If your baby coughs occasionally while learning, it is often a normal part of the process, but you should watch for consistent signs of difficulty like repeated coughing with every sip, frequent throat clearing, a wet or gurgly voice after drinking, or visible signs of distress. These indicators may suggest the flow is too fast or your baby needs more time to coordinate the swallow, so you can support them by offering only single sips, squeezing the straw slightly to decrease the flow rate, or using naturally thicker liquids like purees that move more slowly. Additionally, providing gentle jaw or cheek support and practicing careful pacing by pausing to let your baby catch their breath can help them manage the liquid more safely and comfortably.