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Is Your Baby’s Cup Helping or Hindering Their Oral Development?
When it comes to weaning, choosing the right cup for your baby isn’t just about avoiding spills, it’s about supporting their oral and motor development.
According to Speech & Feeding Therapist Dr Lisa Lim, what and how your baby drinks can affect everything from tongue movement to future speech clarity. In this article, we explore how certain cup designs can help or hinder your baby’s growth, and how the Pigeon StarTouch™ Cup was developed with experts to make every sip count.
Why Oral Development Matters
From birth, your baby begins developing essential oral-motor skills, the coordination of lips, tongue, and jaw that allows them to feed, swallow, and later, speak.
“The right oral movements in infancy set the foundation for clear speech and strong feeding patterns later on,” explains Dr Lisa Lim, Speech & Feeding Therapist. “Certain cups can either help that process or hold it back.”
If a baby continues to use a cup that mimics bottle sucking, they may maintain a “suckle-swallow” pattern rather than progressing toward mature oral movements.[1].
How Conventional Sippy Cups Can Hinder Development
Traditional sippy spout cups are often designed for convenience, but their rigid spouts can restrict natural tongue and lip motion.
Common issues with conventional sippy cups:
- Prevent proper tongue tip elevation
- Encourage an immature “suckle-swallow” motion
- Limit lip rounding and closure
- May affect speech clarity and tooth alignment over time
These designs can delay a baby’s ability to transition smoothly to straw or open-cup drinking.
Why Experts Recommend Straw Drinking
Introducing straw drinking helps babies develop mature swallowing and oral-motor coordination.
“Straw drinking encourages lip rounding, tongue tip elevation, and a mature swallow pattern,” says Dr Lisa Lim. “It’s one of the most effective ways to support healthy oral-motor development during weaning.”
Straw cups also encourage self-regulation of liquid flow, which promotes coordination and safe swallowing.[2]
Meet StarTouch™ — Designed for Development
Co-developed with Dr Lisa Lim, the Pigeon StarTouch™ Cup is designed to support healthy oral development and make the transition from nursing to sipping easier for both parent and baby.
Why parents will love StarTouch™
The Pigeon StarTouch™ Cup combines over 70 years of feeding research with expert input from Speech & Feeding Therapist Dr Lisa Lim. Designed to make straw drinking simple and natural, its short straw tip supports proper tongue elevation, while sensory bumps guide lip rounding, both essential for speech and feeding development.
The EasyDrink™ Valve allows natural sipping without spills, and the angled, soft silicone straw is gentle on gums and easy to clean. Together, these features help babies transition smoothly from nursing to independent drinking, while supporting healthy oral and motor development at every step.
StarTouch™ vs Conventional Sippy Cups
| Feature | StarTouch™ Straw Cup | Conventional Sippy Cup |
|---|---|---|
| Tongue Movement | Encourages tongue tip elevation and mature swallow pattern | Restricts natural tongue movement, maintains “suckle” motion |
| Lip Function | Promotes lip rounding and closure for speech development | Limited lip activity and oral seal |
| Valve & Flow | EasyDrink™ Valve allows natural sipping and spill-free control | Often free-flowing or requires strong suction |
| Straw Design | Short, angled straw positions tongue correctly | Long spouts encourage immature swallow pattern |
| Developmental Benefit | Supports oral-motor, speech and feeding milestones | May delay transition to mature drinking skills |
Steps to Introduce a Straw Cup
Every baby develops at their own pace, but most can begin exploring straw drinking from around 6–9 months. Here’s how to guide them through it safely and naturally.
1. Start with readiness.
Make sure your baby can sit upright and shows interest in self-feeding.
2. Demonstrate sipping.
Let them watch you drink from a straw, then gently place the straw near their lips.
3. Guide the lips.
The StarTouch™ Cup’s sensory bumps act as cues to help your baby round their lips and create a proper seal.
4. Encourage gentle sucking.
Allow small sips to help them learn tongue elevation and controlled swallowing.
5. Practice often.
Offer short, positive sessions daily until your baby confidently sips independently.
6. Gradually transition.
As your baby masters straw drinking, begin offering small open-cup opportunities to further strengthen oral muscles[3].
Your baby’s cup is more than a feeding tool, it’s part of their developmental journey. The Pigeon StarTouch™ Cup, designed with expert input from Dr Lisa Lim, supports the skills your baby needs to drink, chew and speak with confidence.
Every sip helps shape healthy habits for life.
StarTouch FAQs
When should my baby start using a straw cup?
Most babies are ready between 6 and 9 months, once they can sit upright and show interest in drinking independently.
Why are straw cups better than sippy cups?
Straw cups encourage mature oral-motor movements like tongue elevation and lip rounding, supporting proper speech and swallowing patterns.
How is the Pigeon StarTouch™ Cup different?
It’s co-developed with Speech & Feeding Therapist Dr Lisa Lim to promote healthy oral-motor development through a short straw, sensory lip guides, and an EasyDrink™ Valve
