Ask Dr. Joy Lunan

 

The sippy cup is a spill proof, lid-covered drinking cup

designed to help parents teach their toddlers how to drink

without spilling. Children can toss it, drop it and turn it

upside down, but they can't spill its contents. That's thanks

to a valve in the top that releases liquid only when a child

puts his lips around the tip and sucks. Day after day countless

parents reach for that sippy cup their toddlers love so well,

proud that the bottle is a thing of the past, and thrilled that

their car seats and living room carpets will be spared!

These parents though, should think twice before resorting

to extended use of the sippy cup.

Many parents operate under the mistaken impression that

the sippy cup is better than allowing the child to sleep with

a bottle. The damage done by the bedtime bottle is fueled

by the fact that no saliva flows during sleep to clear liquids

from the mouth or dilute them. Liquids bathe the teeth all night.

The sippy cup filled with sweetened liquids can cause the

same damaging effects. The child's teeth are immersed in

the liquid during drinking and many parents allow unlimited

access to the sippy cup.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends

that children be weaned from the bottle by 12-14 months of

age and be encouraged to drink from a cup. Parents are

cautioned however that the repetitive consumption of liquids

that contain fermentable carbohydrates (milk, juice, soft drinks

etc.) from a bottle or sippy cup should be avoided.