When Should a Toddler Stop Using a Sippy Cup

We all love sippy cups, but letting our babies use them too long is not good. And while we want to wean the sippy cups, the thought of spilled juices and milk holds you back. But still, we have to stop. So, when should a toddler stop using a sippy cup? The answer will be early enough to prevent habits we would not want to deal with. 

According to experts, prolonged use of sippy cups can delay your toddler’s speech development and cause many other issues. 

When Should A Toddler Stop Using A Sippy Cup?

Most doctors recommend that children should be weaned from sippy cups by the time they are two years old. Excessive use of the sippy cups can cause developmental delays. Besides that, babies sip fluids from the sippy cups, mainly juices and milk. Even though milk is okay, its sugar can damage your little one’s teeth. 

Why Transitioning From Sippy Cups To Regular Cups Is Important

Months ago, we were excited about starting to use a sippy cup. As we grew older, we realized it was essential to stop using them by the time our toddler turned 2. And while we adore them, sippy cups, when overused, can cause more harm than good.

Below are some of the reasons why its essential to transition from sippy cups to regular cups:

Tooth decay and Cavities

Sippy cups cause tooth decay and cavities, especially when babies fall asleep right after sucking them because the milk rests on the teeth. 

Besides milk, we give our babies other drinks like juice using sippy cups, so a constant flow of sugar on their teeth causes decay. 

Speech Delay

Toddlers can have delayed speech if they frequently use a sippy cup with a hard spout because the cups rest their tongues forward in the mouth. The mouth muscles are supposed to be strengthened when drinking, and that might not happen when a toddler constantly uses the sippy cup. 

Injuries

Most toddlers move around with their sippy cups in use. These cups merely rest because most parents have allowed babies to have their cups whenever they want. 

Unfortunately, these cups can cause injuries when a toddler tips and falls. 

Unhealthy Eating Habits or Relationship with Foods

As I said above, most toddlers have access to their sippy cups 24/7, making them full most of the time, hence developing a poor relationship with food. 

Types Of Sippy Cups Alternatives

You’ll need an alternative if you want to stop your toddler from using a sippy cup. Here are some clever sippy cups alternatives that you can switch to:

Open Toddler Learning Cups

Toddler learning cups are designed like regular cups you drink out of. The only difference these open toddler learning cups have is that they are slightly thicker to prevent tip-overs. 

Spoutless/ 360 Cups

When you first see the spoutless cup, you might mistake it for a sippy cup. Spoutless cups, however, don’t have a spout but are spillproof, making them the best option. 

Munchkin Miracle 360 Spoutless cup is one good example of a spoutless cup highly recommended by our dentist. The cup holds upto 14 ounces of liquid, and its spoutless design allows your baby to drink from any side of the cup. One thing I love about this cup is that it’s easy on little hands, all thanks to its silicone grip. 

Cup and Straw

Instead of the sippy cup, you can opt for a cup with a silicone straw that can be folded down. Unlike disposable straws, these straws come fixed with the cup, so you will need a pipe cleaner to clean the inside of the straw. 

The good thing about cups with straw is that it reduces spills because when your toddler is done drinking, you can close the cup, and the straw folds inside. 

Bottled Water

Although a bottle is not a cup, you can teach your toddler how to drink and swallow before drinking something again with the help of a water bottle. 

It might not be a fun class, but you will have to entice them to get them to do it by showing them an example and making it feel like an outstanding achievement. 

A Rimless Cup

Rims and spouts are the leading causes of oral issues, and you should avoid them entirely as you’re weaning your toddler from a sippy cup. A rimless cup teaches your toddler how to drink from a regular cup properly. 

Tips for a Smooth Transition From a Sippy Cup to Regular Cups

Your toddler is probably feeding on solid foods, and now you want to make sure your baby gets acquainted with the cup. But that won’t be a walk in the park, so you have to take it slow and ensure everyone around you is on board and knows your toddler is learning a new skill. Here are some of the tips to help transition from a sippy cup to regular cups smoothly:

Use Sippy Cups For Learning Only

Sippy cups were meant for learning purposes. These cups help teach your child how to drink independently while minimizing spills. When your baby is two years old, they are supposed to learn how to drink from an open cup. 

You want to make sure that the sippy cup is filled with water only without sugar and avoid giving your baby juices using sippy cups. 

Limit The Bottle For Mealtimes

Avoid giving your baby bottle throughout and hand it over to them during mealtimes only. Avoid bottles during sleep and nap so your baby doesn’t associate sleep with bottles. Instead of the bottles, offer snuggles, lullabies, and bedtime stories until your toddler learns how to self-soothe. 

