From First Bites to First Sips: Introducing Cups and Utensils When Starting Solids

Written by Lauren Remondino, SLP, Feeding Therapist & Advisor at Bébé Foodie

This article was created in partnership with Opinel. As always, our recommendations are our own and based on our feeding therapist’s expertise. This post also contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Starting solids is an exciting milestone, and it's about so much more than your baby's first bites! As babies explore new tastes, textures, and ways of feeding themselves, they're also developing the oral motor skills, fine motor skills, and coordination needed to eventually eat and drink independently.

But with so many feeding tools available, from open cups and straw cups to spoons, forks, and feeding sets, it's not always clear when to introduce each one or which options are best for your baby's stage of development.

The good news? You don't need an extensive collection of feeding products, and your baby doesn't need to master one skill before trying another. Around 6 months, when your baby is ready to start solids, you can begin introducing cups and utensils alongside meals.

At Bébé Foodie, we encourage families to make cups and utensils a natural part of mealtimes from the beginning. With repeated opportunities to practice, caregiver modeling, and a little (or a lot of!) patience, babies gradually build the skills and confidence needed to feed themselves.

It’s a very French way of approaching meals, too: kids at the family table, using real (kid-sized!) cutlery, learning by watching the grown-ups around them. That’s one reason we’re excited to partner with Opinel, the French brand crafting tools in the Alps since 1890, on this guide. Their Le Petit Gourmet set is one of our favorite options for the toddler stage, and we’ll show you where it fits in below.

And remember, the goal isn't perfect spoon use or spill-free drinking. It's exploration, practice, and helping your baby feel comfortable at the table.

When should you introduce cups and utensils to your baby?

Most babies can begin exploring cups and utensils around 6 months, once they're showing signs of readiness for starting solids.

At this stage, babies are naturally curious about different textures, tastes, and ways of bringing food to their mouths. Introducing feeding tools gives them opportunities to practice skills that will eventually support independent eating and drinking.

The CDC also recommends introducing cups and utensils as babies develop their feeding skills.

What skills help babies learn to use cups and utensils?

Several developmental skills come together as your baby begins learning to self-feed:

• Head and trunk control: Helps your baby maintain a stable, upright position during meals.

• Oral motor coordination: Supports the movements needed to manage food and liquids in the mouth.

• Hand-eye coordination: Helps your baby bring a cup or utensil toward their mouth.

• Fine motor skills: Allow your baby to grasp, hold, and eventually manipulate feeding tools.

• Sensory exploration: Helps your baby become familiar with different textures, shapes, and sensations.

These skills develop gradually, and every baby follows their own timeline.

A gentle reminder: At this stage, the goal is exploration and occasional practice, not perfect cup or utensil use or eating an entire meal independently.

When can babies start using straw cups and open cups?

Babies can begin practicing with both straw cups and open cups around 6 months, once they're developmentally ready for solids.

Introducing cups doesn't mean replacing breast milk or formula feeds. Instead, it gives your baby an opportunity to explore a new way of drinking while continuing to receive their usual milk feeds.

6–9 months: Introducing your baby's first straw cup or open cup

At this age, the focus is on exposure and learning how cups work rather than drinking independently.

How to introduce a straw cup

Start by modeling how to drink from a straw in front of your baby. Let them watch, reach for the cup, and explore it. Some families find that a squeezable straw cup, such as a Honey Bear Cup or First Years Squeeze Straw Cup, can help babies learn how liquid moves through a straw.

With these cups, caregivers can gently squeeze a small amount of liquid toward the top of the straw, helping babies begin to understand the connection between the straw and drinking. Avoid squeezing large amounts into your baby's mouth.

How to introduce an open cup

Offer a small amount of liquid in a lightweight, baby-sized open cup.

Help your baby bring the cup to their mouth and gently tilt it toward their lips for small tastes. Your baby may initially need your hands to help guide and steady the cup.

At this stage, even a few small sips are an opportunity to practice.

9-12 months: Building independence with straw cups and open cups

As babies gain coordination, many begin taking more independent sips.

With a straw cup, you might notice your baby taking a large sip and then letting some liquid spill back out of their mouth.

With an open cup, spills are still very common.

That's okay! Learning how much liquid to take in and how to control it is part of developing drinking skills.

Recommended cups: Grosmimi straw cup or Olababy straw cup 

How to teach your baby to drink from a straw or open cup

A few small adjustments can make cup practice easier for both you and your baby.

