Introducing a cup: open, straw, and sippy

A cup is a small skill that pays off for years, and the good news is your baby can start practicing around 6 months, right when solids begin. You do not need anything fancy. You need a little water, a low bar for spills, and a bit of patience.

Start around 6 months, with meals

Once your baby is sitting up and eating solids, offer a few sips of water in a cup at meals. This is practice, not hydration: breast milk or formula is still doing the heavy lifting. See when babies can have water for the full picture on how much and why.

Open, straw, or sippy: all fine from 6 months

All three work. An open cup (a tiny one you steady for them) and a straw cup are worth practicing with early: they give your baby more control and are a natural step toward a regular cup. A sippy training cup is a perfectly reasonable option too, especially for spills on the go. The goal everyone agrees on is moving away from bottles, not away from any particular cup.

How to teach the straw

Drop a straw into water, cap the top with your finger so a little water stays inside, then release it into your baby's mouth so they connect sucking with a reward. A squeezable straw cup does the same thing with a gentle squeeze. Most babies figure it out within a few days, so keep it light and let them play with it.

Expect spills, that is the job

Start with tiny amounts and assume it will end up on the tray, the bib, and the floor. Spilling is how they learn where the cup is and how much to tip. A splash mat and a shrug go a long way. Water only under 12 months, and no juice, which offers little that whole fruit does not do better.

Aim to move off bottles by 12 to 18 months

All this early cup practice sets up an easier goodbye to the bottle. The common target is to be off bottles by around 12 to 18 months, and having a cup your baby already likes makes that far less dramatic. See weaning off the bottle for a gentle step-by-step.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of cup is best for a baby?

Open, straw, and sippy training cups are all fine from around 6 months. Many feeding therapists like early practice with an open cup (a small one you help hold) and a straw cup for the lip and tongue control they build, and a sippy is a reasonable option too, especially on the go. The goal that matters most is moving on from bottles by around 18 months.

When should I start offering a cup?

Around 6 months, alongside solids, offer a little water in an open or straw cup with meals. Starting early gives your baby lots of low-stakes practice before the bottle needs to go, and it makes the switch off bottles much smoother later.

How do I teach my baby to use a straw?

One trick: put a straw in water, cap the top with your finger to trap a little liquid, and release it into their mouth so they get the idea that sucking brings water. Squeezable straw cups do the same job. Most babies get it with a few days of trying, so keep it playful and let them experiment.

How much water should a baby drink from a cup?

Very little, and that is fine. Under 12 months, water is just for practice and sips with meals, since breast milk or formula still covers hydration. A few small sips at each meal is plenty. Water only under a year, no juice.

Sources

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Last updated September 2026. Next review December 2026. How we write these: built from current published guidance from the AAP, CDC, FDA/EPA, NIAID, WHO, and other pediatric and public-health authorities, with sources cited on the page. See our editorial and medical policy for how we research, source, and update these, and how we double-check the food advice.

This is general information, not medical advice, and is not individualized for your baby. Always talk to your pediatrician about your baby's diet, introducing allergens, and any reaction. In an emergency, contact emergency services.

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