Introduce Open Cups Early

You can start giving your baby a regular cup when they hit six months by bringing it to the feeding table and encouraging them to drink from it. This trick works well when you put breastmilk or formula in the cup and let your baby drink. 

Praise Your Child 

Eating and drinking like a big baby is a huge achievement, and you want to ensure your child feels it. Sing songs of praise and clap to show your toddler that you are genuinely impressed by their progress, and watch them ask for the cup instead of a bottle or a sippy cup. 

Choosing the Right Cup for Your Child

Now that you’re transitioning to other healthy sippy cup alternatives, you want to make the right decision. As a mom, I always choose the safest products for my children.

You want BPA-free products while picking the right cup for your toddler. And while BPA-free products might be safe, some contain traces of endocrine disruptive materials, lead, and other toxic materials. 

Below are some of the most important things to avoid when purchasing the right cup for your child:

• BPA
• Plastic
• Sippy spouts
• Lead and heavy materials
• PVC

Best Non-Toxic Alternatives For Sippy Cups

You might want a lead to the best sippy cup alternatives as you ditch the one you have. Below are some of my favorite products I recommend based on their safety and functionality. 

Green Sprouts Learning Cup

If you want to head straight to open cups, this Green Sprouts Learning cup might be ideal for you and your toddler. 

Made from 100% pure silicone, this cup is break-proof and has two handles making it easy for your toddler to drink from it. 

Although I haven’t tried to hand it to my toddler when filled, this cup holds about 7 ounces of liquid, so it’s big enough to hold many drinks. 

Pros

• Great for toddlers with small hands
• Made of silicone making, it is durable and unbreakable
• Good capacity
• Great learning cup for transitioning from sippy cups
• It comes in different colors

Cons

• None so far

Haakaa Silicone Toddler Cup

Haakaa Silicone Toddler Training Cup is another great alternative to sippy cups. Made of BPA-free materials, this cup is functional and safe for your little one’s health. 

The cup features two handles, holds upto 6 ounces of liquid, and can be cleaned using a dishwasher. 

Another exciting thing about this is that it doesn’t break, so you can save it for future use if you still have babies. The cup is made of soft food-grade silicone making it friendly even for teething babies. 

Hakaa toddlers cup can be used to administer both hot and cold liquids, and you can even warm your baby’s food using it because it can withstand both low and high temperatures.  

Another thing that I genuinely love about Hakaa’s toddler cup is its shallowness. Your baby doesn’t need to tilt the head backward to drink, making it easy for you and the baby. 

Pros

• Easy to clean
• It can be used on both cold and hot drinks
• Unbreakable 
• Cut out trim for nose allowance
• Easy on small hands
• Transparent material to see the level of liquid left

Cons

• None

PoPo Cute Small Stainless Steel Mom And Toddlers Tumbler

I love the PoPo Cute Small Stainless Steel Mom and Toddlers Tumbler because of its size. With a capacity of 8 Oz, this tumbler makes it easy for toddlers with tinny hands to handle it. 

Besides that, this tumbler has a straw that is easy for toddlers transitioning to regular cups. The tumbler has a lid to reduce spills and a double-sided vacuum to help keep warm drinks warm for longer. 

The cup is also entirely safe because it’s made using stainless steel and is powder coated, so it doesn’t chip or peel. Its straw is also soft and chewable but doesn’t get damaged even when it goes through the wrath of your baby’s teeth. 

Although this cup seems a bit pricey, I love that with a single purchase, you’re guaranteed not to spend any more on cups and straws because the company offers a lifetime guarantee. 

Pros

• Unbreakable
• Easy on small hands
• Easy to clean
• Sturdy built

Cons

• Lids won’t stay on

Tommee Tippee Sportee Water Bottle For Toddlers

Tommee Tippee water bottles come in various colorful and playful colors, ideal for toddlers. The bottles come in a pack of three super good for parents with multiples, and I love that they have an excellent design for toddlers’ grip. 

You don’t want to deal with spills and messes around, and that’s why the Tommee brand designed these water bottles with a two-piece detachable valve to prevent any leakage. The bottles also have a lovely design that is easy on toddlers’ hands. 

Pros

• Attractive colors
• BPA free
• Easy to clean
• Spill-proof
• Durable

Cons

• The cup leaks when you lose a single piece of valves

By the end of this article, you have a clear answer on when a toddler should stop using a sippy cup. You can use the tips I have shared above for smooth transitioning.