Sippy Cups

Walk into any modern parent’s kitchen today and you will see that sippy cups have taken over! These must-haves are said to ease the weaning process, and that it saves many an hour mopping up spills as they are (in varying degrees) spill proof.

Each child, some experts say, should have at least a six sippy cup backup, so a cup is ready for action at a moment’s notice. There are said to be a child here or there who hates a sippy cup, but they must be few and far between.

There are many makers of sippy cups, and many different designs. It seems that each cup has their admirers and detractors. There are even disposable sippy cups that are made of thinner plastic. We thank our lucky stars that they are recyclable or we would all be hip deep in sippy.

Gerber sippy cups are durable, colorful, and only have three pieces. They also have a temperature sensitive plastic so parents can tell if the milk inside is warm or cold. The Gerber soft straw sippy cup is two handled, the spill proof valve is easy to clean, and has a retractable cover keeps the straw clean.

Playtex makes a sippy cup that is good for first timers. The built in handles make it easy for baby to grasp.

Nuby sipping cups by Luv n Care are no-spill and have a soft silicone spout. Be warned, they don’t sell replacement spouts, so they should be guarded faithfully. The Luv n care sippy cups are also no-spill and come in bright colors that are easy to spot.

Child sippy cup plastic valves are what make sippy cups sippy cups. The valve releases the liquid out of the cup as the child provides the pressure. They must be washed and dried thoroughly to prevent mold and spoilage of the liquid. Pulpy juices, such as orange, can clog the valve, so strain the juice or buy the no pulp kind.

How to clean a stained sippy cup is a welcome question in this toss-it-out world. Soaking the cup in a solution of water and baking soda, some experts advise; the nastier the stain, the more baking soda. Wash and rinse thoroughly.

Recently, there has been some controversy over sippy cups and speech development. It is suggested that sippy cups can cause speech delay. This has not been reported or definitively addressed by physicians as yet.

Hopefully this has given some new information to the nuby, excuse me, newbie sippy cup parents.