Last Updated on May 1, 2023
The best sippy cups for babies are a bridge to independence.
They help your child transition from the bottle to drinking unaided with a cup.
As she begins to sit up and eat solid foods, she learns to drink on her own.
Sippy cups are handy because they prevent spills, too.
Contents
There are 4 kinds of sippy cups for different ages and needs.
First, there are soft spout sippy cups with tops similar to bottle nipples. These are good for introducing 4 to 6-month-old babies to drinking from a cup.
Alongside those, your tot may enjoy a soft straw sippy cup.
In either case, a soft top has drawbacks. Once your child is teething, he may bite right through it. Also, they require sucking to pull the liquid out of the cup. That’s not as helpful if you’re trying to wean your child off the bottle or breastfeeding.
Next, other sippy cups have hard spouts. They are resistant to chewing.
And finally, there are flat lid sippy cups or 360 cups. These are the ideal transition to drinking from an open cup.
If you don’t have time to read the complete article, here are our top picks.
Let’s start with the baby’s first sippy cup.
It’s soft, easy to grip, and the perfect size. The Tommee Tippee cup is designed for 4-month-olds and up.
Parents have commented on how it helps them transition a baby from breastfeeding to drinking from a cup.
The soft top won’t hurt sensitive gums. Plus, the cup is straightforward to disassemble, wash, and steam-sterilize. It’s dishwasher-safe if you put it on the top rack.
It holds 5 ounces of liquid and has a spill-proof valve. The transparent, non-toxic plastic shows you at a glance how much is left inside.
The soft grip handles help your little one keep control, but they can be removed, too. If you pull out the valve, your child can drink the free-flowing liquid.
Made in the UK, this top brand never includes phthalates, BPA, or BPS in their products.
NUK recommends this sippy cup for 6-month-olds and up.
It has a soft silicone nipple spout that’s wider than the average. It feels more natural that way.
Moreover, it features an anti-colic air vent so that your baby swallows less air.
The ergonomic shape and handles let your tot control the cup by himself. When it’s on the table, it has an anti-slip base. Of course, it’s spill-proof as well.
The dishwasher-safe cup is BPA-free.
One mom commented that this model allows more flow than similar models. She loved how it’s super easy to clean.
The penguin design of this sippy cup isn’t just limited to the adorable decoration. The grippy handles resemble a penguin’s wings.
But any of the Philips Avent sippy cups are worth your attention. They have mix and match parts that switch between bottles and cups.
The soft silicone spout features a valve to slow down the flow and prevent spills. It’s handy for infants who haven’t learned to tip their heads back yet for drinking.
Pleased parents point out that the system prevents colic because babies swallow less air. Also, there are a few parts to wash.
NUK’s Learner Cup comes in 5 or 10-ounce versions. It’s best for ages 6 months and older.
One thing to note is that the soft spout requires the child to bite down so that the liquid flows. But the built-in vent helps prevent swallowing a lot of air.
The soft handles are removable for older children. Plus, the whole thing is dishwasher-safe and BPA-free.
One reviewer said that you won’t need a toothbrush to scrub all the little parts as it’s very simple to hand-wash.
Kids seem to love the Munchkin trainer cup with its flexible, ultra-soft long snout. Some babies as young as 4 months are able to enjoy it.
Furthermore, the sippy cup is compatible with Latch Nipples Stages 1, 2, and 3.
It has removable grippy handles and a slow, even flow rate.
Everything is BPA-free and safe to wash in the top rack of the dishwasher.
NUK makes a lot of different sippy cups, so how can you know which one is the best fit for your baby?
Well, the First Essentials cup is recommended for ages 6-months and up. It holds 10-ounces of liquid, so it’s probably best for toddlers.
There’s no handle and it has a bite-resistant hard spout. But the textured ergonomic shape encourages a good grip.
It looks kind of like an hourglass, and that helps prevent it from tipping over.
The design is 100% proof against breakage, spilling, and leakage. The manufacturer guarantees this.
It’s dishwasher-safe and colorful.
One parent pointed out that this was the only genuinely leak-proof sippy cup she’d found so far. Unfortunately, she says it didn’t fit in the car’s cup holder.
How about a sippy cup recommended by pediatric dentists in the USA? It’s for children age 9 months and up.
It comes in 2 sizes: 7 ounces and 10 ounces.
The advantage to the straw sippy cup is that it permits natural tongue movements and swallowing. This is crucial for healthy development.
Moreover, the bent-straw shape allows the baby to drink the very last drop.
Like other products in the Philips Avent series, its parts are interchangeable with bottles and most other sippy cups by the same manufacturer.
Plus, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee if it leaks.
The plastic is BPA-free and safe to wash in the dishwasher.
How can you resist Elmo and cookie monster?
Here is a sippy cup for toddlers that clips onto the outside of a diaper bag. Instead of the handle, it has a clip similar to a writing pen.
The cup has a soft silicone spill-proof spout, and it holds 10 ounces of liquid. It’s made for ages 12 months and older.
