There are so many milestones that babies will go through as they grow, with the transition from bottle to cup being one of them. To help children master this new skill, most parents turn to training cups, or "sippy" cups. It's important to remember their oral health as you decide what step to take next.

HEORSHE considered tooth order closely when developing the Dental-Care Sippy Cup, designing a unique straw, with a “small wing” to help babies uniformly distribute the applied force while they are sucking. This novel approach helps to reduce the pressure on each tooth and the jaw, so that baby's teeth can grow in a healthy way.

When to Use a Training Cup

Children can be introduced to a sippy cup before they are one year old, and we suggest phasing out the bottle between the ages of 12 and 24 months. Use a sippy cup as the source for all liquids at that age, and only when your child is thirsty and at mealtime to avoid overdrinking. The transition from a sippy cup to a regular cup should be a swift one.

Healthy Sipping Habits

The best first option in a sippy cup between meals is water. Milk or juice should be offered at mealtimes when saliva production increases and helps neutralize the effects of these drinks on young teeth. And don't let your child go to sleep with anything other than water—falling asleep with a cup filled with milk, juice, or other sugary drinks means these liquids stay in the mouth overnight. Finally, while a sippy cup is convenient and portable, don't let your young child walk and sip at the same time to avoid injuries.