ARK Sip-Tip® One-Way Straw Cup

A discreet one-way straw drinking system that keeps liquid in the straw – reducing the suction effort needed for the next sip.

The ARK Sip-Tip® is a specialised drinking cup designed for individuals who have difficulty generating or maintaining enough suction to drink efficiently through a standard straw.

Its clever One-Way Straw contains a valve that allows liquid to travel up the straw but helps prevent it from flowing all the way back into the cup between sips.

That means the liquid stays waiting in the straw.

Instead of repeatedly pulling liquid from the bottom of the cup, the drinker can begin their next sip with the liquid already partway – or all the way – up the straw, reducing the suction demand.

And if the individual can’t initially bring the liquid up themselves? A parent, caregiver or therapist can use the flexible lid to pump the liquid up the straw for them.

Why we love it

It provides assistance without necessarily taking straw drinking out of the equation.

For someone with reduced suction strength or endurance, an ordinary straw can present a significant challenge.

The Sip-Tip changes that challenge.

The one-way valve keeps liquid within the straw between sips, while the flexible lid gives a helper the option of bringing the liquid closer to the mouth.

We particularly like the Sip-Tip for older children, teenagers and adults because it has a more mature, discreet appearance than many assisted drinking systems.

The graduated markings on the tumbler are another practical feature, allowing individuals or their caregivers and clinicians, to keep track of approximately how much fluid has been consumed when that’s important.

Great for

• Older children, teenagers and adults with straw-drinking difficulties
• Individuals who have difficulty generating sufficient suction
• Those who have difficulty maintaining suction between sips
• Reducing the suction effort required to access liquid
• Individuals who benefit from a one-way straw system
• Supported straw drinking
• Therapist-guided drinking programs
• Gradually reducing assistance as drinking skills develop
• Situations where fluid intake needs to be monitored
• Individuals who prefer a more mature-looking assisted drinking cup

How the One-Way Straw works

With an ordinary straw, liquid can fall back into the cup between sips.

The drinker then needs to generate enough suction to bring it all the way back up again.

The Sip-Tip’s valve changes this by allowing liquid to travel up the straw while helping prevent it from flowing back down.

The result?

The next sip starts with liquid already waiting in the straw.

For someone who finds it difficult to generate or sustain suction, that can significantly reduce the effort involved in accessing their drink.

Need a little more help? Pump it up

The Sip-Tip also allows a person or their parent, caregiver or therapist to help bring liquid up the straw.

Cover the vent hole in the flexible lid with a finger and gently press down on the lid. Repeating this action pumps liquid upwards until it reaches the desired position in the straw.

This means the amount of assistance can be adjusted according to the individual.

For someone just beginning, the liquid might be brought right to the top.

For someone who can generate some suction independently, it might only need to be brought partway.

The goal is to provide as much help as needed – not necessarily as much help as possible.

What does the Lip Blok® do?

The included Lip Blok® sits on the straw and helps limit how far the straw can enter the mouth.

It can also discourage biting down directly on the straw and provide a consistent point for positioning the lips.

Rather than describing it as “correcting” tongue or lip position, we prefer to think of the Lip Blok as a way of making straw placement more consistent.

Sip-Tip, Cip-Kup or Bear Bottle?

All three ARK systems use the same basic idea: reduce the suction demand involved in straw drinking.

The difference is largely in how assistance is provided and who the cup is designed for.

Sip-Tip®
A rigid tumbler with a more discreet, mature appearance. Liquid can be pumped up the straw using the flexible lid. Graduated markings allow fluid intake to be monitored.

Cip-Kup™
Uses a flexible bottle that can be gently squeezed to assist liquid up the straw.

Bear Bottle®
Also uses an easy-squeeze bottle for assisted straw drinking, with a playful bear design particularly suited to younger children.

The best option depends on the individual’s age, preferences, motor skills and drinking goals.

A feeding therapist’s note

What I like about the Sip-Tip is that I can change how much work the drinker needs to do to access the liquid.

If someone can’t yet generate enough suction to bring liquid all the way up a straw, I can pump it to the top.

If they can manage part of that distance themselves, I can provide less help.

And because the one-way valve keeps the liquid in the straw between sips, they don’t necessarily have to start from the bottom again every time.

For older children, teenagers and adults, I also appreciate that the Sip-Tip doesn’t immediately look like a young child’s therapy cup. That can matter.

But there’s an important distinction I always want families to understand:

Making a drink easier to access does not automatically make it safer to swallow.

If someone coughs during drinking, has known or suspected dysphagia, aspirates, has respiratory concerns or has been prescribed thickened fluids, their cup, straw, flow rate and liquid consistency need to be considered as part of their individual swallowing recommendations.

What’s included

Each Sip-Tip® set includes:

• 1 rigid 240mL tumbler
• 1 spill-resistant flexible lid
• 10 One-Way Straws
• 1 Lip Blok®

Replacement components are available separately.

Product details

• Specialised one-way straw drinking system
• One-Way Straw helps keep liquid within the straw between sips
• Flexible lid can be used to pump liquid up the straw
• Secure lid helps minimise spills
• Graduated markings allow fluid intake to be monitored
• Includes Lip Blok® to help limit straw depth
• 240mL capacity
• Approximately 12cm tall
• Approximately 5cm diameter at base
• Approximately 8cm diameter at top
• Free from BPA, PVC, lead, phthalates and latex
• Components are dishwasher safe
• Not recommended for carbonated beverages
• By ARK Therapeutic

Liquids

The Sip-Tip is primarily intended for thin and mildly thick liquids, depending on the individual’s needs and swallowing recommendations.

Thicker liquids require greater suction effort and may behave differently through the one-way straw.

If an individual has been prescribed thickened fluids, always use the specific consistency recommended by their treating clinician. Do not thin a prescribed drink simply to make it easier to pull through the straw.

Important

The Sip-Tip® can reduce the suction effort required to access liquid, but it does not prevent choking or aspiration and does not make swallowing safe for someone with dysphagia.

Coughing or choking while drinking should not simply be managed by changing cups without considering why it is occurring.

For individuals with known or suspected dysphagia, aspiration, recurrent coughing during drinking, respiratory compromise or prescribed thickened fluids, use this product according to guidance from their treating speech pathologist or swallowing team.

Always provide appropriate supervision during drinking.

We send Australia-wide. Delivery costs and timings, and how to arrange a return, are set out on our shipping & returns page.

If something isn’t right for you, get in touch and we’ll sort it out.