How to Transition Your Baby to AVENT Sippy Cups?When should babies fully transition to sippy cups?
Update time:2026-03-17 10:49:55 Release time:3hours agoHow to Transition Your Baby to AVENT Sippy Cups?Follow these steps, and most babies will make the transition within 3 to 7 days. When should babies fully transition to sippy cups?By 18 months at the latest.
1. How to Transition Your Baby to AVENT Sippy Cups?
1.1. Best Time
We recommend starting between 6 and 12 months
Start by practicing with water, then gradually transition to milk
1.2. Step 1: Help Your Baby “Get Used to the Cup”
Let your baby play with the sippy cup as a toy for a few days
Let them chew on it, touch it, and grab it—don’t force them to drink
Help them get familiar with the cup so they don’t feel afraid or resistant
1.3. Choosing the Right Medela Sippy Cup (Very Important)
6–9 months: Choose a soft silicone straw and a gravity ball model
The soft straw prevents choking and is most easily accepted by babies
With a gravity ball: Baby can drink while sitting, lying down, or tilted
1.4. The Easiest Way to Make the Transition (4 Steps)
Start with lukewarm water, not milk
Water has no taste, so baby won’t resist and will accept the straw more easily
Adult Demonstration
Hold the cup and drink from it in front of them: “Ah~ drinking water”
Babies have an amazing ability to imitate
Gently squeeze the cup to bring water to their lips
Many Avent models allow water to be squeezed out with a light squeeze
Once the baby tastes the water, they’ll realize that sucking brings water
Start with 1–2 times a day
Don’t completely replace the bottle right away
Start by using the sippy cup for water during the day, then gradually transition to drinking milk
1.5. What if your baby won’t suck or resists?
Don’t force it or shove it in—this will make them resist even more
Practice during milk feeding times or when they’re in a good mood
Remove the bottle nipple and temporarily attach a straw tip (many Nuk products are compatible)
Since the shape stays the same, your baby will find it easier to accept
1.6. When is it considered a success?
They hold the cup themselves and drink on their own
No choking, no spills
Willing to drink water or milk from a sippy cup
1.7. Super Simple Summary
Start by playing with the cup—don’t force it
Practice with lukewarm water first
Choose a soft straw with a gravity ball
Demonstrate squeezing to encourage sucking
Take it step by step—don’t rush
2. When should babies fully transition to sippy cups?
The International Pediatric Society and pediatricians unanimously recommend: By 18 months (1.5 years) at the latest, babies must completely wean off the bottle and use only a sippy cup or regular cup.
2.1. Why can’t it be later than 18 months?
2.1.1. Impact on Teeth
Long-term bottle feeding can lead to:
Underbite
Protruding front teeth
Tooth decay (bottle caries)
2.1.2. Impact on Speech and Oral Development
The sucking motion used with a bottle differs from the oral muscles used for speech; prolonged use can affect pronunciation.
2.1.3. Increased Risk of Choking and Otitis Media
Drinking from a bottle while tilting the head back allows milk to easily enter the Eustachian tube, leading to otitis media.
