Question for SLPs or anyone really-- straw vs hard-spout sippy cups

Is there any detriment to not having your baby/young toddler start out by using hard-spout sippy cups instead of straw sippy cups? With my oldest, we used the hard-spout sippie cups until she was 2 (she was stubborn and wouldn’t switch to a straw cup until then). But with my youngest, she’s been using a straw sippy cup since she was 6 months old. She’s now 13 months and has used it exclusively, never even used a hard-spout sippy.

Is there a speech development-related reason to use the hard spout cups? I don’t want to be harming her speech obviously (though she’s definitely a chatty one already) but I didn’t see the need to do the hard-spout when she was perfectly happy with the straw cups.

Re: Question for SLPs or anyone really-- straw vs hard-spout sippy cups

straw sippys help speech..i'd stay with the straw if she likes them.

Re: Question for SLPs or anyone really-- straw vs hard-spout sippy cups

Im not a speech therapist - but a special educator and I have worked with a lot of SLP's in EI. They all say that straw cups are MUCh better for children than sippy cups for their oral motor. I never used a sippy cup with DS.

Re: Question for SLPs or anyone really-- straw vs hard-spout sippy cups

I never gave DS a hard spot. he went from bottle to straw sippy cup.

Re: Question for SLPs or anyone really-- straw vs hard-spout sippy cups

All the SLP's I work with say straws are so much better. That's all we use here too.

Re: Question for SLPs or anyone really-- straw vs hard-spout sippy cups

Straws are better. It's all we ever used in my house.

Re: Question for SLPs or anyone really-- straw vs hard-spout sippy cups

We've always gone straight to straw cups with both of my older two and will try same with #3 and they never resisted. Got the hang of it right away. I just figured it was one less transition I had to deal with

Re: Question for SLPs or anyone really-- straw vs hard-spout sippy cups

My SLP said the straw sippys are much better.

Re: Question for SLPs or anyone really-- straw vs hard-spout sippy cups

straw sippy cups are much better- it helps the child develop/strengthen the muscles around/ in the mouth.

With the hard spout tops the mouth is not doing any work - you just tip the cup back with open mouth posturing.

I started DD on a straw cup - did not want her using a hard spout

Re: Question for SLPs or anyone really-- straw vs hard-spout sippy cups

Thanks everyone!

Re: Question for SLPs or anyone really-- straw vs hard-spout sippy cups

I'm an SLP.....I would use straws over sippy cups any day.

Re: Question for SLPs or anyone really-- straw vs hard-spout sippy cups

SLP here... Straw for sure... sippy is just for decoration... looks more mature than a bottle but serves no purpose developmentally.