BY KERRY PETERSON, MA, CCC-SLP, BCBA
KCC Director of Autism Programs

The type of cup your young child drinks from can have a big impact on the development and function of their lips, teeth, tongue, and jaw — and ultimately their speech.

Speech-language pathologists often see children with developmental delays who are drinking from bottles or sippy cups instead of open cups way beyond an age that is recommended. This may be because the parents or the child have difficulty with change. It may seem silly to change something that seems to be working.

Transitioning from bottle to cup (and especially the right cup) is an important developmental step for feeding and for supporting the development of speech. Continuing to drink from a bottle or a sippy cup can have a long-term negative impact on a child’s speech development and the health of their teeth.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children transition from a bottle to a cup by 12 months and completely eliminate bottle drinking by 18 months of age. This is to ensure they transition from an immature to mature swallow pattern.

Without getting too technical, a more mature swallow pattern is important for having the tongue stabilize and rest in the best position in the mouth and allows the tip of the tongue to move and lift easily to contact the bumpy ridge on the roof of the mouth behind the teeth. The tongue needs to be fully inside the mouth at rest and for all speech sounds. Tongue tip elevation requires the mid-tongue be stable within the mouth in order move independently for letter sounds such as t, d and n.

The longer a child continues an immature sucking/swallowing pattern the more likely they may develop speech sound errors.

SOME ADDITIONAL TIPS:

• The best cups are those with straws or recessed lids, or with open tops. Balance straw cups with open-topped cups as often as possible.
• The worst cups for speech development are those with bottle-like nipples for kids past 12 months, or those with hard, firm spouts.
• It is important that children only use their lips to draw up the liquid and not their tongues. If your child’s tongue is under the straw and thrusting forward with a suckling-like movement, cut the straw to a shorter length or eliminate straw drinking completely.
• Don’t be surprised if you get a little resistance when changing up your child’s cup. Be patient, set clear expectations, and know your child will benefit in the long run by transitioning to better drinking options.
• Don’t hesitate to contact a speech-language pathologist for guidance.