Honey Bear Cup | TalkTools® Glossary

Quick Definition Primarily, the TalkTools® Honey Bear cup serves as a squeezable, bear-shaped drinking cup with a narrow-bore straw, designed specifically for feeding therapy and oral motor treatment. Specifically, caregivers or clinicians easily control liquid flow by gently squeezing the bear's body, effectively grading the straw drinking task to match an individual's current oral motor ability. Consequently, it is widely utilized with children and adults who have feeding disorders, oral motor dysfunction, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, or general developmental delays.

Key Takeaways

First, the Honey Bear's squeezable body lets therapists precisely grade liquid flow. Therefore, it teaches straw drinking in a safe, step-by-step way.
Furthermore, using the Honey Bear promotes a healthy drinking posture where the ears are higher than the mouth, which crucially reduces the incidence of ear infections.
Additionally, it is available in three formats: original plastic, food-grade silicone, and BPA/Phthalate-free replacement straws for ongoing hygiene.
Moreover, this tool actively builds jaw stability, lip rounding, and tongue retraction to ultimately improve speech clarity and overall feeding skills.
Finally, the narrow-bore straw provides necessary therapeutic resistance that naturally promotes a solid lip seal and sustained sucking.

What Is the TalkTools® Honey Bear Cup? Fundamentally, the TalkTools® Honey Bear cup is a therapeutic tool purpose-built for teaching straw drinking. Specifically, unlike a standard cup or a commercial squeeze bottle, this specialized device is designed strictly with clinical grading in mind. For instance, by gently squeezing the bear's body, the clinician or caregiver can deliver a precise amount of liquid directly into the straw. As a result, this dramatically reduces the motor demand on the client and makes early straw drinking achievable—even for individuals with significant oral motor weakness or coordination challenges.
Bridging the Gap in Oral Motor Skills Furthermore, the cup's signature bear shape is certainly not incidental. In fact, it creates a natural, comfortable grip for both the adult delivering the squeeze and the child who may eventually hold the cup independently. Consequently, paired closely with its specialized narrow-bore straw, the Honey Bear actively supports the development of a functional lip seal, anterior tongue elevation, and the sustained, rhythmic sucking pattern required for competent straw drinking.

Clinical note: Essentially, straw drinking is a complex oral motor skill that requires lip rounding, intraoral pressure generation, tongue movement, and airway protection occurring in a coordinated sequence. Therefore, for clients who cannot yet initiate this sequence independently, the Honey Bear's squeeze mechanism elegantly bridges the gap by initiating liquid flow while the client practices each core component skill.

The TalkTools® Honey Bear Product Line Currently, TalkTools® offers the Honey Bear in three distinct forms. Consequently, clinicians can quickly select the absolute best option for each client's sensory profile, oral motor goals, and stage of treatment.
1. The Original Honey Bear

TalkTools® Product

Honey Bear Drinking Cup

Primarily, the original TalkTools® Honey Bear is a squeezable plastic bear-shaped cup featuring a built-in handle and narrow-bore therapeutic straw. Ultimately, the handle aids independent holding for clients developing cup-grasp skills, while the pliable body allows precise, graded liquid delivery by the clinician or caregiver.

Clinical Uses

First, teaching foundational straw drinking to individuals who cannot yet initiate suction independently
Second, grading oral motor difficulty by carefully controlling liquid volume per squeeze
Third, building a stronger lip seal, anterior tongue elevation, and sucking endurance
Finally, facilitating home carryover of straw drinking goals safely between therapy sessions

Suitable For

Down Syndrome Cerebral Palsy ASD Feeding Disorders Oral Motor Delays Cleft Palate

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2. Honey Bear Silicone

TalkTools® Product

Honey Bear Silicone

Meanwhile, the TalkTools® Honey Bear Silicone is expertly crafted from food-grade silicone, offering a softer, more pliable squeeze with enhanced sensory properties. Furthermore, this silicone material is exceptionally easy to clean, durable, and particularly well-suited for clients with tactile sensitivities who might otherwise resist standard plastic therapeutic tools.

Clinical Uses

Specifically, focuses on the same proven straw drinking instruction goals as the original Honey Bear
Moreover, serves as a preferred option for clients dealing with tactile defensiveness or sensory sensitivities
Additionally, provides a softer body for a different proprioceptive experience for the squeezing hand
Ultimately, ensures food-grade silicone construction supports easy sterilization for multi-client clinical use

Suitable For

Sensory Sensitivities Tactile Defensiveness Down Syndrome ASD Feeding Disorders Multi-client Clinical Use

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3. Replacement Straws (5-Pack)

TalkTools® Product

Honey Bear Replacement Straw

Crucially, the TalkTools® Honey Bear Replacement Straw features a specialized narrow-bore design that fits both the original 5 fl. oz. and 7 fl. oz. silicone cups. Consequently, replacing straws regularly is absolutely essential for hygiene across varied therapy sessions. Moreover, they are entirely Latex, BPA, and Phthalate-free, guaranteeing optimal safety for frequent clinical use.

