From what age can a child drink from an open cup?
Many parents wonder when their child can start drinking from an open cup. It often feels like a big step, especially since an open cup is quickly associated with spills and wet tables. Yet, it turns out that children are often ready for this much earlier than expected.
Around six months of age, many babies can already carefully practice with an open cup. This coincides with the time they start solid foods. Precisely in this phase, children are open to new skills and learn quickly. By starting early, they become familiar with drinking from a cup without a spout or straw.
Drinking from an open cup contributes to the development of mouth muscles and hand-mouth coordination. Additionally, it helps children drink more consciously, as they learn to dose and control themselves. These are skills that are not only important for drinking, but also for speech development and independence.
Nevertheless, it is understandable that many parents hesitate. In practice, it appears that it is not so much the child that makes it difficult, but the circumstances. Cups that are too light or easily tip over cause frustration. The drink ends up on the table more often than in the mouth, and that quickly takes away the fun.
However, when a child receives the right support, this picture changes completely. A stable cup that stands well and is pleasant to hold makes the learning process calmer and more manageable. Children gain more confidence and dare to practice themselves, without every attempt ending in a mess.
You will then see that progress quickly emerges. What was initially unfamiliar becomes increasingly self-evident. There is more peace at the table, children experience moments of success, and parents spend less time cleaning up and correcting.
So you don't have to wait until your child "seems ready". By starting early with an open cup, you actually promote development. With the right cup, this process becomes not only easier, but also much more pleasant for everyone at the table.
If you want to teach your child to drink from an open cup without it becoming a mess every time, it is smart to choose a cup that supports this. STEDDI was designed precisely with that goal in mind.