Tips for choosing and using a straw cup

• Look for handles. Straw cups with handles can help babies grip and control their cup more independently.

• Consider a straw without a valve. If your baby has difficulty extracting liquid, a valve-free straw may be easier to learn with.

• Pay attention to sip size. If your baby takes very large sips, consider a smaller-diameter straw or encourage one sip followed by a short break.

Tips for practicing with an open cup

• Start small. Tiny cups, approximately the size of a shot glass or mouthwash cup, are often easier for little hands to manage.

• Offer just a little liquid. Small amounts help babies practice without overwhelming them.

• Provide support. Help your baby steady and tilt the cup as needed.

• Choose a low-stress setting. Practice outside on a warm day or during supervised water play, so spills feel like less of a big deal.

A little water on the floor is simply part of the learning process!

Are sippy cups recommended for babies?

While traditional sippy cups with hard spouts may be convenient occasionally, prolonged daily use is generally not encouraged when open cups and straw cups are appropriate alternatives.

Whenever possible, offer opportunities to practice with straw cups and open cups.

It's also helpful to avoid large or heavy cups, which can be difficult for babies to lift and control.

When should babies be able to drink independently?

With regular opportunities to practice, many babies become more successful with straw cups between 12 and 18 months.

Open-cup drinking often takes longer to develop. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children can develop open-cup drinking skills by around 2 years of age.

And yes, spills can still happen beyond that!

These ages are general developmental expectations, not deadlines. Some babies develop these skills earlier, while others need more time and practice.

When can babies start using spoons and forks?

Utensil use begins earlier than many parents expect, although it looks quite different from the way adults use spoons and forks.

When starting solids, your baby doesn't need to know how to scoop food independently. Simply holding a spoon, bringing it toward their mouth, or exploring it is valuable practice.

6-9 months: Starting with preloaded spoons

One of the easiest ways to introduce utensils is with a preloaded spoon.

Instead of expecting your baby to scoop food, you place a small amount of food on the spoon and hand it to them. Your baby then practices bringing the spoon to their mouth.

This helps build hand-eye coordination and confidence without requiring them to manage every part of the process.

You can also try the two-spoon approach:

1. Offer your baby one spoon to hold and explore.

2. Use a second spoon to offer food.

3. Let your baby participate as much as they're comfortable.

This can help reduce frustration while encouraging independence.

Feeding tool suggestion: NumNum pre-spoons are designed for early self-feeding and can be helpful during this stage.

9-12 months: Encouraging independent spoon use

Between 9 and 12 months, some babies begin attempting to scoop food independently.

The results might include a few successful bites, a spoon flipped upside down, or most of the food ending up somewhere other than their mouth.

All of this is normal.

Continue offering opportunities to practice while helping your baby as needed.

Feeding tool suggestion: ezpz spoons and forks can support babies as they begin exploring more independent utensil use.

12+ months: Introducing forks and building utensil skills

As toddlers develop more coordination, spoon use often becomes more intentional.

This is also a good time to introduce a child-friendly fork with rounded tines.

Start with soft, easy-to-pierce foods such as:

• Scrambled eggs

• Soft steamed vegetables

• Other tender, age-appropriate foods

You can help your toddler load the fork initially, then encourage them to bring it to their mouth independently.

Feeding tool spotlight: Opinel Le Petit Gourmet

When your toddler is ready to practice with a fork (and eventually a knife), Le Petit Gourmet is a lovely set that grows with them. It includes a spoon, a fork with rounded tines, and an intentionally dull knife for learning to cut soft, cooked foods. The beechwood handles are sized and balanced for small hands, and a stack-and-snap clip keeps everything together for meals on the go. 

Shop Le Petit Gourmet 

Want discount codes, experts access and exclusive offers? Join the Bébé First Bites community! 
We're excited to partner with Opinel to bring our Bébé Foodie Parent Community an exclusive offer on their Le Petit Gourmet feeding set! By joining our free community, you'll be able to connect with other parents and get practical feeding advice from our experts, plus get exclusive access to offer like this one! 

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How to teach your baby to use a spoon

A few simple strategies can make early spoon practice more successful.

Choose a shallow spoon. Spoons with flat or shallow bowls make it easier for babies to remove food using their lips.

Try thicker foods. Foods such as plain Greek yogurt, hummus, or thicker purées are more likely to stay on the spoon as your baby moves it toward their mouth.

Let your baby explore. They may hold the spoon upside down, mouth it, or drop it. These experiences are part of learning.

