Choosing the Right First Cup

Sippy Cups, Straw Cups, and the Valve Debate Explained

When introducing your baby's first cup, your choice significantly impacts oral motor development, speech development, and dental health.

Why Feeding Therapists Don't Recommend Sippy Cups

Sippy cups – small, lidded cups with a spout that helps young children drink without spilling – are a popular choice. However, many feeding therapists and pediatricians do not recommend them.

Concerns include that they can:

• Interfere with proper tongue positioning

• Limit jaw development

• Contribute to speech delays and dental issues

So what do professionals recommend instead? Open cups or straw cups. These encourage proper swallowing patterns and support natural oral development.

Supporting Natural Development

Teaching kids to drink using these cups aligns with Montessori-inspired "help me do it myself" thinking, supporting independence with thoughtful tools that match a child's developing capabilities.

Montessori-inspired methods emphasize:

• Real experiences over simplified versions when developmentally appropriate

• Clear materials that allow children to see and understand cause and effect

• Gradual progression toward independence rather than rushing milestones

A recent viral TikTok perfectly illustrated why these principles matter: a toddler learning to drink from a free-flowing straw cup couldn't control the water flow and spilled everywhere. The real issue wasn't the child's technique. It was that the cup made flow control difficult for his developmental stage.

The Question of Valves in Straw Cups

Building on this challenge, there's an interesting question about valves in straw cups. Many toddler straw cups come with valves for two reasons:

1. Prevent spills - stop water from spilling when tipped

2. Control flow - prevent water from being drawn up too quickly

Here's where it gets controversial: some feeding therapists argue that valved straw cups are just as problematic as sippy cups, recommending only free-flowing straws for proper oral skill development.

But we believe preventing spills and helping babies control water flow matters during early cup introduction. Spill-proof valved cups can be helpful for travel or teaching a very active toddler who likes to shake his cup to drink without splashing water everywhere (i.e. ours 😅).

Our Practical Recommendations

At Haomomo, we draw inspiration from evidence-based approaches that prioritize independence – including Montessori principles – while staying grounded in modern parenting realities.

Very little in parenting is black and white. Sometimes supporting your child's learning means using a valved cup during the transition phase, then moving toward open cups as skills develop. This respects both developmental best practices and the practical needs of busy families.

Here's what we advise for supporting "help me do it myself" cup transitions:

It's perfectly acceptable to use a valved straw cup for the initial transition. The reduced mess and better flow control support success during this learning period.

When you do choose valved straw cups, we recommend:

• Choose gentle valves that don't require biting or hard sucking

• Look for clear straws when possible - babies learn better when they can see what's happening

• Switch between valve straw cups and open cups so your child develops both skills naturally

The key is supporting development while being realistic about the learning process and your family's needs.