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Expert Q&A
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| By Mindy Hudon Speech and Language Pathologist | ||
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I recently heard the very end of a story on the news regarding a correlation between the use of sippy cups and speech development. Should I be concerned that my 14-month-old son uses a sippy cup? Can it be detrimental to his speech development?
It is difficult for me to answer this question because I did not see this news article. I was unable to find any information regarding the use of sippy cups and speech and language development. I have not heard of any current research on this issue; however, it does not mean that it doesn't exist.
The best recommendation I can make regarding the use of sippy cups is "everything in moderation." A sippy cup requires a child to use different muscles in the mouth than they would use for a regular cup. A sippy cup requires a child to suck the liquid in as opposed to pouring it into their mouths. It is important to expose your child to both.
Mindy Hudon, M.S., CCC-SLP
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