Why the Straw Matters Clinically

First, it provides necessary therapeutic resistance that naturally demands a stronger, more coordinated sucking response
Next, it maintains a consistent bore diameter to confidently ensure absolute treatment fidelity across sessions
Finally, it allows for regular replacement to faithfully support strict infection control protocols in clinics

Compatible With

5 fl. oz. Honey Bear 7 fl. oz. Honey Bear Silicone

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Comparing the Honey Bear Options Importantly, all three Honey Bear products work beautifully together sequentially as a unified system. Thus, the table below helps clinicians and caregivers quickly identify which version or accessory best suits a given client's precise needs.

Product	Material	Best For	Key Feature
Honey Bear (Original)	Squeezable plastic	General straw drinking instruction; clients who need a firm grip surface	Built-in handle for independent cup holding practice
Honey Bear Silicone	Food-grade silicone	Clients with tactile sensitivities; clinical settings requiring frequent sterilization	Softer squeeze; sensory-friendly material; easy to clean
Honey Bear Replacement Straw	Narrow-bore therapeutic straw	Ongoing clinical use; home carryover programs	Maintains therapeutic resistance for treatment fidelity; BPA/Phthalate free

Core Therapeutic Techniques Globally, therapists actively use the famous TalkTools® Honey Bear around the world to reliably teach lip rounding, tongue retraction, and emerging speech clarity. Specifically, below are the official instructional steps to successfully introduce straw drinking in therapy.
Preparation and Posture First, thoroughly clean all tools with warm soapy water before any therapy use. Next, establish and maintain a completely stable seating posture for the client. Ideally, choose a chair that encourages a 90-degree angle in the child's pelvis, knees, ankles, and chin. Additionally, placing Dycem on the surface of the seat can greatly assist in establishing this vital stability.
Importantly, always ensure the client's hands and head remain strictly at midline. Indeed, a lesser-known fact is that the Honey Bear naturally ensures a drinking posture where the ears are higher than the mouth. Consequently, this ideal physical alignment actually reduces the incidence of common ear infections.
Technique 1: Teaching Basic Straw Drinking Essentially, this fundamental technique teaches primary straw drinking and builds early jaw stability from the ground up.
Step 1: Initially, place the straw directly in the lid of the Honey Bear, leaving only ½” of the straw tip exposed above the lid opening.
Step 2: Next, use the palm of your non-dominant hand to firmly support the child’s jaw.
Step 3: Then, place the tip of the straw at midline directly on the surface of the lower lip. Specifically, if needed, assist with lip rounding by gently squeezing their cheeks.
Step 4: Subsequently, use your dominant hand to gently squeeze a very small amount of liquid into the child’s mouth.
Step 5: Afterward, remove the straw, but be sure to maintain steady jaw support. Finally, wait for a complete swallow.
Step 6: Ultimately, repeat this entire task exactly 3 times at the beginning of each straw drinking activity.

Gradually, as the child is able, carefully decrease how much you squeeze the bottle while simultaneously reducing chin and cheek support. Eventually, once they can independently drink 4 ounces of thin liquid, you can confidently introduce the TalkTools® Straw Drinking Hierarchy.
Technique 2: Addressing Tongue Protrusion Conversely, if the client presents with significant tongue protrusion, a slightly modified technique is highly recommended.
Step 1: First, place the straw firmly in the lid, but this time leave 1” of the straw tip exposed above the opening.
Step 2: Secondly, support the jaw with your non-dominant hand. Then, put the 1” length of straw directly at midline on the surface of the tongue. Consequently, this allows the client to demonstrate their typical suckle pattern first.
Step 3: Following that, squeeze a small amount of liquid, remove the straw, and wait for them to swallow. Thereafter, repeat 3 times.
Step 4: Next, once the child drinks 2 ounces independently at the 1” length, confidently reduce the exposed straw to ¾” and repeat the process.
Step 5: Finally, once they easily master the ¾” length, reduce the straw to ½”. Ultimately, reducing the length requires the back of the child's tongue to work harder, thereby effectively stimulating proper tongue retraction.

How the Honey Bear Works in Therapy Clinically, the mechanism behind the Honey Bear is straightforward but extremely precise. Initially, the client places their lips securely around the narrow-bore straw. Subsequently, the clinician or caregiver squeezes the bear body gently, effectively delivering a strictly controlled amount of liquid up the straw. Thereafter, the client experiences the distinct sensation of liquid arriving at their lips and oral cavity, gradually learns to manage it, and over time begins generating the intraoral pressure needed to draw liquid entirely independently.
The Principle of Liquid Facilitation Notably, this highly effective technique is widely known as liquid facilitation. Specifically, it delivers the reward of a successful sip while the client is still developing the actual motor pattern required to achieve it without help. Furthermore, the Honey Bear makes this possible without specialized, intimidating clinic equipment, presenting it instead in a format playful enough for children to engage with completely naturally.

