What is a trainer cup?
A trainer cup is basically any type of cup or beaker that aids your baby’s transition from the breast or bottle to drinking from a regular open cup like a grown-up. There are a number of other names used, such as ‘beaker’, ‘sippy cup’ or ‘first cup’.
There are a wide variety of trainer cups to suit different ages and preferences. You can pick from hard or soft spouts, spouts or straws, straws or sports spouts, free-flow or valve, open cups with a rim valve or angled child-friendly open cups with a weighted base.
Check with the different brands to see which type they recommend for your baby or toddler’s age.
The British Dental Health Foundation advises that early weaning from the bottle can help stop your baby from developing dental problems. They recommend trying to get your baby to drink milk or water from a special cup by about 6 months, or when able to sit up and hold things on their own. Most manufacturers have products suitable from 4 months onwards.
Don’t feel you have to buy a trainer cup - many mums find their baby’s happiest going straight from the bottle or breast to an open cup. Yes, this can be messy, but saves a lot of interim stages and a cupboard full of beakers!
