New! DinkyCup Baby Open Cup Grey

DinkyCup is a small open cup, designed for babies transitioning from breast or bottle to open cup drinking. Just the right size for tiny hands and mouths, DinkyCup has a number of design features that make this cup unique. • Textured sensory dots on the outside of the cup - help babies to grip, even when hands are wet. • Measurement lines on the inside and outside of the cup • Rounded base re-balances the cup – keeping it upright and spills to a minimum! • Tulip shaped to help babies guide the cup to tiny mouths Dishwasher safe. Expert grade LFGB silicone. Why use an open cup for babies? Open cup drinking, compared to drinking through a spout or straw, is well understood to be better for baby's speech development and oral health. Here are some key reasons why it's a good idea to introduce an open cup: 1. Promotes Oral Motor Development Learning to drink from an open cup encourages babies to use their tongue, lips, and jaw in a coordinated way. This helps develop the muscles needed for speech and eating solid foods later on. 2. Improves Hand-Eye Coordination Handling an open cup helps babies improve their hand-eye coordination, as they need to carefully bring the cup to their mouth and control the amount they drink. 3. Prevents Prolonged Bottle Use Prolonged use of bottles or sippy cups can lead to dental issues, such as tooth decay, and may delay oral motor development. Transitioning to an open cup helps avoid these problems. 4. Reduces the Risk of Tooth Decay When babies drink from a bottle or sippy cup, especially if they contain sugary drinks like juice, they can be more prone to tooth decay. With an open cup, there’s less chance for the liquid to pool around the teeth for extended periods. 5. Encourages Independence Using an open cup fosters independence as babies learn to drink like adults. It gives them a sense of accomplishment and encourages self-feeding skills. 6. Helps Develop Drinking Control An open cup helps babies learn how to control the flow of liquids, unlike sippy cups or bottles that have a steady flow. This teaches them how to manage drinking smaller sips and avoid choking. Introducing an open cup around 4 months old, when babies can sit up and begin eating solids, can be a helpful step in their overall development. It’s recommended to start slowly, under supervision, with small amounts of liquid to avoid spills.