Model utensil use. Babies learn by watching, so let them see you using a spoon during meals.

Keep expectations realistic. Independent utensil use takes time, and finger feeding is still an important part of learning to eat.

When should toddlers be able to use utensils independently?

With regular practice, more refined spoon use often develops between 18 and 24 months, although it may remain messy and inconsistent for some time.

Spoon skills generally develop before fork skills. Many children become more consistent with fork use between 3 and 4 years of age.

As toddlers gain coordination and confidence, they can also begin exploring child-safe knives, starting with simple spreading or cutting soft foods under close adult supervision.

Sets like Opinel’s Le Petit Gourmet include an intentionally dull knife designed for exactly this stage.

These are broad developmental ranges rather than strict milestones. The goal is gradual progress, not mastering utensils by a particular birthday.

How to choose safe, age-appropriate feeding utensils for your baby

Choosing the right utensils can help make self-feeding easier and more comfortable.

You don't need a large collection of feeding products. A few thoughtfully chosen tools are often enough.

What to look for in your baby's first spoons and forks

When choosing utensils for babies starting solids, consider:

• Short, chunky handles: Easier for little hands to grasp.

• Shallow spoon bowls: Help babies remove food more easily.

• Rounded fork tines: Offer a safer option as toddlers begin practicing with forks.

• Lightweight materials: Make utensils easier to lift and control.

Choose products designed for your child's developmental stage and follow the manufacturer's safety recommendations.

For more ideas, explore our expert-recommended feeding tools for starting solids

Common challenges when teaching your baby to use cups and utensils

Learning to eat and drink independently doesn't always go smoothly. Cups get thrown, spoons become chew toys, and sometimes your baby would rather use their hands.

The good news is that many of these behaviors are a normal part of developing self-feeding skills.

Why does my baby keep throwing their cup or utensils?

Dropping and throwing objects are common ways babies explore cause and effect.

Try offering one utensil at a time, keeping a spare available, and calmly returning the item when appropriate.

Avoid turning utensil use into a battle. Your baby is still learning how objects work, and this behavior doesn't necessarily mean they're refusing to participate.

For more strategies, read our article on food throwing and baby table manners.

What if my baby prefers eating with their hands?

That's completely normal!

Finger feeding is an important developmental skill and should be encouraged alongside utensil use. Continue offering a spoon or fork during meals without requiring your baby to use it. With time, curiosity and repeated exposure can help build independent utensil skills.

Why does my baby chew on their spoon instead of eating?

Mouthing and chewing on utensils are common parts of sensory exploration.

Choose safe, age-appropriate utensils and let your baby become familiar with them. You can model how to use the spoon, but avoid forcing it into your baby's mouth.

What if my baby refuses cups or utensils?

Some babies are more interested in feeding tools than others, and that's okay.

Try offering the cup or utensil again at another meal without pressure.

You can also let your baby explore an empty cup or spoon during playtime or watch you use similar tools during family meals. Sometimes a little familiarity is all they need before they're ready to try again.

Building self-feeding skills, one messy meal at a time

Introducing cups and utensils is one of the many ways babies begin building independence during their starting-solids journey.

Around 6 months, you can begin offering opportunities to explore straw cups, open cups, and preloaded spoons. As your baby grows, these early experiences gradually develop into more coordinated drinking and utensil use.

You don't need an extensive collection of feeding products, and your baby doesn't need to master every skill right away.

What matters most is offering consistent opportunities to practice, modeling how to use feeding tools, and keeping mealtimes relaxed and positive.

Because learning to eat independently isn't just about getting food from the plate to the mouth. It's about building confidence, curiosity, and a healthy relationship with food.

And if half the meal ends up on the floor along the way? That's part of the journey, too.

 

Written by Lauren Remondino,  M. Ed., CCC-SLP, IBCLC

Feeding Therapist, Speech Language Pathologist, Lactation Consultant & Advisor at Bébé Foodie

Lauren Remondino is a pediatric feeding specialist and mom, with a background in speech-language pathology and lactation counseling. After years working in top children’s hospitals, she now brings her clinical expertise—and real-life parenting perspective—to Bébé Foodie. Lauren works closely on developing our How to Serve guides and feeding support content, helping parents feel confident at every stage of their baby’s food journey. She’s all about keeping things realistic, flexible, and supportive—because feeding isn’t one-size-fits-all, especially when you’re juggling nap schedules and snack requests.