Why I Skipped Sippy Cups - A SLP's Perspective

As a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) with expertise in feeding skills development, my goal is to support children in achieving optimal oral motor skills and speech development. When it came to introducing drinking utensils to my son, I made a conscious decision not to use sippy cups and instead opted to expose him to open cup drinking and straw cups.

Straw cups require more refined oral motor skills compared to sippy cups. The act of sucking through a straw encourages the use of tongue control, lip closure, and sucking coordination, which are crucial for speech development and oral motor control. By starting with straw cups, I gave my son the opportunity to strengthen these skills in a natural and progressive manner. Sippy cups are designed with spouts or valves that require simple sucking or biting actions to draw liquid. While this design promotes spill prevention and easy handling, it limits the range of oral motor skills required. Sippy cup drinking primarily involves repetitive sucking with minimal variation in tongue and lip movement. This limited oral motor activity may not adequately stimulate the muscles necessary for speech development and refined feeding skills. Using a straw requires the child to close their lips around the straw, create suction with their tongue, and regulate the flow of liquid through controlled suction and swallowing. The coordinated use of tongue, lips, and jaw muscles in straw drinking provides a more comprehensive oral workout, supporting the development and refinement of oral motor skills.

Using straw cups promotes appropriate tongue posture and swallowing patterns. The straw's placement encourages the tongue to rest at the bottom of the mouth, preventing tongue thrusting or immature swallowing patterns that may interfere with speech production. Sippy cups, on the other hand, can potentially promote tongue protrusion or inefficient swallowing due to the spout's positioning in the mouth.

Straw cups indirectly support speech development by enhancing oral motor skills and swallowing patterns. As children develop strong oral motor control through straw drinking, they are better equipped to articulate sounds and words effectively. Straw cup drinking promotes tongue control and articulation, essential components of speech development. As children manipulate the straw in their mouths, they learn to position and move their tongues to create suction and regulate liquid intake. This tongue control translates to improved speech articulation, as the same muscles involved in straw drinking are utilized for precise sound production and clarity

An important element to consider is that straw cups serve as a valuable transition tool for moving towards open cup drinking. The skills acquired through straw drinking, such as lip control, tongue movement, and controlled suction, closely mimic the mechanics required for drinking from an open cup. By using straw cups, children become familiar with the concept of sipping, which facilitates a smoother and quicker transition to open cup drinking. I personally would present an open cup to my son during our baby-led weaning journey for him to have exposure and experience.

As a Speech Language Pathologist specializing in feeding skills development, I had always known that I would skip the use of sippy cups with my own child. My decision to introduce straw cups instead of sippy cups is grounded in research and my understanding of oral motor skills and speech development. Ultimately, my goal is to provide my children with the best opportunities for developing strong feeding skills, and straw cups have proven to be a valuable tool in achieving this goal.

As a parent who has experienced spills and cups hitting the floor, I understand the necessity of sippy cups and why so many parents want the convenience. But really what's one more spill to clean up?