While were sure you're aware of the benefits to hand-eye coordination, lets discuss the benefits of oral motor and dental development.
One of the greatest benefits of introducing an open mouth cup from 6 months is that it promotes the development of strong oral muscles. Strong lip, cheek and tongue muscles are crucial for jaw development, mature swallowing and speech.
Open mouth cups also decrease the risk of dental decay and malocclusion.
Why the Tongue Matters
When a baby uses a sippy cup or bottle it restricts their tongue down, impeding the tongues natural resting position (upper palate) and the tongue tip movement.
The tongue sitting in the upper palate is important, as it is what causes the upper jaw to expand out and grow forward. It is this growth pattern of the upper jaw that creates an ideal facial shape.
The tongue tip movement (tip of the tongue to the roof of the mouth) essential for managing different textures and verbal sound production. If there is a delay in tongue muscle development, there can be a delay in speech and swallowing.
Decreases Decay
Bottles and sippy cups cause liquid to pool in the mouth. When liquid such as milk or juice is left to pool around the teeth, it increases the time the tooth is exposed to sugar and acids. The longer the bacteria is exposed to sugar, the higher the risk of decay.
Switching to an open mouth cup teaches your child to swallow and releases the liquid to the back of the mouth and down the throat.
Using an open cup will also make it easier to wean a child off a bottle. Decreasing the use of a bottle for bed at night reduces the risk of Baby Bottle Decay
How to start using an Open Cup
baby should be well supported and upright
place on hand on the back of babies head to support, one for holding the cup
ready the liquid at the lip of the cup
small sips at a time
Tops Tips
show how its done! Children learn best through modelling behaviours 'Monkey see, monkey do'
drink together and make it inclusive
try after food, baby will be thirsty and this will wash away any food (decreasing decay)
win win!
choose an age appropriate cup; very small soft rimed cups are great for an initial start (silicone/baby first plastic cups). When children want to start drinking independently, a cup with handles like the
Green Sprout cups are great!
Use a small cup fill with water, rather than a large cup with little water. This reduces the tilting needed to bring the liquid to the lips.
We hope after reading this you are feeling ready to start using an Open Mouth Cup! Please tag up @teacing.teeth with your videos of bubs mastering the 'sip' and follow for more information on dental development.
Happy drinking!
Teaching Teeth
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