Sippy cup transition not only developmental milestone, but has nutritional benefits

(PRUnderground) May 31st, 2025

Bottle to sippy cup transition is a milestone for babies and comes with nutritional and developmental benefits.

“The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends introducing a cup between 6-9 months and being fully transitioned off the bottle between 12-18 months,” said Katy Bodily, a registered dietitian nutritionist at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Campus in Lehi.

“As babies begin to eat solid foods, their intake of breast milk or formula should begin to decrease,” Bodily added. “Instead of drinking bottles or breastfeeding every three to four hours, babies start to transition to a pattern of meals and snacks.”

At this stage of development, Bodily says there are risks of staying too long on bottle-feeding.

“If a baby is sipping on a bottle several times throughout the day, it may be difficult to be hungry during meal times thus limiting their intake of fiber and protein containing solid foods and decreasing their willingness to try different foods,” Bodily said.

Sipping on a bottle throughout the day and night can lead to tooth decay. Milk and formula contain carbohydrate, which if left in constant contact with teeth can lead to cavities.

Staying on the bottle too long also can lead to excessive intake of formula or milk and thus lead to high caloric intake causing excess weight gain for some children.

“Transitioning from a bottle to a sippy cup, and ultimately an open cup, can help your child continue to get adequate formula or milk needed for growth, while helping prevent excessive intake that drinking from a bottle can often lead to,” Bodily said.

How should I transition to a sippy cup?

• Begin introducing sippy cups and open cups between 6 and 9 months of age.
• Transition from a bottle to a sippy cup gradually.
• Begin by offering sippy cups at meal times then gradually continue to replace bottle feedings at other times throughout the day with solid foods and beverages through sippy and open cups.
• Include sippy cups without spill-proof valves which can help your baby develop the skills needed to transition to an open cup.
• Bottles before naps and bedtime can be the hardest to wean from, so helping your baby find other ways besides a bottle to self-soothe for sleep is key.

“Sippy cups are a great way to introduce your baby to a new skill,” Bodily said. “But remember, they are ultimately a stepping stone for transitioning fully to an open cup.”

For more information, visit intermountainhealthcare.org/childrens-health.

About Intermountain Health

Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 33 hospitals, approximately 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For up-to-date information and announcements, please see the Intermountain Health newsroom at https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.

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