatrics","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/pediatrics\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/GettyImages-1300381220.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/GettyImages-1300381220.jpg","height":867,"width":1998},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2024\/11\/bottles-and-sippy-cups\/","about":["Living and Wellness","Pediatrics"],"wordCount":1044,"articleBody":"Once your baby stops drinking from a bottle, you may want to give them a sippy cup. These cups with spouts and lids prevent messy spills, but they have downsides, too. Sippy cups can encourage your child to drink too much juice or milk, raising the risk of tooth decay and childhood obesity.So, is it ever ok for your child to use a sippy cup? Yes \u2014 but in moderation and only for short periods. Here, we look at when sippy cups are appropriate \u2014 and when to stop using a sippy cup.From Bottle (or Breast) to CupThe American Academy of Pediatrics recommends weaning your baby from a bottle by 12 months. That\u2019s because prolonged bottle use can lead to your child becoming overweight or obese. Continually sucking on a bottle of milk or juice for comfort can also lead to dental decay and delayed speech.Most babies can transition from bottle to cup between 6 and 9 months. To use a cup, they should have enough eye-hand coordination to lift the cup to their lips.If your baby is breastfeeding, they will likely wean themselves by about a year \u2014 or nurse only occasionally after that. And many parents choose to breastfeed their babies for extended periods. But you can introduce a cup while you are still breastfeeding.Some parents choose to forego the sippy cup and start with a cup with no lid. If your baby\u2019s coordination allows \u2014 and you can live with some messes \u2014 you may be able to bypass the sippy cup altogether.When to Stop Using Sippy CupsA sippy cup \u2014 a child-sized cup with a lid and spout \u2014 is a transition between a bottle and a regular, open cup.They limit spills, which makes them popular with parents. They are handy when you\u2019re on the go. And sippy cups that allow liquid to flow without sucking can help babies learn to drink from a regular cup.However, doctors recommend that you stop using sippy cups by the time your child is 2 years old. If you introduce a regular, child-sized cup at that time, they should be able to drink from it.Of course, it can take several months for your child to learn to use a cup well. (Mind you, you can still expect some spills from time to time.)One caveat: If your child has a developmental delay or disability, they may need to use a sippy cup past 24 months. Talk to your child\u2019s doctor about their specific needs.Why You Should Use Sippy Cups With CareMany pediatricians caution against using sippy cups for a long period for these reasons:Drinking too much throughout the day can lead to poor nutrition and put your child at risk of being overweight. Your child won\u2019t be hungry for healthy meals if they\u2019re full of milk or juice. Juice has little nutritional value and is mainly empty calories.Milk, juice, or formula can collect in your baby\u2019s mouth and damage the baby teeth. The problem is worse if your child goes to sleep with the sippy cup in their crib or sucks on it to calm down.Sippy cups limit the movement of the baby\u2019s tongue and mouth. With cups that have valves, the action of the mouth and tongue is like sucking from a bottle. Toddlers who use these cups may not develop the ability to swallow correctly and may even have delayed speech.Dos and Don\u2019ts of Using a Sippy CupSippy cups can be a useful, short-term transition between bottle feeding and using a regular cup. But they can also become a crutch if misused, such as soothing your child.Do:Buy cups with your child\u2019s favorite TV or movie characters on them to raise their interest in drinking from a cup.Choose a cup with an open spout. Sippy cups with valves will cause your child to suck as if from a bottle instead of drinking and swallowing normally. These sippy cups are essentially bottles in different forms.Consider limiting sippy cups to meals at the table. The cup should be a special item that only comes out at mealtimes, not something your child carries around all day.Have them practice using a cup in places where a mess won\u2019t matter. (Your new sofa is not the ideal spot.)Practice using an open cup with small amounts of a thick liquid like yogurt. This will minimize the inevitable spills but still give your child a sense of how a cup works.Think of the sippy cup as a transitional phase, not a permanent solution. Make it clear to your child that it\u2019s a stepping stone to using a \u201creal cup.\u201d (Hyping up the \u201cbig kid cup\u201d is a tried-and-true ploy.)To get your child started, use a cup with two handles. These are easier for little hands to grasp and maneuver.Don\u2019t:Give your child a sippy cup full of juice or milk to calm them down when they\u2019re upset. You\u2019ll start a bad habit that may be difficult to break later on. Using a favorite cuddly toy or blanket is a better way to soothe your child.Let your child carry around a sippy cup full of cow\u2019s milk, formula, or juice all day. Too much liquid can interfere with getting proper nutrition from food (if they\u2019re full of juice or milk, they won\u2019t be hungry). And the sugar from milk or juice clings to their teeth and can cause cavities or tooth decay.Let your fear of spills dictate your choices. It\u2019s ok for babies and toddlers to make messes. If you\u2019re mentally prepared for that to happen, you won\u2019t be as upset with your child for an overturned cup of milk.SourcesAmerican Academy of Pediatrics, From Bottle to Cup: Helping Your Child Make a Healthy Transition, LinkAmerican Dental Association, Training Cups and Your Toddler\u2019s Teeth, LinkNHS, Drinks and Cups for Babies and Young Children, LinkNational Library of Medicine, Age of Age of Bottle Cessation and BMI-for-Age Percentile among Children Aged Thirty-Six Months Participating in WIC, LinkPathways.org, Parent\u2019s Guide to Sippy Cup Alternatives, LinkPathways.org, Sippy Cups: What You Should Know, Link"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2024","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2024\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"11","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2024\/\/11\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"When Should Children Stop Using Bottles and Sippy Cups?","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2024\/11\/bottles-and-sippy-cups\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]