How to Teach Your Baby to Drink from an Open Cup

By Baby Toys & Gifts，Sustainable | Published: 2026-10-13

Category: How-to Guides

Open cup drinking is a milestone worth teaching early. Follow these steps to build the skill safely, from first sips to independent drinking.

Quick answer

Start offering a small open cup of water with meals around 6 months, once your baby can sit upright with support and shows interest in your cup. Use a tiny amount, hold the cup for them, and let them practice taking sips rather than drinking a full serving. Expect spills for weeks—this is a skill, not a one-time lesson.

Why open cup drinking is worth the mess

Open cup drinking uses different muscles than a bottle or sippy cup. It helps babies learn to coordinate their tongue, lips, and jaw to manage a liquid, which supports later speech and swallowing skills. It also gives them control over how much they drink, reducing the risk of overconsumption that can happen with free-flowing cups. Many pediatric feeding specialists suggest introducing an open cup early, alongside solids, because babies are naturally curious and willing to experiment before habits form.

Choose the right first cup

A good first open cup is small, lightweight, and easy for you to tilt. Look for a capacity of 2 to 4 ounces so a spill is minor. A slightly weighted base or a gentle curve can help it stay upright. Avoid cups with narrow openings or valves—they defeat the purpose. Silicone baby dinnerware, like a small silicone cup, is a practical choice because it is soft on gums, won't shatter if dropped, and is often dishwasher-safe. If your baby is still mouthing everything, a silicone cup doubles as a teether between sips.

Set up for practice without pressure

Offer the cup when your baby is calm and alert, not overly hungry or tired. Mealtime is ideal because they are already sitting and expect food. Put just a splash of water—about a teaspoon—in the cup. Hold the cup to their lips and tilt slowly, letting them sip at their own pace. Don't tip it into their mouth. If they push it away, stop and try again in a day or two. The goal is familiarity, not volume.

Model and mirror

Babies learn by watching. Drink from your own open cup during meals and exaggerate your sips. Then offer theirs. You can also use a two-cup method: hold one cup to their lips while you drink from another. This helps them connect the action to the result. If they grab for your cup, let them explore a empty one while you supervise.

Progress from assisted to independent

Once your baby can take a few sips with your help, gradually reduce your support. Let them hold the cup with both hands while you guide the base. Then move to hand-over-hand, and finally let them try alone. This can take months. By 12 to 18 months, many toddlers can drink from an open cup with minimal spills, but every child is different. Keep offering opportunities without forcing.

Open cup drinking: step-by-step

Step 1: Check readiness: Wait until your baby can sit upright with support and shows interest in your cup, usually around 6 months. Start with water only. Common mistake: starting before head and neck control is steady.
Step 2: Pick a tiny cup: Use a 2-4 oz open cup. Silicone is a good option because it's soft and durable. Avoid sippy cups with valves for this practice. Checkpoint: the cup should be easy for you to hold and tilt with one hand.
Step 3: Offer a splash: Put a teaspoon of water in the cup. Hold it to your baby's lips and tilt slowly. Let them sip and pull away as they want. Common mistake: tipping the cup too fast or filling it too full.
Step 4: Practice during meals: Offer the cup at every meal, even if they only take one sip. Consistency builds the habit. Model drinking from your own cup. Checkpoint: if they refuse, stop and try again next meal—no pressure.
Step 5: Reduce your help: As they improve, let them hold the cup with both hands while you guide the base. Then move to hand-over-hand, then independent. Common mistake: rushing independence before they have the motor control.
Step 6: Expect spills and stay calm: Spills are part of learning. Use a bib and a small cup to minimize mess. Keep offering the cup even on messy days. Checkpoint: by 12-18 months, many toddlers can drink with minimal spills, but timelines vary.

Product facts

Baby Gift Set - Juicy Fresh Pack: The Baby Gift Set - Juicy Fresh Pack includes the Wally Bib and the Wally 3-Piece Dinnerware Set, made from sustainable, baby-safe materials. A coordinated dinnerware set with a bib can make mealtime practice easier and more organized, especially when you're introducing an open cup.
Keiko the Edamame Baby Teether: Keiko the Edamame Baby Teether is a chewable toy for teething, bath time, and sensory play with realistic textures. If your baby is teething and mouthing everything, a dedicated teether can satisfy that urge between cup practice sessions, reducing the chance they'll chew on the cup itself.