Around their baby’s first birthday, many moms wonder if it’s time to drop the bottle and try introducing a sippy cup. Saying bye-bye to the bottle can be nice for many reasons, from letting your little one feel like a “big” kid to not having to clean all those bottles and pieces all day long. If you think your baby’s ready for a sippy, try some of these tips to make the switch go smoothly:

Give her a choice. Letting your little one choose her own cup may help her get more excited about drinking from it.

Get a handle on it. Some moms find it helpful to let their child get familiar with the cup even before they teach her how to drink from it. Try introducing a cup at mealtime so she can practice holding it and getting it up to her mouth.

New cup, same drink. Whatever your baby was drinking out of the bottle or breast, giving her the same thing when you introduce the sippy cup can help make the change easier.

Open it up. If your baby has trouble sucking the liquid out of the cup, try removing the plastic valve until she gets the hang of it.