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Introducing a cup

You can try introducing a cup between nine and 12 months:

  • Starting with a cup with two handles to help them hold it. Once they’re confident with this, introduce a cup with handle and eventually a beaker they need to hold with both hands
  • Filling the cup half way with thick drinks, e.g. smoothies, milkshakes and yoghurt drinks, to give them more time to practice their lip seal around the cup
  • Slowly helping them lift the cup to drink from. Once they’re confident, start giving them less and less help
  • Giving them a see through or tilted cup so they don’t have to tip their heads back as far

You can try introducing a cup between nine and 12 months:

  • Starting with a cup with two handles to help them hold it. Once they’re confident with this, introduce a cup with handle and eventually a beaker they need to hold with both hands
  • Filling the cup half way with thick drinks, e.g. smoothies, milkshakes and yoghurt drinks, to give them more time to practice their lip seal around the cup
  • Slowly helping them lift the cup to drink from. Once they’re confident, start giving them less and less help
  • Giving them a see through or tilted cup so they don’t have to tip their heads back as far