When your child is ready to transition from the bottle but isn’t quite ready for a traditional open cup, a sippy cup provides a practical alternative. Sippy cups are enclosed and are usually designed to prevent leaks. They’re easy for children to hold and can help your child to learn about how to drink from a cup.
While dentists would prefer that children not use sippy cups for long, reality can be different for a lot of parents. Read on to learn about what to look for in a sippy cup and tips for using them. Then, be sure to check out our reviews of our top picks to get started in finding the right sippy cup for your child.
Our Top Picks: Summary
- Best Trainer Cup: MAM Trainer Cup
- Best Spouted Cup: Klean Kanteen Kid Kanteen Classic Sippy
- Best Strawed Cup: Nuby No-Spill Cup with Flex Straw
- Best Flat Lid Cup: Munchkin Miracle 360 Sippy Cup
- Best for Older Toddlers: Thermos Funtainer
Best Trainer Cup: MAM Trainer Cup
MAM Trainer Cup
A great fit for babies to transition from bottle to cup.Check Price
Why We Picked It
Multiple elements of the MAM Trainer Cup’s design help make the transition from bottle to cup easier. The cup comes with both a nipple and a spout, so you can start with the nipple and then graduate your baby to the spout once they’re ready to use the cup as a cup, rather than a bottle. The spill-free nipple features a SkinSoft textured surface, and the extra-soft spout makes for an intuitive transition from sucking to drinking. Durable non-slip handles are sized to be easy for your baby to hold.
This cup’s wide openings make for easy cleaning and filling, and a spill-proof dust cap protects the cup when not in use. Made in Europe, the cup is free of BPA and BPS materials for your baby’s safety.
Keep in Mind
Some parents found that the tops of the cup leak unless they’re positioned just right, so pay attention as you screw on the tops and check the cup before giving it to your child.
In a Nutshell
- Interchangeable nipple and sippy cup tops help babies transition from the bottle to a cup
- Wide opening makes for easy cleaning and filling
- Made in Europe and free of BPA and BPS materials
Best Spouted Cup: Klean Kanteen Kid Kanteen Classic Sippy
Klean Kanteen Kid Kanteen Classic Sippy
Durable, lightweight, and stainless steel, a twist on the traditional sippy.Check Price
Why We Picked It
The Klean Kanteen Kid Kanteen Classic Sippy is durable, lightweight, and versatile, meaning it will be a long-term addition to your home. This stainless steel sippy cup takes a different approach to the traditional sippy cup, making it perfect for packing into your go bag on a busy day. It’s strong and won’t get smashed or flattened if stepped on or stuffed in the bottom of your bag, and its spill-resistant cap is attached directly to the cup so it won’t get lost. The cup also features a stainless steel swing-away loop for convenient hanging.
The stainless steel construction offers multiple benefits. The lightweight construction is plenty strong, ensuring this cup will hold up for years. Powder coating in 10 fun colors adds durability and is both safe and scratch-resistant. Because the cup is not insulated, its capacity is maximized. Plus, this cup is sized for small hands.
Keep in Mind
The stainless steel construction means this cup is hard, so if your child likes to throw items, it could injure you or another child. Be sure to supervise your child with this cup, and consider only giving this cup to older children.
In a Nutshell
- Stainless steel construction is lightweight and durable
- Spill-resistant cap is attached to the cup so it won’t get lost
- Won’t retain flavors and is easy to clean
Best Strawed Cup: Nuby No-Spill Cup with Flex Straw
Nuby No-Spill Cup with Flex Straw
A great no-spill cup to introduce your little one to straws.Check Price
Why We Picked It
For a safe introduction to straw sippy cups, the Nuby No-Spill Cup with Flex Straw features a soft silicone straw that’s gentle on gums. This straw includes a Touch Flo valve that opens only when the child sips on the straw, helping to prevent leaks and spills. The cup features a contoured, textured base sized for small hands.
This cup is also designed to be hygienic. The straw is clear and, with a one-piece spout, you can easily check to make sure that it’s clean. The cup is BPA free for your child’s safety. The cups come in bright, fun colors, and are available in a two- or four-pack.
Keep in Mind
The cup does not have a cover for the straw, so if you plan on traveling with the cup, you’ll want to position it carefully to keep the straw from getting dirty.
