When to introduce a cup?

When should you offer a cup? 

I get asked this ALL the time — and around 6 months is a perfect time to begin introducing an open cup.

Using a small open cup (instead of a sipper or straw initially) helps support mature oral motor skills, positive oral development, and even hand–eye coordination.

✨ Getting started:


• Offer small amounts — around 10ml at a time
• Gradually increase volume as your little one becomes more confident
• Expect spills… they are part of the learning process!

If you’re worried about mess, try starting with slightly thicker fluids to slow the flow and give your little one time to practise. Think yoghurt thinned with EBM or formula, smoothies, or a fruit/veggie puree.

I personally love the Kmart training cup — just use it without the sipper lid.

Let your little one explore, experiment and have fun. Yes, it can get messy… and that’s completely okay! Mess is learning 🤍

Once your child feels confident with an open cup, you can introduce a straw or sipper for convenience when you’re out and about — but it’s not a necessity.

WHO Recommendations infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health. Exclusive breastfeeding means that the infant receives breastmilk (including mother’ own expressed breast milk) and allows the infant to receive oral hydration solution, drops, syrups (vitamins, minerals, medicines), but nothing else.

Thereafter, to meet their evolving nutritional requirements, infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods, while continuing to breastfeed for up to two years or beyond.

Australian National Breastfeeding Strategy 2019 and beyond / https://www.who.int/tools/elena/interventions/exclusive-breastfeeding


Want more information about your little one and all things nutrition?
Check out the blogs written by our resident dietitians from @wayoflifenutrition.

 

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