Moving From Bottle to a Cup

Around 6 months old, your baby may be ready to start drinking from a cup. You don't need to stop using bottles right away. The goal is for your baby to move from a bottle to a cup between 12 and 18 months old.

Cups have bigger benefits. Using a cup helps prevent tooth decay and ear infections, and helps your child stay at a healthy weight.

Is Your Baby Ready?

• Can sit up without help
• Has good head control
• Lean toward food or cups
• Pick up and hold objects
• Grip things strongly
• Seal their lower lip to a cup

What to Put in the Cup

Offer breast milk, formula, or water in the cup. Don't give cow's milk or juice to babies under 12 months.

Between meals and snacks, only put water in the cup.

Choosing the Right Cup

The goal is to help your baby learn to sip instead of suck. An open cup is best, but your baby may not be ready for that right away. Go at their pace.

What to look for in a training cup

• A snap-on or screw-on lid with a spout, not a valve
• Two handles
• A weighted base to help it stay upright and reduce spills

Making the Transition

As your baby gets better with the cup, offer it more often.

How to make the switch from bottle to cup

🍼 Start with a familiar bottle

🥤 Introduce the sippy cup gradually

🙌 Encourage the baby to hold the cup

✅ Praise small successes

🔄 Practice consistently

Learning Can Be Messy

Spills will happen while your baby learns. That's normal.

Tips to help

• Only put a small amount of liquid in the cup at first.
• Hold the cup for your baby while they practice sipping.
• Be patient. You and your baby are both learning.

You Know Your Baby Best

You decide when the right time is to start using a cup. Every baby is different. If you have questions, ask WIC staff for help.