The training bottle, also known as a training cup, is a bottle specifically designed to make the transition between a traditional bottle and a cup easier. It gives toddlers the opportunity to learn to drink independently while avoiding spills.
Let's take a closer look at its main advantages and when to introduce it into your baby's life.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- The training bottle: between the newborn bottle and the cup
- How does using a training bottle help prevent dental problems?
- When to introduce the training bottle into a child’s routine
- Plan ahead for the purchase of a training bottle by choosing an evolving bottle
- Definition of the evolving bottle
- Elhée’s evolving bottle: half-bottle, half-training cup
- Save money with a durable and versatile bottle
- In summary
The training bottle: between the newborn bottle and the cup
The training bottle can be defined as a stage between the newborn bottle and an actual cup. Unlike a classic bottle, it does not have a nipple but rather a spout, also called an anti-leak spout.
A training “cup” that doesn’t spill
As the name suggests, the bottle's spout doesn't release liquid in the event of a fall, unlike a nipple, which can leak if your child decides to let go before finishing all their milk.
But unlike a cup, it requires several assembly parts to work, similar to a traditional bottle used after weaning or during mixed feeding. Therefore, in addition to a spout, it can also include:
- a lid,
- a leak-proof closure system (ring or screw-on collar),
- as well as a central compartment to hold the liquid (container).
This design offers excellent leak prevention!
Encouraging young children's independence with a training bottle
The main advantage of a training bottle is that it promotes independence in young children. It encourages them to coordinate their movements from hand to mouth.
Thanks to its suitable design and ease of handling, children also develop their fine motor skills and their ability to grasp and hold an object by themselves, without the help of their parents or another person.
How does using a training bottle help prevent dental problems?
Did you know that using a training bottle helps reduce dental problems in children?
Late bottles responsible for early cavities?
One of the main factors contributing to these problems, especially cavities, is prolonged exposure to sugary liquids, such as milk mixed with cereals.
This exposure mainly occurs at night when a bottle is given to a child to help them fall asleep. Sugary liquids then stay in contact with the teeth for a long period, promoting the proliferation of bacteria responsible for cavities.
Using a training bottle can help a child gently outgrow the need for sucking, which is sometimes intense and often felt at bedtime.
Improving dental alignment in young children
The spouts on training bottles require a more mature sucking action from the child. This promotes the development of oral and jaw muscles. A more mature and controlled sucking reduces the risk of mouth deformities and improper dental alignment.
When to introduce the training bottle into a child’s routine?
It is recommended to introduce the training bottle when the child shows signs of interest in drinking more independently. These signs vary from child to child, but generally the transition takes place around the age of 6 to 9 months.
It is important to choose a training bottle taking into account your child’s ability to drink on their own and their preference for a certain spout.
A soft spout rather than a rigid one is often more likely to be accepted.
Plan ahead for the purchase of a training bottle by choosing an evolving bottle
Planning ahead for the purchase of a training bottle by opting for an evolving bottle is an excellent strategy to follow your baby's growth! But what exactly is an evolving bottle?
Definition of the evolving bottle
Designed to adapt to the different stages of your child’s development, the evolving bottle allows you to use either a nipple or a spout.
Since both attachments are interchangeable, you can use the same bottle for several months and keep up with your baby’s growth.
Elhée’s evolving bottle: half-bottle, half-training cup!
At Elhée, in addition to our range of training bottles, we offer a modular bottle, usable from birth! The spouts from our cups are compatible with all our bottles, regardless of format:
- 150 ml
- 240 ml
- 330 ml
Save money with a durable and versatile bottle
By choosing a modular and versatile bottle, you’re not only saving time but also money, since you don’t need to buy a separate training cup if you already have an Elhée bottle. Convenient, right?
Just purchase the spouts!
This brings you great peace of mind because you have a single, versatile bottle suited to every stage of your child’s development.
🍒Icing on the cake: your approach is environmentally friendly and responsible! By investing in an evolving bottle, you also reduce plastic waste associated with using multiple bottles or training cups.
In summary
The training bottle offers a good compromise between the newborn bottle and the cup. It provides a gentle transition to using a regular cup or glass.
The spout of the training bottle, sometimes referred to as an anti-leak spout, allows your child to drink without spilling in case of a fall or accidental tipping of the bottle.
The training bottle also plays a crucial role in the development of young children's independence. It is wise to plan ahead and acquire one so your child can gain independence as soon as they seem ready.
Encourage your child's fine motor skills and psychomotor development without breaking the bank and by taking a responsible attitude!
→ Choose an evolving bottle from the Elhée range. Our anti-leak spouts, sold in pairs, will fit your child's bottle easily to turn it into a training bottle when the time comes!