In a Nutshell
- Soft, flexible straw is gentle on gums
- Touch Flo valve only opens while a child is sipping and helps to prevent leaks
- Clear straw design makes it easy to check that it’s clean
Best Flat Lid Cup: Munchkin Miracle 360 Sippy Cup
Munchkin Miracle 360 Sippy Cup
This innovative cup promotes normal mouth muscle development.Check Price
Why We Picked It
The Munchkin Miracle 360 Sippy Cup features an automatic leak-proof seal to help prevent spills. Toddlers can drink from anywhere around the rim, since this cup doesn’t feature a spout or straw. That process of using the rim of the cup helps to support normal mouth muscle development. When toddlers suck on the rim, the cup’s valve opens, allowing them to drink. As soon as they release, that valve closes to prevent leaks.
This cup consists of three parts and no small pieces, so it’s easy to clean, and it’s top rack dishwasher safe for your convenience. This cup is suitable for toddlers 12 months and older. It’s also available in a stainless steel version and a trainer/handled version.
Keep in Mind
While this cup does prevent leaks, it can leak if dropped, thrown, or pressed up against an object, so it’s best for use only with supervision.
In a Nutshell
- Toddlers can drink from anywhere on the rim, supporting proper muscle development
- Valve automatically closes when toddlers stop drinking to prevent leaks
- Top rack dishwasher safe for easy cleaning
Best for Older Toddlers: Thermos Funtainer
Thermos Funtainer
A handy, leak-free water bottle ideal for older toddlers.Check Price
Why We Picked It
The Thermos Funtainer is full of features that make it ideal for older children. This cup includes vacuum insulation technology that helps liquids to retain their temperatures, so it’s perfect for giving your child water that they’ll drink gradually during a hot day. It can keep beverages cold for 12 hours, and it’s most effective when you prechill the bottle before filling it with liquid. The 12-ounce capacity is well-suited to older toddlers and children.
The stainless steel interior and exterior is durable, so if your child drops this bottle, it’s no issue. A push button lid incorporates a pop-up straw, making for a hygienic option when your child is playing and doesn’t stop to wash her hands before drinking. An integrated carry handle also offers convenience.
Keep in Mind
This Thermos is not intended for use with hot liquids, and hand washing is recommended. Be sure to adhere to these guidelines to maximize the bottle’s lifespan.
In a Nutshell
- Vacuum insulation technology keeps beverages cold for up to 12 hours
- Stainless steel construction is durable
- Push button lid and pop-up straw are easy to use and hygienic
How We Chose the Best Sippy Cups
When identifying the best sippy cups, we considered many different features to weigh the overall quality of each cup. From the safety of the materials used to the design and leakproof features, we weighed the elements that matter most when you’re a parent. As a result, we’re confident that we’re showcasing helpful, durable, and practical products that you’ll be pleased to give to your child.
Material Safety
The safety of the materials used in these cups was one of our top considerations. All of the plastic cups that we included are BPA-free for your child’s safety. We’ve also included some stainless steel options if you’re looking to avoid plastic entirely.
Easy to Use
We also considered the overall ease of use of each cup. We looked for cups that are easy for children to hold—many of the products we included have special handles, tapered bases, and textures that help young children to grip them. The cups also needed to be easy for children to drink from, and each cup we recommended has been designed with that in mind.
Ease of use also applies to your role in filling, cleaning, and handling the cups. We looked for products with lids and tops that are easy to screw on, designs that make for fast cleaning, and even the inclusion of top lids to keep the cups clean, saving you time and making for a better user experience.
Leak-Proof
Leaks are one of the major challenges of sippy cups, so we weighed each cup’s leak-proof qualities heavily. All of the cups that we included are leak-proof or close to it. Most cups will leak if thrown or dropped onto a surface, but we selected cups that perform well in preventing leaks during typical use.
Easy to Clean
Cups aren’t always easy to clean, and some have lots of little parts and crevices that make a thorough cleaning difficult. Not only is this time-consuming for you, but it isn’t hygienic for your child. We considered how easily and thoroughly these cups could be cleaned. The cups that we picked come apart easily, have large openings for accessibility, and some are even dishwasher safe.
