Straw drinking can help strengthen the mouth muscles and encourage tongue retraction, cheek tension, and lip closure
Comes with a special valve that keeps fluid at the top of the straw, which means less effort is required to take a sip - perfect for beginners or kids with oral motor difficulties / a weak suck. Also comes with a Lip Blok to prevent biting the straw or putting it too far back in the mouth. The lip Blok also naturally exercises the mouth muscles for an oral motor workout
You can also squeeze the friendly bear's belly to assist drinking. For individuals who tend to take too much fluid at a time, the Select-Flow Valve also slows the flow of fluid, allowing for smaller, more manageable sips that lower the risk of coughing/choking. If a restricted flow is not necessary, or if you would like to increase the flow for easier drinking, simply trim the tapered end with a pair of scissors (as shown in the second picture)
The Bear Bottle is a fun and friendly way to make drinking easier for beginners and/or children with oral motor difficulties. It's also an excellent way to transition babies straight from bottles to straw drinking - skipping sippy cups altogether! Most sippy cups promote improper tongue and lip positioning that can cause speech problems later on. Straws are a better alternative, as they strengthen the mouth muscles and encourage tongue retraction, cheek tension, and lip closure. The Bear Bottle features a unique valve that controls the direction of fluid - liquid flows up into the straw, but does not flow back down. Simply squeeze the bear's belly until fluid reaches the top of the straw and release. Fluid will stay at the top of the straw, thereby decreasing the effort required to drink. Highly recommended for individuals who tend to aspirate or have a weak suck with difficulties generating and maintaining suction. Kit includes: 1 easy-to-squeeze Bear Bottle with a snap-close cap, 1 Select-Flow Valve, 2 flexible tubing straws, 1 Lip Blok, and instructions on how to teach straw drinking. The tubing straws are a more durable alternative to regular disposable straws, and the Lip Blok discourages biting on the straw or inserting it too far into the mouth. Made in the USA No BPA, PVC, lead, phthalates, or latex Dishwasher-safe Holds 8 ounces of fluid Bottle measures approximately 2 x 2.5 x 6" Colors may vary. Caution: contains small parts that may pose a choking hazard. Direct supervision required at all times.