Drinking from an open/straw cup

What’s happening

Moving from bottle to an open or straw cup supports better oral-muscle development than a sippy cup does, and most toddlers can start practicing well before they're fully off the bottle.

How to support it

• Start practice with a small amount of water in an open cup at meals, over a towel or the sink — spills are part of learning.
• A straw cup is often an easier bridge than a wide-open cup for a first-timer.
• Practice matters more than the exact cup — expect months of spills before it's tidy, and that's normal, not a sign to switch back.