Cup Feeding

Product Tests |

Independent midwife Sharon Trotter discusses the importance of Cup Feeding.

Sharon has revealed the final results of the first TIPS testing of open top cups. Six people tested four different cups and scored them. Read on to see how they did and why Sharon believes open top cups should be used.

Cup feeding

· There are two types of cup feeding. The first is in the early days when breastfeeding is not yet established and the second is when weaning begins at six months

· Department of Health advice is to avoid the use of bottles and teats after one year of age

· Babies over six months of age should be actively encouraged to drink from open cups

· Babies from birth can drink from an open top cup, even premature infants (from 32 weeks)

· Sucking from teats and sippy cups, allows milk to pool in a baby’s mouth (this does not apply when breastfeeding)

· Formula milk is known to be corrosive to tooth enamel

· Never ‘bottle-prop’ or give a baby a bottle of sugary drink or sweetened tea overnight

· Stick to milk or water at meal times and this will lessen the chances of early tooth decay - regular oral hygiene and visits to the dentist are vital.

So why is breastfeeding so safe?

· Unlike bottle feeding, breastfeeding stimulates the development of muscles in the tongue and oral cavity which helps to shape the jaw and teeth

· Breast milk contains immunoglobulin’s and lactoferrin that counteracts bacteria known to causes dental caries

· Breast milk enters the mouth behind the teeth rather than pooling in the mouth and is not corrosive to enamel

What’s in a cup?

· Bottles and cups can be made from polycarbonate which contains a softener called Bisphenol A.

· This hormone-like chemical can leach into fluids and while it may be a tiny amount, no level is known to be safe

· Opt instead for bottles made from polypropylene, polyethylene or glass

· Avoid over-zealous scrubbing of bottles and cups and replace between children

· Rinse before use and make up drinks as you need them rather than ahead of time (cups quickly become contaminated with bacteria)

· Ceramic or china cups and plates are another alternative which are perfectly safe and easy to clean

· Baby-led weaning from six months compliments the use of open top cups encouraging your child to become independent and part of the family as a whole (the pincer movement co-insides with a child’s ability to tolerate lumpier textures)

· Nutrition is only one part of the feeding process, comfort, security, closeness, bonding, sociability, love and self-confidence grow from the experience of eating together as a family

· The earlier we introduce responsible eating habits the better for our children

· This will reduce the risks of them going on to develop obesity, iron deficiency anaemia (caused by the child being unable to chew red meat or not being hungry enough to eat properly) , tooth decay or speech difficulties.

Open top cups tested by TIPS at the end of 2007

· We looked at design, materials used, stability, ease of use, ease of cleaning, spillage and ultimately the child’s preference

· All four cups were tested by 6 independent parent testers who voluntarily sign up on the TIPS website

· Doidy cup (available from www.bickiepegs.co.uk and John Lewis) was voted ‘Best of the best’ - 100% of testers chose this as their favourite cup

· Tommee Tippee first cup - ‘Best budget’

· Royal Doulton two-handed china cup and Steady cup awarded ‘Highly commended’

For more details and to read the full reviews of all four cups go to www.tipslimited.com

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The above is based on Sharon Trotter’s article ‘Cup feeding revisited’ published in the Midirs digest in September 2006 Sharon Trotter © 2008

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