The transition from bottles to grown-up cups is a major milestone for you and your little one. Like all childhood milestones, every baby hits this moment at a different age. So when should your baby start drinking out of cups? There are a few developmental guidelines you can keep in mind when introducing cups to your child. Read on to learn more about when your baby will be ready and how you can make the transition easier.

Introduce Cups at 6–9 Months

A great time to start introducing your baby to open cups or cups with straws is when they’re 6 to 9 months old. Even if your child isn’t ready to drink out of an open cup, becoming familiar with a new dish will make things easier when they are ready to learn. You can start by placing an empty cup on their tray during meals. Let them hold and play with it as they eat. Many babies this age will also be able to take small sips when an adult is holding the cup.

Babies Develop Habits at 12 Months

As your baby turns a year old, they begin to develop plenty of new habits and skills. This is the perfect time to begin the transition from baby bottle to child cup. Like with any other skill, make sure you’re supervising as your child experiments with their open cup.

Remember that spills are an inevitable part of the process. Be patient and encouraging as you go along, and your little one will gradually learn how to hold and drink from their cup on their own.

Ditch the Bottle by 24 Months

There’s no precise answer for when your baby should start drinking out of cups, but a good rule of thumb is to make the full transition by 18 to 24 months. You can transition slowly from bottle to cup, but aim to be completely done with the bottle by the time your baby turns 2 years old. Sticking with the bottle for too long can cause problems. Your child might become overly dependent on their bottle, which will make the transition to cup drinking harder. Using a bottle for too long can also lead to tooth decay and poorer nutrition for your baby.

The Right Cup for the Job

When you first introduce an open cup or straw cup to your baby, you want it to make a good impression. Choose a cup that’s gentle, colorful, and easy for your little one’s hands to hold. Avanchy’s La Petite minisilicone baby cup is perfect for helping your baby learn their way around a big-kid cup. With safe, gentle materials and a thoughtful design that has babies in mind, Avanchy’s baby cups are the perfect first cup to help your child learn.