From the moment he's born, your baby feeds on the breast or bottle (or both, if you opt for mixed feeding). As he grows, his needs and abilities become more refined, prompting him to explore ever more possibilities. The learning cup is one of them. This clever accessory, designed to help babies make the transition from bottle to glass, quickly becomes a means of acquiring the beginnings of autonomy. But what's the right age to start using a training cup, and how do we know if baby is ready to adopt it?
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The ideal age to start drinking from a cup
As parents, a thousand and one questions keep us thinking about our child's well-being. What does he need? What does he want? Is it the right time to learn this or that?
Of course, whatever you learn, it's essential to respect your baby's rhythm and requests. So, if he's very curious about something new, or about an object like the learning cup, it would be a shame to frustrate him.
At Élhée, we recommend waiting until theage of 6 months, when food diversification begins and water is introduced, to begin the bottle-to-glass transition. At this age, baby is also beginning to sit up and grasp objects with his hands: two prerequisites for independence.
How do I know if my child is ready for the learning cup?
Is your little one able to hold his head on his own, grasp an object, coordinate his hand/mouth movements, and is curious about your way of drinking? It's highly likely that he's ready to use containers other than his bottle to drink.
7 criteria for choosing the right training cup
There are many different types of baby cup on the market. With straw or spout, they all have their advantages. However, Élhée has chosen to focus on comfort of use, baby safety and innovation to create Bubble.
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A learning cup for baby, neither too big nor too small
Bubble is ergonomic enough for a baby as young as 6 months to pick up on its own, but also big enough to be useful. This advantage is due not only to its unique shape, the same as that of the iconic BibROND, but also to the soft, non-slip texture of its material.
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Healthy, risk-free packaging for babies
The medical-grade silicone from which Bubble and its suction spout are made is 100% healthy for babies, chemical-free, tasteless, odorless and soft enough to make the cup very comfortable to use.
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Soft, cheerful colors that children love
Because babies are born with limited vision, they initially only perceive contrasts such as black and white. That's why we've created the Sand/Black learning cup.
And because colors and shades emerge over the months, we've added the Sand/Khaki and Sand/Blue models, not forgetting the Graouu motif, for a learning mug capable of taking part in the most beautiful evening stories.
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Leak-proof suction nozzle
To suit babies from 6 months of age, Bubble features not a spout through which water flows, but a leak-proof suction spout that's tight enough to prevent spills and spills, even at night. Like a pacifier, the child has to suck to drink, so there's no need to tilt the head back. This also reduces the risk of a false route.
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Sufficient capacity for hydration
For a learning cup that's neither too heavy to carry, nor too quick to finish, the medium 240 ml size was chosen. However, Élhée has come up with her best trick yet! The elements of the Bubble gourd are compatible with those of the BibROND. So you can imagine a baby cup of 150 ml, 240 ml or even 330 ml, simply by combining the bottle of your choice with a suction spout.
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An easy-to-clean training cup
Even if baby uses it mainly for drinking water, the training cup must be easy to clean to avoid the proliferation of bacteria. While Bubble is dishwasher-safe, it is also perfectly suited to quick hand-washing without accessories.
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Safety as the ultimate asset
No small parts, no controversial ingredients and an unbreakable silicone material : these are the 3 advantages of safety, security and tranquillity of the Élhée learning cup for babies from 6 months.
Learning to drink like a grown-up: the different stages
Each discovery goes through different stages. For your baby, it's all about touching before accepting, and finally trying and using.
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Discovering the drinking cup: baby discovers its shape and colors. He can look at it, touch it, put it in his mouth, roll it, drop it or throw it, to experience it in three dimensions.
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Familiarization with this new container: even if he doesn't yet know how to use it or even what it's for, baby recognizes and accepts the cup as a familiar object that you've already introduced him to.
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Learning to drink on his own: it's time for his first attempts at drinking on his own. His water bottle may still escape him, but baby is determined to use it.
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Autonomy thanks to the leak-proof cup: now baby can drink on his own like a grown-up, and maybe even remove the cap from his Bubble or take it with him on his adventures.
5 tips to help your child make the transition from bottle to cup to glass
Even if the learning cup is entirely designed to help babies learn to be independent, don't hesitate to guide your child to make the task easier. This advice is also valid in the event of minor difficulties, to avoid major frustration.
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Start as early as 6 months to vary containers and habits.
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Give small amounts of water first, to avoid the risk of a false start and overflow.
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Encourage your child and stay positive. Babies (like adults) are very sensitive to enthusiasm (even overflowing enthusiasm).
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Always be gentle and patient. Whatever you're learning, cuddling, a lack of pressure and a caring approach are always beneficial.
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Turn the experience into a game with lively songs, sensory activities and mimicry.
How do you help a baby who has trouble drinking?
Every child has his or her own rhythm. So a baby may have difficulty with some things, but not with others. You can help him overcome these difficulties.
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Holding the cup, tumbler or flask: too heavy, slippery or unwieldy, a poorly adapted container can fall or spill. Here, soft silicone, with its easy-grip side and grip effect, is the answer. To help baby, you can show him how to hold it with both hands, and start by giving him his new glass only for short periods.
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Drinking without spilling: if you notice that your baby is spilling water with his current cup, try the spill-proof suction spout. To drink, your child will have to suck, which will help him control his movements and avoid minor accidents. To help him, encourage him to drink more slowly.
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Getting used to new sensations: your baby may find the use of a rigid container strange or unpleasant. Here again, the Bubble learning cup's unique shape, flexibility and suction spout make it a gentle, easy-to-adopt alternative. To help him, let him explore the different possibilities, positions and rhythms for drinking like a grown-up.
These temporary worries can have many causes, and may simply be due to your child's refusal to change his habits. When in doubt, explore these possibilities first:
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A change too early: the learning cup is recommended from 6 months onwards, but because each child has his or her own rhythm, it may still be too early for yours.
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Incipient hand-eye coordination: your child may not yet have acquired sufficient fine motor skills to hold his cup and drink at the same time.
Discovering and using the learning cup is an important step for your baby. It's a proud moment not only for him, but also for you. To support him, start early - from 6 months - by giving small quantities of water. Encourage your baby to try things out, and always be patient. Also, remember that all learning is play. Take your cup and drink alongside your baby. Laughter, mimicry and happy memories guaranteed!
Finally, don't worry if he runs into difficulties. Try to understand the cause and adapt your approach accordingly. With your love and support, your baby will soon be drinking from a cup like a grown-up.
