How to Choose a Safe & Practical Sippy Cup for Your Child
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Babies love drinking milk from their bottles, and this is completely okay when they are very little. However, as babies grow into toddlers, it’s important to introduce them to sippy cups.
Why do you need to do this? When your baby is between 4 and 6 months old, he/she will begin to get teeth. Baby teeth are vulnerable to attack from the sugars that are present in milk (of all kinds) and fruit juice (even diluted). Plus, bottles have quite a slow flow, which means sugary liquids stay around little teeth for longer than it would if it came from a faster-flowing cup. This can result in tooth decay. Experts also say that using a bottle for longer than necessary can affect speech development.
When to Start Teaching Your Baby to Use a Sip Cup?
According to experts, age 6 to 9 months is an ideal time to let your baby experiment with cup drinking. You can do this first with a sippy cup and later try with an open cup. Understand that this is just practice – your baby will be able to use a sippy solo by age 1, and an open-cup around 18 months of age. To make the transition smoother, start using a sippy cup for midday drinks, then move on to the evening and morning. Save the bedtime for last.
How to Choose Sippy Cups?
A good sippy cup should be:
- Leak and spill-free – these features will make your life a lot easier;
- BPA-free – BPA in plastic has been linked to a number of health-related problems. So, make sure the sippy cup you buy is a BPA-free one;
- Dishwasher safe – choosing a sip cup that is dishwasher-safe guarantees that it can be properly cleaned and disinfected before giving it to your child. Types that aren’t dishwasher-safe will get damaged in the dishwasher;
- Brightly coloured – bright and vibrant colours and cute and popular designs tend to be appealing to kids, encouraging them to use the cups more often.
That being said, here are some of the best sippy cups on the market to consider when starting your sippy-cup journey.
Klean Kanteen Sippy Bottles
You don’t have to give your little one a cup straight away. You can make the transition easier with the help of a sippy bottle from Klean Kanteen. Klean Kanteen offers a range of eco water bottles that are sustainable and attractive to kids. Made from food-grade stainless steel, Klean Kanteen products are free from BPA and other toxins.
Klean Kanteen sippy bottles come with a single-wall design, a hard spout and a clear plastic cover. Because they are made from steel, these eco water bottles will never give the drink that terrible plastic taste. The bottles are comfortable to hold and are durable enough to last for several years. So, if you decide to buy a model from Klean Kanteen, there’s no need to keep rebuying sippy cups.
While they aren’t as lightweight as some other options available, they aren’t too heavy for children to hold. These sippy bottles can hold up to 355 ml of liquid. So, if you are concerned about the safety and materials of your baby’s sippy cup, you may want to consider this organic option. It may be a bit more expensive compared to other plastic cups, but it’s worth every penny.
Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Cup
In addition to being a 360-degree leak-proof cup, its spout-less design helps to support healthy teeth and muscle development as your child learns how to sip from the cup.
Made of four parts, this cup is a life-saver when it comes to avoiding leaks and spills. It also supports children’s dental development in the process. It’s made from BPA-free plastic, features a soft and easy-to-grip exterior and holds up to 200 ml of liquid. It may take some time for your child to learn how to use it, but he/she will quickly get the hang of it.
NUK Learner Sippy Cup
The NUK Learner is designed to prevent colic and gas in babies. It features a specific air vent withing the sprout that let out any excess air, preventing air from seeping in when your baby is drinking.
This cup is the ideal choice for babies who are starting their transition from bottles to cups. The sippy cup’s spout is made of soft silicone and designed to resemble the look and feel of a nipple, which contributes to children naturally accepting it. The NUK Learner sippy cup is quite small and can hold only 150ml of liquid. It is made of BPA-free materials and all parts are dishwasher-safe.
Philips Avent My Bendy Straw Cup
Philips Avent My Bendy Straw cup has a unique shape and anti-slip grips that make it easy for kids to hold it. This is an especially good choice for active toddlers. This cup is an ideal product to get for children who prefer straws. It is sold in a pack that comes with two sippy cups, each that holds up to 300ml of liquid.
Designed to be entirely leak-free, this product comes with a 100% money-back guarantee. The Philips Avent My Bendy Straw Cup is also dishwasher safe, which improves its convenience. However, straw cups can be hard to clean when used for milk. It may be necessary to use specially-designed brushes to help clean the cup properly.