There are so many types and designs of sippy cups available that it’s easy to become overwhelmed. To keep it simple, here are the most important features to look for when choosing what and what not to spend your money on.

This doesn’t mean that a no handled mug is a bad idea. For the right person ‘grabbing’ a wide vessel between the palms will be much easier. Lids You might find attending one of our Early Days groups helpful as they give you the opportunity to explore different approaches to important parenting issues with a qualified group leader and other new parents in your area.The amount of options on the wall of sippy cups at your local mass-market store or even the one at the supermarket can be overwhelming. Zero in on the main things you need: Capacity: 300ml | Recommended age: 6 months+ | Material: Silver, Silicone, Polypropylene, Thermoplastic Elastomer What we love There are many kinds of sippy cups - whether you’re going for soft spouts, hard spouts, straws or free-flowing, open cups - with tons of great features. You might want to consider leak-proof for travel; spill-proof for, well, always; cups with handles for tiny hands to easily hold; eco-options; even glow-in-the-dark numbers for nighttimes. Make sure you clean all parts of your baby’s cup or beaker thoroughly. Particularly any awkwardly shaped spouts or valves as they can rapidly become a breeding ground for bacteria (Zimmerman and Thompson, 2015; NHS Choices, 2016). Go at your baby’s pace Sippy cups for adults with co-ordination challenges should be difficult to break, easy to hold and lightweight. Struggles with controlling movement such a shaking

Otherwise, look for cups that are easy to use (as this is all about giving them independence so think handles, easy-grip and easy drinking design); leak-free and spill-free (especially important for outings); easy to clean; robust; and with no harmful chemicals (such as BPA-free). How to help your baby learn to drink from a cup

Get a Doidy Cup! They're brilliant, good size for little hands and angled so they can see the water coming at them. My toddler had one from 6 months and she much preferred it to a sippy cup. Takes a little while (and a lot of spills) to get used to but definitely worth it’ - highly recommended by Mumsnet user, HereComesFrog. Our Verdict The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) notes that bottle-feeding, breastfeeding, and repeated use of no-spill sippy cups (because of the way they mimic bottle-feeding) after 12 months are associated with early childhood caries, or tooth decay. Capacity: 250ml | Recommended age: 6 months+ | Material: Polypropylene, High Density Polyethylene and Thermo Plastic Elastomer What we love

I used one of these for my daughter, it took her a few attempts to get used to it and I didn’t push/rush it & just used bottles till she got the hang of it’ - recommended by Mumsnet user, MarigoldMoonStone Our Verdict Our support line offers practical and emotional support with feeding your baby and general enquiries for parents, members and volunteers: 0300 330 0700. Always respect the autonomy and dignity of the person you’re caring for while also presenting them with alternative, practical options. Insulating Drinking cups with lids for elderly people often also provide the option to drink without them on. Some conditions can present symptoms on one day but not the next, so this level of flexibility is vital.If you go at your baby’s pace the transition to a cup is likely to be smoother. Offer your baby a drink of water from a cup as part of each meal. Later on, if your baby would like a drink between meals, try to offer them plain water from a cup (Zimmerman and Thompson, 2015). If your child doesn’t seem to do well with one type of cup, try another. Not all cups will work for all babies or toddlers. Offering your baby water to drink from an open cup from six months encourages good habits. You will be helping them to gain independence as well as protecting their teeth.