Clinical Principle

Fundamentally, straw drinking is not a single skill — it is an entire motor sequence. For example, by controlling liquid delivery through the squeeze mechanism, therapists can completely isolate individual components of that sequence: lip seal formation, tongue positioning, sustained sucking, and airway protection. Consequently, the Honey Bear allows the clinician to grade each component perfectly, making the task achievable at every single level of oral motor ability.
Ultimately, the ultimate goal is always to fade the external squeeze entirely as the client develops independent suction. Therefore, progress is measured consistently by how little the clinician needs to squeeze to initiate a successful sip.

Who Uses the Honey Bear Cup? Today, the Honey Bear is easily one of the most widely recognized tools in modern feeding therapy and oral motor treatment.
Common Clinical Users Specifically, it is routinely used by several key professionals:
Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) actively addressing straw drinking, liquid management, and speech clarity
Occupational Therapists (OTs) working closely on self-feeding and fine motor cup grasp goals
Feeding Therapists implementing sequential oral sensory (SOS) or oral placement therapy (OPT) frameworks
Caregivers and parents carrying over critical practice faithfully at home between sessions

Relevant Diagnoses Additionally, it is strongly associated with clients who have Down syndrome, where low orofacial muscle tone and an open-mouth resting posture predictably make initial straw drinking exceptionally challenging. Likewise, it remains a staple for individuals with cerebral palsy who may unfortunately lack basic motor coordination for sucking.
Additional Tips for Therapy Success To maximize clinical effectiveness, the Honey Bear is naturally best introduced within a well-structured protocol. Accordingly, these evidence-informed best practices consistently support optimal outcomes:
First, introduce alternate tools if needed. For instance, if a child is entirely unable to drink from the Honey Bear initially, consider introducing the TalkTools Syringe Feeding technique first to establish basics.
Second, experiment with sensory input. Specifically, flavored and/or thickened liquids can significantly increase sensory information for the client. Thus, a variety of textures and tastes may actively encourage otherwise reluctant therapy participation.
Third, grade the squeeze carefully. Therefore, always begin with the absolute smallest squeeze that safely produces a sip. Otherwise, over-squeezing easily floods the mouth, potentially causing an aspiration risk or negative associations.
Fourth, replace the straw regularly. Specifically, be sure to periodically check product integrity before sessions. Accordingly, replace the straw immediately if deterioration, severe cracking, or other changes suddenly become evident.
Finally, require adult supervision. Indeed, because it is a therapeutic device rather than a standard commercial toy, the Honey Bear requires constant adult supervision during any use.

Safety note: Ultimately, the Honey Bear should definitely be used under the direct guidance of a qualified speech-language pathologist or feeding therapist. In fact, this is particularly crucial for clients with known or suspected dysphagia, serious aspiration risks, or otherwise complex feeding histories.

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Honey Bear

How do I clean the Honey Bear Cup?

First, before and after each use, clean the cup and straw thoroughly with warm soapy water for long-lasting performance. Furthermore, it is completely dishwasher safe. However, avoid using harsh abrasives, as they can easily damage the material. Consequently, periodic inspection is strictly required to ensure safe therapy use.

What is a Honey Bear cup used for in therapy?

Primarily, the TalkTools® Honey Bear cup is used to safely teach controlled straw drinking to individuals who cannot yet initiate suction independently. Specifically, by actively squeezing the bear's body, the clinician precisely controls how much liquid flows up the straw. As a result, this grades the task perfectly to match the client's exact current abilities.

What is the difference between the Honey Bear and the Honey Bear Silicone?

First, the original TalkTools® Honey Bear is made from a squeezable plastic material featuring a built-in handle. In contrast, the Honey Bear Silicone is made entirely from food-grade silicone, which is noticeably softer and better suited for clients with tactile sensitivities. Both versions, however, utilize the exact same narrow-bore therapeutic straw for consistency.

Why does the Honey Bear use a narrow-bore straw?

Specifically, the narrow bore provides vital therapeutic resistance. Therefore, this resistance forces the client to generate a distinctly stronger, more coordinated intraoral pressure to successfully draw liquid. Consequently, substituting a wider commercial straw completely reduces this necessary resistance, which ultimately compromises total treatment fidelity.

Populations & Diagnoses

Is the Honey Bear used for children with Down syndrome?

Absolutely. In fact, the Honey Bear is widely recognized as a premier tool in therapy for children with Down syndrome. Because low orofacial muscle tone and an open-mouth resting posture often make straw drinking difficult, the Honey Bear beautifully allows the clinician to initiate liquid flow while the client simultaneously works on successfully closing their lips.

Can the Honey Bear be used with adults?

Yes, it certainly can. While frequently associated with pediatric feeding therapy, it is highly effective for adolescents and adults who have acquired neurological conditions adversely affecting swallowing. Therefore, clinical appropriateness should simply be determined thoughtfully by the treating SLP or feeding therapist.

STRAW CUP

6 MONTHS: CONTINUED USE OF HONEY BEAR BOTTLE

“STEP AWAY FROM THE SIPPY CUP”

Ask A Therapist: Straw Drinking Progression

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