Babies can easily learn to drink from an open cup.

Sippy cups with no-spill valves do not help your baby develop drinking skills. An open cup is the best choice to help your baby develop these skills. When your baby begins to drink water or milk, offer them in an open cup.  Here’s how you can do this:

• Hold the cup against their mouth and slowly tip it. They will begin by suckling at the cup’s edge.
• As your baby gets older, they will get better at drinking from an open cup, and will learn to use a cup on their own.

Do not allow your baby to carry around a bottle, cup, or sippy cup.  They can get hurt if they fall with the bottle or cup in their mouth.  Also, they can get used to sipping on fluids other than water throughout the day.  This can make them less interested in their meals and snacks, and can be harmful to their teeth.