CONTENTS:
- Bubble: the leak-proof training cup for a well-hydrated baby
- Which training cup should you choose for your baby?
- Hydration in young children
- 7 practical and fun uses for the training cup to drink and play
Water is essential to life. For both children and adults, it has many functions. It regulates body temperature, helps transport nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, eliminates waste produced by the body, and is an important component of blood. At birth, water makes up about 75% of your baby's body weight. Hydrating your baby is therefore one of the most important gestures for their health, especially in summer. But how should you do it, and why opt for a training cup?
Bubble: the leak-proof training cup for a well-hydrated baby
At Élhée, to make parenting easier for you and for your baby's greatest pleasure, we have developed a training cup that can be used from 6 months old. Ergonomic and practical, it makes it easier to transition from the bottle to a cup.
Made from medical-grade silicone—soft, flexible, and unbreakable—it fits perfectly in little hands for all-terrain, risk-free use, even if it tips over or falls.
Equipped with a leak-proof suction spout, it won't leak, even when upside down. The training cup can therefore be used worry-free in the crib, stroller, and even on the living room sofa.
Your child can take their cup everywhere—set it down, roll it, put it away, pick it up, refill, drink, empty it, and then start over. And since a well-hydrated baby is one who drinks small amounts throughout the day, what could be better than letting them play with the cutest and safest cup?
As a bonus, and because Élhée values product adaptability and durability, all elements—physiological nipple, spout, ring, lid, bottle, and cap—of the BibRond and Bubble are interchangeable! Mix and match colors based on your baby's outfit or mood of the day.
Which training cup should you choose for your baby?
- Cup type : spout cups, straw cups, or 360 cups—choose the model that suits your baby's age, habits, and preferences best. For young children, a spout training cup is easier to handle alongside a bottle.
- Materials: for your baby’s dishware, choose safe, healthy materials like medical-grade silicone rather than controversial plastics or overly fragile glass.
- Design: easy-to-grip, lightweight, and flexible cups are great assets for use by babies. Bubble goes a step further by being unbreakable.
- Leak-proof system: an effective leak-proof system prevents spills and allows your baby to drink independently without getting wet. The leak-proof suction spout is especially effective for this purpose.
- Manufacturing: French standards for baby products are very strict, so a training cup made in France guarantees a quality product for your baby. At Élhée, for our cups as with our bottles, we prioritize short supply chains, manufacture our products in the Rhône-Alpes region, and use environmentally friendly raw materials.
Hydration in young children
Water is essential for your child's cellular and organic growth, as well as for digestive health and brain function. Sufficient and regular intake also helps babies regulate their body temperature, particularly in summer.
Regardless of whether the baby is breastfed or bottle-fed, when it comes to dehydration risks, the rule is the same: before 6 months, offer more feeds (the water in breast milk or formula is sufficient); after 6 months, offer regular mineral water (in addition to breastfeeding or bottles).
How to recognize signs of dehydration in babies and young children
- Dry mouth and tongue, chapped lips,
- sunken or dark-circled eyes,
- drowsiness, extreme fatigue, lethargy,
- sunken fontanelle (soft spot on the top of the infant's head),
- skinfold that does not return to normal when pinched,
- fewer wet diapers or diapers not very wet,
- vomiting,
- unusual weight loss.
For older children, other clearer, more specific symptoms may appear, such as extreme thirst, dry, cold, and pale skin, headaches, dizziness, and disorientation.
When should you give water to your baby?
During hot weather, children are at greater risk of dehydration, even if the heat feels tolerable to you. Stay cool and in the shade, avoid prolonged sun exposure, and offer water regularly to your child even if they don’t ask for it.
In case of fever or illness, especially diarrhea or vomiting (even in winter), babies can quickly become dehydrated. Offer more fluids than usual (mineral water after 6 months, extra feeds or bottles before that) to compensate for this loss.
On vacation, while traveling, or when out and about, always make sure you have enough milk and water for your baby before leaving, so you can prepare bottles and have extra to offer if needed.
If symptoms appear, offer your baby oral rehydration solutions (ORS) (available over the counter at pharmacies) and consult your doctor or pediatrician immediately. If none are available, go to the emergency room right away.
How much water to give your child according to age?
Throughout the first 6 months, milk bottles—whether formula or breast milk—are sufficient to hydrate your baby. In extreme heat or a heat wave, simply offer more feeds or bottles. Moreover, the French Society of Pediatrics indicates that water needs in children vary by age:
- Up to 3 months: 150 ml/kg per day (so, for a newborn weighing 6.6 lb, about 15.2 oz of water per day, covered by breastfeeds or bottles),
- from 3 to 6 months: 125–150 ml/kg per day, covered by feeds or bottles
- from 6 to 9 months: 100–125 ml/kg and per day,
- from 9 months to 1 year: 100–110 ml/kg and per day,
- from 1 to 3 years: 100 ml/kg and per day.
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What kind of water should you use to fill your baby's training cup?
The best water for babies is mineral water. Bottled, it displays the statement "suitable for infant feeding," which you can find, for example, on labels of Evian, Mont Roucous, or Volvic.
As for tap water, the ANSES (French National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety) indicates that it can be consumed by babies and young children as long as a few simple precautions are followed:
- let water run for a moment before filling bottles, cups, or training cups,
- use only cold water,
- regularly clean and descale the faucet aerator,
- do not use filtered or softened water to avoid the risk of microorganism growth,
- in older homes, find out about the materials used in your plumbing; some may be made of lead.
Up until 6 months old, milk is the exclusive food for babies and meets all of their needs. So, wait until you start introducing solid foods (as early as 4 months old) to offer small amounts of water to your baby—no juice or syrup. This added water will make up for the gradual decrease in milk volume as they grow.
7 practical and fun uses for the training cup to drink and play
The training cup was designed to keep your baby hydrated by helping them drink easily and frequently. Over time, though, it will eventually be replaced by a grown-up glass or cup. Luckily, the Élhée cup is full of surprises and can be used for:
- drinking without spilling, from 6 months onwards,
- keeping your baby hydrated throughout the summer—day, night, and during playtime,
- carrying a few ice cubes without getting wet and staying cool,
- enjoying a sip of cold water in the bath (instead of drinking bathwater),
- helping your baby develop independence,
- playing with other children, or with dolls and stuffed animals, feeding and giving them something to drink,
- growing up: drinking without getting wet thanks to the suction spout, carrying small cookies or applesauce without the spout but with the lid, or later on, using it to store crayons or small accessories.
As well as being lightweight, portable, and multifunctional, the training cup is hygienic and easy to clean. Like the BibRond, just unscrew the colored ring, remove the spout with gentle pressure, and take out the white ring in the neck of the cup. Every part can be washed separately, by hand, and without a bottle brush.
2 unbeatable tips to hydrate a baby who doesn’t like to drink
Compared to milk, water may taste bland. So, if your baby doesn’t want to drink, you might need a clever trick or two.
Offer ripe, juicy fruits and vegetables. Think of tomatoes and cucumbers, watermelon, melon, strawberries, or peaches; all are very high in water. Depending on your baby’s age, offer small pieces, mashed fruit, or use a food feeder (also called a fruit pacifier).
The cup itself can be another trick up your sleeve. A training cup, practical and fun, may be your solution. If your child finds it pretty, funny, or pleasant to handle, you’ve won.
The less your baby feels hot, the less they sweat and thus, the lower the risk of dehydration. Staying cool, dressing them in light clothing, and making the most of every bit of shade will help you get through the summer, especially if your little one isn’t a big drinker.
