Drinks from a cup without a lid

What is this milestone?

Self-feeding milestone

Your baby is able to lift an open cup (without a lid) to their mouth, tilt it, and swallow the liquid with minimal spilling.

Why it matters

This advances their oral motor skills, requiring complex coordination of the lips, jaw, and tongue. It also moves them away from the sucking reflex used for bottles or breasts, promoting proper jaw and teeth development.

What to expect leading up to it

Expect a mess! At first, they will tilt the cup too far and dump water down their chin. They will slowly learn how to pace the flow of liquid and close their lips properly around the rim.

How to encourage and support it

Start with a very small, lightweight cup (like a shot glass or a specialized baby cup) filled with just a tiny sip of water. Guide the cup to their lips the first few times so they understand the tilting motion.

When to talk to your doctor

The CDC's milestone checklists say what most children (75% or more) can do by each age. They list “Drinks from a cup without a lid, as you hold it” by 1 year and “Drinks from a cup without a lid and may spill sometimes” by 18 months. If your child is not doing these by those ages, the CDC's advice is not to wait: talk with your child's doctor, share your concerns, and ask about developmental screening. The same goes at any age if your child loses a skill they once had, or if anything else about their development worries you. Source: the CDC's “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” milestone checklists, checked October 5, 2026.

CDC: Milestones by 1 year · CDC: Milestones by 18 months · CDC: all milestone checklists