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Mealtime: Drinking Cups Advice

At Fledglings we offer a wide range of products to make mealtimes a little easier.

Adaptive cutlery, crockery and drinking cups can offer a child or adult a range of solutions to help them eat and drink. Many people may have trouble with eating and drinking due to a wide range of conditions such as a reduced grip, restricted movement, lack of muscle control or sensory issues. The right equipment can make eating and drinking easier and allow a person to achieve more independence.

Drinking

Difficulty with drinking may be due to a range of physical conditions, including poor muscle control, reduced grip, sight problems, lack of sensation in the hands and sensory problems.

Different cup designs can help encourage independent drinking and help those with mobility and sensory issues.

We offer a variety of cup designs in a range of different shapes and sizes. Ridged sides can help with grip, while clear cups enable the user to check the level of the liquid in the cup - especially useful as some people can find a full cup heavy. Think about what you need in a cup: does it need to be dishwasher proof? Can it be used in the microwave? Does it need to be strong? What shape or size would be best?

Straws

Straws allow people to drink without the need to raise up a cup. Some cups are available with lids that can accommodate a straw while others may have a built in straw integral to the cups design. Again, these can help those with limited mobility or neck control as well as those who have difficulty drinking from the rim of a cup. 

SHOP ORIGINAL PAT SAUNDERS ONE WAY DRINKING STRAW

Angled Cups

Helpful for people who cannot raise their head or have a lack of mobility in the neck. The angle of the cup means that it does not have to be tipped so far up in order for the person to drink. This can enable the user or their carer to control the flow of liquid to the mouth without the need to raise their head or shoulders. Angled Cups can be used in combination with a lid, a spout or on its own.

shop doidy cup

Cups with valves

Cups with valves are good for people who are drinking from a reclining position. The drink can be sipped from anywhere around the rim of the cup. The flow of liquid will be controlled by the sip action of the users. The valve also means the cup can be spill proof, making it ideal for night time use.

shop Grown-up Cup

Brightly coloured cups

Brightly coloured cups or cups with bright lids can help a person with limited vision focus on and locate their cup.





shop Doidy Cup

Flexible or cutaway cups

Cups made of a flexible material allows the cup to be squeezed into a spout. This allows the gentle flow of liquid into the mouth. Ideal for a person with limited mobility. These types of cups also often have a cutaway back. This cutaway means that the nose is clear of the cup when the cup is raised for drinking.

shop Flexi Cups

Two-handed cups

Two-handed cups are helpful if a person has a reduced grip, lack of muscle control or poor hand sensation. This allows the cup to be grasped in both hands, giving more control with drinking. It is easier to sip liquids while the weight of the cup is distributed evenly in both hands. Some cups have larger handles, making the cup easier to grasp. 

shop Handy Cup and Lid

Cups with spouts or teats

These types of cups can help people who have difficulty drinking by controlling the flow of the liquid to the mouth. Especially helpful if a person has weak muscles around the mouth and lips which makes drinking from a cup rim hard. Cups with lids and spouts can also prevent spills as the cup is raised to the mouth as well as controlling the flow of liquid. 

shop Easy Grip Beaker With Lid

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