How WREMS drinCUP is effective
From seven months old, children can be drinking independently with WREMS drinCUP because it is specifically designed for their early stages of development.
Learning to drink and eat independently is a significant and marvellous achievement for babies – it drives so much of their underlying sensory and motor development. WREMS drinCup gives your child every advantage as they learn vital life skills.
Why WREMS drinCUP Works
Designed by a Speech Pathologist with over 40 years' experience, 20 years of which was focused on children, the WREMS drinCUP has five simple reasons why it will work for your child and you.
The transparent body means the liquid inside the cup can be seen.
This seemingly simple design feature ensures that your child learns through sight to anticipate taste and temperature and not be surprised by the contents of the cup. The transparency also helps the supervising adult observe the level of fluid and provide assistance.
Did you know
When children are surprised by food or drink and flail their arms – this is because they aren’t starting with the platform of the chin-tuck. This physical response, if not addressed, could lead to your child being delayed when fine and gross motor skills are developed.
The handles encourage interaction and independence
The handles on the WREMS drinCUP are the key to learning and independence. They are deliberately large to permit easy handing and coloured red to focus attention and facilitate coordination by being easily seen. The two handles also encourage two-handed use which is key to the development of bilateral symmetry.
Did you know
The colours of most mass marketed cups are partly to help parents choose based on aesthetic preference and risk distracting the child from the purpose of the cup – drinking. Small amounts of bright colours in the right place are about focus on the key outcome – learning to drink.
The size is appropriate for children to learn
The WREMS drinCUP is specifically designed to encourage the key skill of the chin-tuck. The cup is intentionally small. Its reduced height means that children seek out the rim by looking down and tucking. The height and small circumference accommodate small mouths and reduce the volume of fluid coming into the mouth without having an artificial cap or straw. This establishes the correct 'swallowing pattern' and helps children move from suckling to a 'pumping action' swallow.
Did you know
Many cups that are designed to accommodate large amounts of fluid or have inbuilt straws may actually encourage an action that is directly opposite to the chin-tuck. If children are reaching up and lifting their chin or sucking instead of learning to drink, they aren’t getting all of the skills they need to become excellent at drinking and eating independently.
A curved lip supports the development of drinking skills
As well as chin-tuck, ‘lip seal’ is a critical skill for children to learn as a platform for independent drinking and eating. The curved rim promotes a lip profile that optimises the drinking action, encouraging strong lip seal.
Did you know
The ability to purse your lips needs to be learned and then becomes key to fine motor skills. The pursing of lips utilises a range of facial muscles that drive neurological development. Jaw stability is key for independent movement of the tongue which leads to producing speech sounds.
The cat drawing on the bottom is for learning through fun
Children are naturally curious and a drinking cup should support and utilise this, not make the mistake of a child’s curiosity distracting it from learning. The WREMS drinCUP has a hand drawn cat motif on the bottom to draw the attention of the child to the bottom of the cup. It is the final feature that brings the chin-tuck to fruition.
Did you know
Having highly decorated sides and tops of childrens’ cups look good on a shelf but may lead to high levels of distraction. Children who can focus on the fluid and look down into the cup will gain independent drinking skills faster.
What parents and professionals say
"At the Queen Elizabeth Family Centre, nursing staff have worked with parents of babies to introduce open cup drinking using the WREMS drinCup when there have been issues with breast and bottle feeding. The drinCup has been successfully used over many years assisting babies and young children to achieve independent cup drinking which assists oral coordination and in addition, confidence and concentration, being two of the many important factors in childhood development.’’
Clinical Manager - Nursing and Midwifery, QEII Family Centre
"This is the best baby and toddler drinking cup I used during my long career as a paediatric Speech Pathologist. I have fond memories of several children with Down Syndrome being delighted to be able to drink independently using the Wrems drinCup , which in turn thrilled their parents. I often successfully recommended it to Child Care centres where I consulted.’’
Consulting Speech Pathologist, Australia
"All three of our children used the drinCUP. They didn't have special needs, we just wanted them to have the best start possible. Getting them to be independent drinkers was really important, and with drinCUP we knew they were headed in the right direction!"
Happy WREMS parent, Canberra, Australia