Wondering which cup is best to help your baby drink water? Whether it’s a Spout Cup, Straw Cup, 360° Training Cup, or an Open Cup, this post is here to guide you—based on personal experience and developmental insights.
When your baby turns 6 months old and starts solids, it's also time to introduce a bit of water alongside meals. Sure, you can offer water using a bowl and spoon—but let’s be honest, that’s not the easiest or cleanest option!
That’s where training cups and sippers come in. They’re spill-proof, easy for babies to handle, and allow them to drink at their own pace. But which one should you actually invest in?
Let’s go through each option one by one.
🍼 Spout Cups – Easy Start but Not Ideal Long Term
Spout sippy cups come with a spout made of hard plastic or soft silicone. They’re usually leakproof and are quite convenient for babies between 6 months and 1 year.
✅ Soft spouts are gentler on baby gums
❌ But they can negatively impact your baby’s oral development
Here’s why: as babies grow, they need to develop a mature swallowing pattern—where the tip of the tongue touches the roof of the mouth and moves the liquid back in a wave-like motion. Spout cups often promote an immature pattern (front-to-back tongue movement), which can lead to:
- Improper tongue posture
- Dental issues (pushing front teeth outward)
- Speech delays
Many pediatricians and speech therapists now recommend skipping spout cups altogether and moving directly to straw or open cups.
🧃 Straw Cups – Better for Oral Development
Straw cups are great for babies 9 months and up and are widely recommended because they support healthy oral muscle development and speech readiness.
When choosing a straw cup, make sure:
- The straw isn’t too long
- It promotes lip rounding and suction (important for speech)
Straw cups come in two types:
- Regular straw cups like the Philips Avent Sipper Bottle
- Weighted straw cups like R for Rabbit Sipper Cup
✅ Weighted straws help babies drink from any angle—even while lying down or reclining—since the bottom of the straw stays submerged.
My baby personally uses the Philips Avent one comfortably, so I stuck with that. But you can try whichever suits your baby best!
💦 360° Training Cups – Spill-Proof Step Toward Open Cups
These cups are quite clever! You can use them from 9 months to 2 years. They look like regular cups but have a spill-proof lid that allows drinking from any edge. They mimic the action of sipping from an open cup, helping babies transition easily.
Though I didn’t use these myself (I went straight to open cups), they’re definitely worth trying if you’re looking for a spill-safe and development-friendly option.
🥣 Open Cups – The Best Choice for Long-Term Development
The ultimate goal for all babies is to drink from an open cup. In fact, babies can start practicing with small open cups from 6 months onward.
You don’t need anything fancy to begin—just a small cup or glass that your baby can grip easily. A few tips:
- Avoid large or adult-size cups (it’s like us drinking from a bucket!)
- Choose a cup with a small opening so your baby learns proper lip placement
- Start with very small amounts of water to avoid messes
You can also explore baby-safe cups made of soft silicone—they’re safe, gentle on gums, and come with or without handles.
Learning to use an open cup is a big milestone! Babies need to master multiple steps:
- Gripping the cup
- Bringing it to their mouth
- Tilting just enough to get the water out
- Sipping and swallowing properly
Be prepared for some spills—it's all part of the process. Always use only water in the beginning so cleaning is easy. Gradually reduce your help and let your baby try on their own.
🎥 Don’t Miss My YouTube Video!
👉 Watch my detailed video where I explain all these cups and share personal tips with real examples! Click here to watch it
🛒 Want to Shop?
I’ve shared links to some of the best straw cups, open cups, and sippers in the description below. You can check them out to save time and choose what fits your baby’s needs best.
I know this post became a bit long, but I wanted to be thorough because choosing the right cup can make a big difference in your baby's development.
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Till next time,
Happy Parenting!