Ditch the Pacifier and Sippy Cup!

Ditch the pacifier and sippy cup! Use straw cups, teethers, and transition objects instead.

Introduce your child to a straw cup or a 360 cup and avoid sippy cups. Sippy cups promote the same suckling pattern as a nipple that includes a forward thrusting tongue motion.

In contrast, sucking from a straw promotes a mature oral motor pattern where the tongue moves up and back. Using a straw cup also helps get the lips and tongue ready for more accurate speech production. I love this Honey Bear straw cup. You can cut the straw down to size.

Pacifiers also promote an immature forward tongue motion and affect dentition. Try to get rid of the pacifier as soon as you can, the sooner the better, and the easier! Don’t panic! No need to go cold turkey if you start early.

If your child needs a pacifier to go to sleep, pair it with a soft cuddly lovey so your child associates it with the comfort of the pacy. Within a few days, the pacy will become less compelling and you can “lose” it. One of my favorite transition objects is this Lamb lovey toy.

For daytime teething check out these clever winners:

• Smily Mia Penguin Buddy Never Drop Silicone Baby Teething Toy (BUY HERE)

• Comotomo Silicone Baby Teether (BUY HERE)

• ARK's Light Blue Baby Grabber Chewie (BUY HERE)