What is the best sippy cup for a dentist?

Raise your hand if youve been scared by something you saw on the internet into thinking your childs favorite cup is harmful. Let me reassure you that much like pacifiers, what matters in terms of developmental impact is not the type of cup being used but the frequency, intensity, and duration of its use. Offering a variety of cups is the key.

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Check out the article by The Informed SLP called Whats Up With Cups for a summary of the evidence surrounding sippy cup use, the impact on swallow pattern, and facial development. Itll ease your mind.

Cups I AVOID As A Parent & Pediatric Dentist

In my household, there are only two types of cups I avoid:

1. Anything that uses a firm straw (metal or plastic).

2. Anything with a hard spout.

My reason isnt due to developmental concerns but TRAUMA risk. Children are busy, they stand up or slip out of their chairs, and if a hard straw or spout is in their mouth at that moment, severe dental or soft tissue injury can occur.

Cups I DO Offer My Children

Around six months of age I began to offer my littles water to drink from a cup at mealtime.

• Ezpz cups or dixie cups work great, whichever best suits your budget. The small amount reduces mess and is the perfect size for little hands.
• A Reflo cup is helpful if your child tends to choke or douse themselves in a waterfall, as it has an insert that reduces the flow of liquid.
• The Munchkin Miracle 360 cup and the Munchkin weighted straw cup are great when you need spill resistance

In the end, the best cup is the one that your child likes and can use successfully! Dont stress or waste hundreds of dollars trying to get them to use the best one because there isnt a best one as far as evidence goes. You can find more options of cups that I love as a pediatric dentist and mom of three here.

Regarding their dental health, the most important factor is WHAT is inside the cup. The cup your child has access to all day should be filled with water. Reserve sweet/acidic drinks for meal times. And please, dont let your child take a bottle or sippy cup into bed with them that contains anything but water!

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Congrats! Your baby or toddler transitioning away from breastfeeding or bottles is a big milestone. As you prepare for their next stage, it is important to know that not all bottles and cups are created equal. Our doctors suggest looking for sippy cups that are going to be beneficial for your childs oral development.

Recommended Baby Bottles

When it comes to choosing a bottle, every baby has different preferences. Transitioning to a bottle is easier for some babies than others as well. There are so many different options out there that we suggest trying different ones to see which one your baby prefers. Remember to always wash and sterilize the bottle nipples and bottles to avoid infections. When choosing the flow for nipples, base your decision from the suggested age on the product. When giving your baby a bottle for the first time, we suggest putting some breast milk in just the nipple portion of the bottle and giving it to your baby to make sure they are able to latch well to that specific nipple. If your baby has colic or gas issues, try bottles that help with those too!

Recommended Sippy Cups

There are also all kinds of different cups for kids. A good option for transitioning from breastfeeding to a bottle is a cup with handles and a removable nipple. This way your baby can hold the bottle and learn to drink by themselves. Nuk Simply Natural Learner Cup is a good option and there are many others that have a similar design.

Believe it or not, most sippy cups promote improper tongue placement and swallowing patterns. These cups could lead to orthodontic problems later in life, so we recommend using an open cup option when transitioning away from a bottle. This is most important once your baby begins to get more teeth. However, we understand that an open cup with a baby will end in a mess in most situations. Our recommendation is a leak free, easy-to-clean, open cup design like the Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Cup or the WOW Gear Baby Cups.

All Babies & Toddlers Are Different

Although these are our recommendations, we understand that all babies are different and have unique needs. In conclusion, the most important thing is that the bottle and cup is safe and clean for your child. If you are ever concerned or have questions feel free to let us know! You can always bring your bottle or cup with you to your pediatric dental appointment for us to check it out.

Want more information on Dental-Care Sippy Cup? Feel free to contact us.