Straw Cups Are Preferable to Spout Sippy Cups for 12-Month-Olds
For a healthy 12-month-old infant, a straw cup is the better choice over a spout-type sippy cup, primarily because spout sippy cups function similarly to bottles and promote prolonged exposure of teeth to liquids, increasing the risk of dental caries. 1, 2
Why Avoid Spout Sippy Cups
The American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry explicitly recommend that toddlers should not be given juice from bottles or "easily transportable covered cups" that allow continuous sipping throughout the day. 1, 2 The key concern is that:
Spout sippy cups allow children to carry beverages around and sip continuously, leading to excessive carbohydrate exposure to teeth and promoting dental caries. 1
The practice of using transportable covered cups throughout the day mimics bottle use, which should be discontinued by 12 months of age. 2
Prolonged exposure of teeth to sugars in any container (bottle or covered cup) is a major contributing factor to tooth decay. 2
The Developmental Goal at 12 Months
At 12 months, the developmental milestone is transitioning away from bottle-like feeding methods to open cup drinking. 2 The American Academy of Pediatrics guidance emphasizes:
Bottle weaning should occur around the first birthday, with a maximum extension to 12-15 months if needed. 2
After 1 year of age, any beverages (juice, milk, or water) should be offered in a cup, not a bottle. 2, 3
Water should be offered in a cup rather than a bottle to promote proper feeding development and reduce dental risks. 3
Why Straw Cups Are Better
While the guidelines don't explicitly compare straws versus spouts, the recommendation against "easily transportable covered cups" that enable all-day sipping 1 strongly favors straw cups because:
Straw cups require active sucking and typically don't allow passive, continuous dripping into the mouth like spout cups do, reducing prolonged tooth exposure to liquids.
Straw cups more closely approximate the developmental progression toward open cup drinking, which is the ultimate goal.
Beverages should be consumed as part of meals or snacks, not sipped throughout the day 1, and straw cups better enforce this pattern since they're less likely to be carried around continuously.
Practical Implementation
For a 12-month-old, the beverage strategy should be:
Primary beverages are water and whole milk (not low-fat at this age). 4
Limit juice to at most 4 ounces per day for toddlers 1-3 years. 1
Offer all beverages at designated meal and snack times in a straw cup or open cup, not for continuous access. 1
Never allow the child to go to bed with any cup containing liquid other than water. 2, 3
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Don't assume "sippy cups" are developmentally appropriate just because they're marketed for toddlers. The spout-type design perpetuates bottle-like behavior. 1, 2
Don't allow any cup to be carried around all day, regardless of type—this defeats the purpose of transitioning away from bottles. 1, 3
Don't fill any cup with juice or milk for continuous access, as this creates the same dental caries risk as bottles. 1, 2