Customer Reviews
The parents who have purchased these cups for their children know best how the cups perform over time, so we also considered customer reviews in making our top picks. While any product will receive some negative feedback, these cups have largely positive reviews and any issues that did arise were fairly minor. In short, these cups more than pass the parents’ seal of approval.
Do I Need a Sippy Cup?
Understanding when and how long to let your child use a sippy cup can be confusing, and there are often mixed signals about just when sippy cup use should start and stop for children. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children stop drinking from a bottle between one and two years of age, and sippy cups can help with that transition. When children know that a bottle is available, they may not eat as much, and this can interfere with their transition to solid foods.
While it’s recommended that kids drink from traditional cups as soon as possible, that isn’t always a practical option, and could result in many spills and frustration for both you and your child. That’s why most parents opt to use some form of a sippy cup for a while as their children grow and develop the skills needed to drink out of a traditional cup without frequent spills.
Children can start using a sippy cup right around the same time when they start eating solid food, which is at about six months of age. Keep in mind that, at six months old, children are still drinking breast milk or formula, so they don’t really need water and shouldn’t fill up on it. Most kids start to use a cup regularly when they’re about a year old, and while the transition can take time, the sooner that they give up the bottle, the better.
Check out the next section for tips that can help you to prioritize your child’s dental health while transitioning to and using a sippy cup.
Sippy Cup Tips
Sippy cups are useful in transitioning your child onto an open cup, and these best practices can help to make the process smoother and easier:
- Only give milk at meals, and provide water at all other times to help your child get the proper nutrition they need without overindulging in milk. Some children see bottles as security blankets and will drink too much milk if given free access to it.
- Don’t offer sugary drinks like juice and soda, which can disrupt your child’s diet, are bad for their teeth, and can lead to digestive issues.
- Don’t give a sippy cup at nap or bedtime. This can not only make a mess, but sugars in milk can cause tooth decay.
- If possible, offer the cup when asked, instead of letting your child carry it around and fill up on milk.
Types of Sippy Cups
You can choose from four main types of sippy cups, each with a slightly different purpose:
- Trainer cups: Trainer cups are designed to resemble a bottle, helping to transition children from the bottle into drinking from a sippy cup. Many of these cups feature interchangeable tops to get the child used to the feel and sensation of drinking from a sippy cup.
- Spouted cups: Spouted cups feature a single spout on the top that your child drinks from. These are some of the most common sippy cups that you’ll find.
- Strawed cups: Strawed cups incorporate a straw in their lids. Because the straw can often be closed over or collapsed, these cups are often effective in helping to prevent leaks.
- Flat lid cups: Sometimes called a 360 cup, flat lid cups feature lids that function as a flat spout. Children can drink from any location around the lid’s rim. These cups most closely resemble traditional open mouth cups.
What to Consider When Choosing a Sippy Cup
No one sippy cup is perfect for every child and every situation, and it’s possible that your child may need multiple sippy cups as he grows and matures. When choosing the right cup for your child, think about the following factors:
Child’s Age
Younger babies may need a trainer cup or a longer period of time before they get used to using a sippy cup. Older toddlers may have no problem transitioning right to a straw or a 360 cup. Consider your child’s age and development when deciding which type of cup to try.
Design
With a wide variety of sippy cups on the market, you may want to consider not just the type of cup you’re buying, but also specific design elements that can enhance its use. Consider how easy the cup is for your child to hold, and look for tapered bases, handles, and a textured surface that will help your child to maintain his or her grip.
Cleaning
You’ll want to carefully think about how easy it is to clean each cup you’re considering, as well as your cleaning style. Some parents may prefer to have many cups on hand and use the dishwasher once a day, while others may prefer to hand wash cups. Even when you’re just giving your child water in the cups, cups can still get dirty and even grow mold if left for too long without washing. Cups with designs that are easier to wash may be a better choice because of how dirty they can get.
Leaks
The importance of a leak-proof cup will largely depend on your child’s age and where the cup will be used. If your child is prone to throwing items, you might want a cup that is highly leak-proof. If your child is older, he or she might do just fine with something less leak-proof, like a 360 cup.
Related Resources
After you’ve found the right sippy cups for your child, be sure to review the following resources to find other great supplies you’ll need for your kids:
