A glance through a social media parenting forum will reveal that everyone has sippy cups of different types and there are a variety of opinions on hard spouts and soft spouts. With social media sites, internet searches, and browsing shops, the choices could be overwhelming.
This is everything you should be aware of to help your little baby make the transition easier with a clear understanding of what exactly a sippy mug is the best type, what types are suitable for your baby, as well as the best time to stop using them.
The first year of your baby’s life is filled with transitions, like breast-to-bottle as well as milk transitioning to solids and from crawling to sitting to walking. There are so many important things taking place within that tiny body. One major change is shifting away from the bottle and instead of drinking from a sippy cup.
What Is a Sippy Cup?
It’s possible that you’ve seen the term “sippy cup” but you may not know what exactly that means. It’s not a transitional sippy cup or a container that has handles, or an open-top sippy cup. This is a special kind of cup to help your child move from a bottle into an open-top drinker.
These cups are designed to introduce your child to drinking from a container that doesn’t have a nipple as well as to avoid spills in this stage.
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Do You Have to Use a Sippy Cup?
There’s no need to use a sippy cup even if you don’t wish to because the purpose is eventually to train the child in drinking from the sippy cup that is open. All it depends on is the patience of your child, and you, too. It could be a case of mess and spills however; with gentle encouragement and repeated practice your child will be successful at it.
There are many pediatricians and dentists who suggest a Slow Flow Sippy Cups. Pediatric dental expert Saadia Mohammed, DDS, of Palm Beach Pediatric Dentistry in Boca Raton, Fl., “From an oral motor development perspective, a sippy cup should be avoided.” She explains that it’s because sippy cups that are sold on the market contain children who drink from the sippy cup instead of drinking from it.
Why Should I Use a Sippy Cup?
The pediatrician Shayna Smith MD at Flourish Pediatrics in Atlanta is of the opinion that your child should begin to transition out of formula by the time they reach 12 months. This is when they’re eating more solid food items than liquid food, with the goal of eliminating formula and breastmilk as their main sources of nutrients.
Babies have feeding times using breastmilk or bottles, but toddlers are only drinking when they are thirsty. In the in-between phase, sippy cups come in to assist your child move from taking liquid calories with the nipple, to drinking drinks when thirsty through cups.
What to Put in a Sippy Cup?
What you put into a sippy cup is as important as the cup you offer them the cup, according to Stacey Reynolds, DDS, of Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City in Garden City, NY It is best to use non-sweetened milk drinks or water and not include anything high in sugar.
This doesn’t mean that you should simply put the milk in the sippy cup that your toddler can drink through the entire day or even. Dr. Smith agrees and says that the habit of letting your child drink regularly can cause cavities and increase the risk of becoming obese particularly if they are drinks that are with a high amount of sugar.
How and When to Present a Sippy Cup
Sippy cups are available at the age of 6 months or when your child can sit up independently. Just putting a small amount of liquid in it will reduce spills. Be prepared for spills, regardless of. There will be moments when you’re annoyed at needing to wash your carpet or the floor underneath your high chair however, remember that it’s temporary.
When Should You Wean Off a Sippy Cup?
Dr. Smith reminds parents that sippy cups are drinking sippy cup for transition, and is only meant to serve for a brief period of time before the fine motor skills are developed that they are able to drink from unopened cups.
The Last word
It is not necessary to use a sippy container however they help aid in the transition from a bottle to a regular sippy cup more comfortable for parents and children. Sippy cups are intended for use during transitions, and shouldn’t be used for long periods of time. Consult your pediatrician or your dentist for more details.
