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Why are Sippy Cups So Bad?
More recently we’ve been frequently hearing that sippy cups are bad to use with our children. But why? They seem like a good option after transitioning from a bottle; they are easy to use when on the go and don’t make a mess. What could possibly be so bad? There are NUMEROUS detrimental effects of sippy cups, not only on the physical development of our children’s mouths but also on their speech development. Here is why we should be transitioning our children from bottles to an open cup or a straw.
- Tooth Decay: Sippy cups encourage children to sip, however constant sipping on anything besides water is not good for the health of a baby’s new teeth. Acid from the drink may wear down the enamel and de-mineralize teeth, leading to tooth decay.
- Lack of hunger pains: When children are continuously carrying around sippy cups and drinking in-between meals they are not as hungry for nutritious meals when it comes to mealtime. Babies as young as six months are ready for scheduled meal and snack times to eat mindfully, as a response to hunger. Space snacks and meals about two hours apart and offer water in between.
- Oral Motor Delays: Babies under 12 months old utilize an immature swallowing pattern that is typical for their age. However, after 12 months of age babies learn to lift and push up the tongue tip inside the mouths to swallow, just like an adult. When anything holds the tongue tip down, such as a sippy cup, with each swallow it can cause a tongue-thrust and a delay in oral motor development.
- Articulation Errors: Due to the oral motor delays and possible creation of a tongue thrust, sippy cup use can also lead to articulation errors. This is because of the anterior placement of the tongue which can lead to what is called a “lisp”.
Instead of transitioning from a bottle to a sippy cup, teach your child to drink from an open cup or use a straw! If you need to offer a sippy cup on occasion just for your sanity, it’s fine! Just try your best to limit them (or skip them all together) and teach your child to drink from a spill-proof straw cup to prevent spills.
-Erin White, M.A., CF-SLP, TSSLD
