How to Teach Baby to Drink from Straw
Teaching new developmental activities to growing babies is a daunting task, isn’t it? Each new growth milestone of your growing infant is accompanied by mixed joy and anticipation. It is so good to watch them acquire a new skill. However, how do you begin to teach these crucial abilities?
One of these steps is helping your child learn how to sip from a straw. This is an important skill to master as it assists with oral development and allows for more autonomy when eating.
Do you need to know how to teach your child this feeding practice in a fun and stress-free way? If Yes, Keep Reading!
In this guide by JenniKidz, we’ll show you exactly how to teach baby to drink from straw in no time. We'll highlight easy ways so you can do it without any frustrations. It will let you and your child enjoy the process.
Why Teach Your Baby to Drink from a Straw?
Before we move to the steps, let us first understand the benefits of teaching baby straw drinking. Straw drinking stimulates the movement of the baby’s oral cavity muscles. It in turn, promotes better development of the baby’s oral motor skills and, eventually, speech. Due to the design and structure of a straw, less food is spilled when a baby feeds. This way, it ensures convenient and appropriate feeding.
At Which Age Is It Advisable to Introduce Straw to Your Child?
Generally speaking, most babies can master how to drink from a straw properly by the age of six to nine months. Around this time, they can start practicing the skills of sucking and swallowing through a straw. If your infant has been enjoying your drinks or appears ready for a one-to-one, that is the cue to start this.
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Teach Baby to Drink from Straw
Following are the simple steps of how to teach a baby to drink from straw effectively.
1. Start with a Soft Straw Cup
Sipping is encouraged on a soft straw cup made especially for babies. Such cups have soft straws, which are easier for the baby to suck compared to regular straws. Most of the brands have introduced the use of straw cups for toddlers. They have a cover that restricts the movement of the liquid, making it easy for the baby to learn how to use the cups.
2. Show How to Stick a Straw into a Drink
Children learn through imitation. Play with your infant, and take a straw, sipping it as they look at you. Make loud slurp sounds to keep their focus. When you show them how to drink from a straw, it encourages them that it is something that they can do as well.
3. Use a Squeeze-and-Sip Method
An efficient way to introduce your baby to the activity is by using the ‘squeeze and sip’ technique. Here is how to teach baby to drink from straw with this feeding technique:
Fill a straw with water, juice, or even breast milk, and then cover the top of the straw with your finger to prevent the liquid from spilling out.
Place the end of the straw in your baby’s mouth and release your finger to let the liquid flow out.
The baby will only get a tiny bit of the drink, which will make him suck more.
Keep on doing this until the baby learns to suck all by himself.
4. Motivate with the Help of Tiny Rewards
Excessive nagging and stubbornness are not effective. When the baby can take the straw successfully, a lot of clapping or kind words can be given. Just make this a small celebration to make them realize they have made an achievement. It is helpful because it positively reinforces drinking from the straw.
5. Use Different Flavors
If your little one is still reluctant to drink plain water or milk, try offering a small quantity of diluted mild juice or flavored water. However, take advice from your pediatrician first. A tiny and feeble drink that ‘tastes new’ may be enough to get them interested in learning how to use a straw.
Extra Suggestions to Help in Teaching a Baby to Sip Through a Straw
Never neglect these additional suggestions when learning how to teach baby to drink from straw. Here are some of those:
Use Short, Beginner-Friendly Straws
When teaching a baby to drink from a straw, it would be beneficial to consider using shorter straws. This decreases the traveling distance of the drink, and these straws are easier for infants to handle as they learn how to drink straw.
Take It Slow
Do not introduce straw drinking too fast. Babies can sense stress, so try to be calm and pleasant while going through the process of learning with the baby.
Give Options
Sometimes offering different beverages or some playful colors for the straws helps in encouraging the infant to try on drinking using a straw. This change in the atmosphere really helps in imparting how to teach baby to drink from straw. It feels like a different game every time.
Benefits of Teaching Your Baby to Drink from a Straw
Like other complex processes, training infants to drink from a straw serves more than a simple practical approach. Here’s how straw drinking helps in a child’s development.
Aids in Oral Development
Sucking from a straw ensures the workout of muscles surrounding the mouth. It is important when it comes to language and speech development.
Promotes Self-Reliance
Learning how to teach straw drinking to a toddler enhances the feeling of self-reliance and capability during mealtime.
Encourages Independence
When parents learn the technique of baby feeding with a straw, the child becomes self-sufficient and confident during meals.
Common Mistakes Parents Make When Teaching Straw Drinking
Teaching a baby to drink from a straw can become easier if you avoid common mistakes. Here are a few of them:
Rushing the Process
Most of the parents are anxious and want the results right away. They should remember that this process should be done at the baby's pace.
Using a Regular Straw Too Early
Babies need some sort of starter straw cup with a controlled flow. Using a regular straw prematurely can be a big mistake.
Pressing the Issue Despite Their Lack of Engagement
If your baby is not interested, relieve them from that. After some time, say a couple of days, try to introduce the straw again.
The Importance of Selecting the Appropriate Straw Cup
It is important to select the appropriate cup so the child can learn how to drink from straw correctly. Here are some factors to consider:
Soft, Flexible Straws
Softer straws are easy on the gums, which is important if the child is teething.
Spill-Proof Design
Choose cups that are spill-free. It reduces the mess and also facilitates the process.
Handles for a Better Grip
Handles enable babies to hold the cup securely without the risk of dropping. It encourages self-feeding.
Safety Considerations When Teaching a Child How to Use a Straw
Keep the following safety tips in mind while implementing how to teach baby to drink from straw It helps to make the experience an enjoyable one:
Ensure Supervision
Ensure your baby is monitored while drinking to prevent cases of choking or unwanted spills.
Check for Straw Damage
Wear and tear of the straw should be well-checked, especially when babies detest chewing.
Position Your Baby Properly
The baby should be positioned correctly, mostly sitting upright. This position reduces the chances of choking or spillage out of the mouth.
Wrap Up
Learning how to teach a baby to drink from straw is a fulfilling process for the parents and the babies. Adhering to these stages can make this new skill a bonding activity. Don't forget to be patient and positive to make it enjoyable. It will not take long before the baby can handle a straw like a pro and flaunt such self-acquired skill.
If you are searching for other useful parenting advice, do not hesitate to contact JenniKidz, as we have covered it for you. This is the first of several fun milestones that will be achieved in teaching your child this important everyday skill.
FAQs
1. When is it appropriate to introduce straw drinking to my infant?
You may begin teaching a baby straw technique at approximately six to nine months. If your baby appears interested and ready for it, start as safely as possible by having the baby sit upright.
2. What if my child does not want to drink from the straw?
It is fine if the child fights against the straw or does not want to use it. Stop for about 2-3 days, and then repeat the experiment. Most of the time, babies require a little patience before the concept sinks in. In this case, remember that it should be enjoyable, and there should be no pressure. Being patient when teaching your baby to drink from a straw is important.
3. Why should I teach my baby to drink from a straw instead of a sippy cup?
One advantage of a straw over a sippy cup is that babies are actively encouraged to use mouth muscles. It promotes oral motor development. Straw drinking is speech-oriented which is why many recommend it as a better option than the sippy cup.
4. When will the baby learn to drink from a straw?
Each baby will learn at their own pace, so there is no deadline. One mother may successfully teach her baby to drink from a straw in a matter of days, while other mothers may take weeks to accomplish the same. Keep it light, and don’t forget to cheer them on.
