Maya Ellison
Sippy cups are a staple of modern parenting, designed as a transitional drinking cup for toddlers. They are a great way to help your baby transition from nursing or bottle-feeding to a regular cup and can also improve hand-to-mouth coordination. Sippy cups are designed with a screw-on or snap-on lid and a spout or straw that lets your child drink without spilling. The spouts are usually made of hard or soft plastic, with some newer options offering a rubberized spout that is more pliable and gentle on gums and emerging teeth. While sippy cups are a convenient solution for parents, prolonged use may lead to dental and speech development issues, so they should only be used temporarily during the transition phase.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Transitional cup for children who are ready to move on from a bottle but not yet ready for an open "big kid" cup |
| Design | Covered cup with a small spout, often with a valve to prevent spills |
| Downsides | Prolonged use may lead to dental decay, delayed swallowing development, and altered speech patterns |
| Types | Hard spout, soft spout, straw, and spoutless/natural spout |
| Materials | Plastic, silicone, stainless steel, aluminum |
| Brands | Munchkin, NUK, Re-Play, Zoli, Evori, Nalgene, Contigo, Klean Kanteen, Pura Kiki, Tommee Tippee |
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What You'll Learn
Sippy cups are transitional cups for toddlers to prevent spills
Sippy cups are a popular option for parents to prevent spills and reduce the mess caused by toddlers who are transitioning from using a bottle to drinking from an open cup. They are covered cups with a small spout or straw that the child drinks out of.
There are several types of sippy cups available, including hard spout, straw, and 360 cups. Hard spout cups are the traditional variety and often have a valve that prevents spills unless the child sucks on it. However, experts advise against prolonged use as it can lead to issues like speech and tooth problems, and even tongue thrust. Straw cups are considered a safer alternative, and some varieties are now spill-proof. 360 cups have a lid with a flat edge, and children can drink from any point along the edge.
It is important to choose a sippy cup that is non-toxic and free of harmful chemicals like bisphenol-A (banned by the FDA in 2012) and phthalates. Plastic sippy cups may contain these chemicals, so it is recommended to check the recycling symbol and avoid products marked with #3, #6, or #7. Silicone is increasingly being used as a substitute for plastic, offering a non-leaching and non-toxic option. Stainless steel sippy cups are also available, but they usually have a plastic coating that must be guaranteed to be BPA-free.
Some popular options for sippy cups include the Pura Kiki, which is stainless steel with a silicone spout, and the Munchkin Miracle 360, which is also stainless steel but has a cup-like edge to help children transition to drinking from a regular cup. The Munchkin brand also offers a Gentle Transition Sippy with a silicone spout that mimics a bottle and is suitable for leak-free drinking. NUK makes a range of hard spout sippy cups that are bite-resistant and spill-proof, ideal for toddlers transitioning from bottles.
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Sippy cups can cause tongue thrust and delay speech development
Sippy cups are a popular option for parents as they are transitional cups that help children move from using a bottle to drinking from a "big kid" cup. However, experts recommend that the use of sippy cups should be limited and that children should transition to a regular cup by the age of two. This is because the prolonged use of sippy cups can cause issues with speech development and tooth decay.
Sippy cups with hard spouts, in particular, can cause tongue thrust, a condition where the tongue rests farther forward than its natural position, which may cause a lisp. This occurs because the positioning of the tongue while drinking from a sippy cup is similar to drinking from a bottle, and so a child may have delayed development of swallowing skills. This can make it harder for them to try new foods as they get older and may make eating solids messier.
To avoid this issue, some experts recommend using straw cups instead. Most children can use a straw from as early as nine months old, and there are now no-spill options available. It is important that only a child's lips go around the straw, and not their tongue, so some sources suggest cutting the straw down so that it only reaches the tip of the tongue when the mouth is closed around it.
There are also open cups, such as the EZPZ Tiny Cup, which has a weighted base and bumps on the bottom to prevent it from tipping over. However, open cups are much messier, especially at first.
When choosing a sippy cup, it is also important to consider the material it is made of. Plastic sippy cups may contain harmful chemicals such as bisphenol-A (banned by the FDA in 2012) and phthalates. Experts recommend checking the recycling symbol on plastic products and avoiding products with #3, #6, or #7, as these are most likely to contain harmful chemicals.
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Plastic sippy cups may contain harmful chemicals
Sippy cups are a popular option for toddlers transitioning from a baby bottle to an open "big kid" cup. They are designed to prevent or reduce spills. However, it is important to be aware of the potential downsides of using sippy cups, especially those made of plastic.
Phthalates are another type of chemical found in some plastic sippy cups. They are used to make plastics softer. Ingesting phthalates can also have negative health effects. Experts recommend avoiding plastic products with recycling symbols #3, #6, or #7, as these are most likely to contain harmful chemicals. Additionally, look for products that specifically state they are phthalate-free.
While many plastic sippy cups now advertise themselves as BPA-free, some studies suggest that even these may not be entirely safe. Tests have shown that BPA-free plastic products can still leach other endocrine disruptor chemicals. The plastic industry claims that these chemicals are only present in trace amounts and are quickly cleared from the human body. However, the long-term effects of exposure to these chemicals are not yet fully understood.
To avoid the potential risks associated with plastic sippy cups, some parents opt for alternative materials such as glass, stainless steel, or silicone. Glass and stainless steel options are available from several brands, although they may still have some plastic parts. Silicone is a promising plastic substitute that appears to be non-leaching and non-toxic, although more studies are needed to confirm its safety.
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Silicone is a non-toxic alternative to plastic sippy cups
Sippy cups are a popular option for toddlers transitioning from a baby bottle to an open "big kid" cup. However, traditional plastic sippy cups may contain harmful chemicals such as bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates, which can pose health risks. As a result, many parents are seeking non-toxic alternatives, and silicone sippy cups are emerging as a viable option.
Silicone is a plastic substitute that is believed to be non-leaching and non-toxic. While more studies on silicone are warranted, it is still considered an improvement over traditional plastic sippy cups. Manufacturers are increasingly using silicone for spouts and straws, or even for the entire body of the cup. Silicone sippy cups offer a safer alternative by eliminating direct contact with plastic and the potential ingestion of harmful chemicals.
One popular option is the Pura Kiki sippy cup, which features a stainless steel body and a silicone spout. This combination ensures zero contact with plastic for your child. The cup also transitions as your child grows; you can replace the spout with a silicone straw top (sold separately) and then a sport top for older kids. Pura Kiki offers both insulated and non-insulated models, and their products are Nontoxic Certified by Madesafe.org.
Another option is the Klean Kanteen non-toxic sippy cup, which features a polypropylene lid, the safest plastic that is least likely to leach toxins. If you prefer a straw cup, Contigo offers a flip-up straw cup with a silicone spout and a convenient handle. It is leak-proof when closed, making it a practical choice for toddlers.
In conclusion, silicone sippy cups offer a non-toxic alternative to traditional plastic options. With health concerns surrounding BPA and phthalates in plastic, silicone provides peace of mind for parents seeking safer choices for their children. While more research is needed to comprehensively understand silicone, its current usage in sippy cups suggests it is a viable and increasingly popular option for toddlers.
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Stainless steel sippy cups are lightweight and plastic-free
Sippy cups are a popular choice for parents as they help children transition from using a bottle to drinking from a regular "big kid" cup. They are designed to prevent spills, but prolonged use of sippy cups can lead to issues such as tooth decay, obesity, delayed swallowing development, and speech problems. As such, experts recommend that their use should be limited and children should start transitioning to a regular cup after they turn two.
Plastic sippy cups, even those that are BPA-free, may contain harmful chemicals such as phthalates. These can be released over time, especially with long-term exposure to liquids. To avoid this, parents can opt for sippy cups made from stainless steel, which are lightweight and plastic-free.
The Pura Kiki is a popular stainless steel sippy cup that is lightweight, plastic-free, and has a silicone sleeve, making it easier for children to grip. It features a soft silicone spout that is leak-proof and helps to prevent mouth injuries. The Pura Kiki is also interchangeable with different spouts that can accommodate a child's development stage, offering extended use.
Another option is the Munchkin Miracle 360 Stainless, which has a cup-like edge that mimics a traditional cup. While it still requires sucking, it helps babies feel like they are drinking from a regular cup without making a mess. However, it should be noted that this cup can leak when shaken upside down.
In addition to stainless steel, glass is also recommended as a safe material for sippy cups. However, glass cups are heavier and more prone to breaking, which is why stainless steel is a more popular choice.
When choosing a sippy cup, it is important to prioritize non-toxic options to ensure the safety and well-being of children. Stainless steel and glass sippy cups with minimal or no plastic parts are ideal to avoid the potential risks associated with plastic alternatives.
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Frequently asked questions
A sippy cup is a transitional cup for toddlers who are no longer using a bottle but are not yet ready for an open "big kid" cup. It has a lid and a small spout to prevent spills.
Sippy cups are typically made of plastic, stainless steel, or silicone. Plastic sippy cups may contain harmful chemicals such as bisphenol-A (banned by the FDA in 2012) and phthalates. Silicone is a newer alternative to plastic and is considered non-leaching and non-toxic. Stainless steel sippy cups are also available, but they have a plastic or silicone spout.
Some experts say that sippy cups should be used in moderation or avoided altogether due to potential issues with speech and tooth development. Prolonged use of sippy cups can lead to tongue thrust, causing a lisp and delaying proper speech development. It can also contribute to tooth decay in children younger than six. Additionally, children who carry around a sippy cup may drink too much liquid, leading to a greater need for diaper changes.
Some recommended sippy cups with a rubberized plastic spout include the NUK 360 cup (BPA-free plastic with a silicone spout), the Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer (BPA-free plastic with handles), and the Tommee Tippee Insulated Sipper Tumbler (BPA-free plastic with a hard spout).