When it’s time to leave the baby bottle behind, this sippy cup makes the transition smoother. There are several reasons for this.
For instance, it has a weighted straw. That’s an intriguing design because it keeps the straw in the liquid even if the child is lying down.
Next, it has a good flow rate. It’s easy to suck up the liquid, but it doesn’t come out too fast. It holds 7 ounces, so it lasts for a while.
The handles make it easier for small children to hold. Furthermore, there is a flip-top lid to keep the straw clean.
The package includes a tiny brush to clean the straw. The primary con parents point out is that the flexible straw is difficult to clean.
But you can also take the cup apart and clean it in the top rack of the dishwasher.
They call it the miracle sippy cup for a good reason. The baby can drink from anywhere along the edge, yet it automatically seals to prevent leaks when she’s done.
That’s right if your child knocks the cup over, there’s no mess to wipe up.
The lid is lip-activated. There’s no spout and no straw.
This design makes it straightforward to clean, as there are no extra parts.
But please don’t put juices with a lot of pulp in it as it messes with the seal.
They come in a 2-pack, and they have fun designs and bright colors. These sippy cups are “lip-activated” just like the one above. They’re perfect for one-year-olds and older toddlers.
It’s the pressure from the mouth that breaks the seal and allows the liquid to flow anywhere from the rim of the cup. That’s why it’s called a 360 sippy cup.
Once the baby is done drinking, the lid seals, and there’s no risk of a spill.
The hygienic lid also prevents contamination. As with all name brand sippy cups, the plastic is BPA-free and dishwasher-safe.
It almost looks like mom and dad’s drinking glasses. This 360 sippy cup has a clear silicone valve on top, but the sides are beveled like real glass.
You can see when it’s time for a refill because it’s translucent. But with 10 ounces of liquid inside, it’s going to last for a while.
It’s made of BPA-free plastic that you can put on the top rack of the dishwasher for cleaning.
One mom commented that the only time this cup leaks is if her child bangs it on the floor or drops it at a right angle, which dislodges the seal.
It really does look like a tumbler that adults drink from. But there is a transparent insert inside that slows the flow of the liquid coming out.
Your kid can drink from anywhere along the rim. In no time, they will learn to drink from a regular class. There’s no suction needed.
What’s more, it fits in a regular cup holder, unlike many sippy cups won’t do.
With the insert in place, the cup holds 6 ounces. Otherwise, it’s a 10-ounce glass.
This product is American-made and recommended by speech therapists and pediatricians. They back it because they know that the overuse of regular sippy cups can lead to dental issues and speech difficulties.
But please know that the cup isn’t as spill-proof as some. It holds back the flow, but it doesn’t block it.
The Tot Cup is a 5-ounce Triton plastic glass to help transition to drinking from adult tumblers.
It matches OXO’s children’s tableware set.
It has a soft non-slip ring near the top to help little ones hold it.
Happily, parents and grandparents have noticed that the plastic doesn’t get scratched after repeated washings.
While I’m pleased to see that the vast majority of plastic sippy cups are BPA-free, I understand that doesn’t always ease a parent’s mind.
Plastic isn’t the best solution for the environment, and even BPA-free plastics might not be as safe as we’d all hope.
In that case, I have a solution for you. Klean Kanteen makes a food-grade stainless steel sippy cup with a spill-resistant cap.
The metal is electro-polished, not coated. It’s completely non-toxic, and it won’t retain odors or flavors.
However, it’s not insulated. But on the bright side, it is dishwasher-safe.
Before the age of 2, it’s time for your child to try using a sippy cup. Some infants as young as 4 months are successful in drinking from one. But most don’t start until at least 6 months of age.
Offer the cup at mealtimes and when your child is thirsty. But please don’t let your child carry it around like a toy because you’ll have unintended consequences.
He will need more diaper changes and might end up with cavities from sucking on a juice bottle all day.
Once your baby adjusts to using a sippy cup, it’s time to quit offering the bottle.
I’m probably preaching to the choir as I’m sure you’re already convinced that sippy cups are a good thing.
But just in case you have any niggling doubts, here are some benefits.
For one, you’ll have fewer spills to clean up. Yay!
And two, practically all of the sippy cups sold in the USA are dishwasher-safe and made of BPA-free plastic. Most are easy to clean and much safer than letting your child drink from an actual glass.
You can even find stainless steel cups if you’re wary of plastic.
But there is one downside to all this variety.
You may have to experiment with different types of sippy cups to find the one your child prefers. It could be a sippy cup with a straw, or it could be a 360 cup for a baby.
Take into account his ability to grip objects. It’s a good bet younger babies will do better with a cup that has handled.
Help your child become more independent by learning to drink on his own.
The right sippy cup for your baby can make all the difference.
I hope the reviews today helped you find the perfect cup for your child. If you’re delighted with your acquisition, please come back and tell us all about it.
Source:
1. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Discontinuing-the-Bottle.aspx
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