Transitioning away from bottles is a normal, healthy step in child development, and alternatives like a sippy cup or straw cup can be introduced as early as six months. Although there are many types of safety cups for growing babies and toddlers, proper use is important, some designs being more effective and developmentally appropriate than others. Wondering how to choose the best sippy cups?
Have a look at our detailed buyer’s guide to learn the pros and cons of picking a healthy cup for your little one, as well as our rundown of top picks.
In this article:
At what age should my child start using a sippy cup?
In order to prevent decaying teeth, it’s important to transition your child from a bottle to a sippy cup or straw cup around age one. However, waiting that long isn’t always necessary.
If you wish, you can begin introducing a sippy cup to your child at six months old. This will help them get accustomed to the sensation of drinking from a cup, though they may find it difficult to grasp and hold a cup without handles.
Related: How to Introduce a Sippy Cup to a Breastfed Baby
What are some factors to consider when choosing a sippy cup for my child?
- Is the spout hard or soft? While traditional, old-school sippy cups were generally made of hard plastic and had spouts constructed of that same material, many of today’s sippy cups use a hard plastic body with a soft silicone spout. The purpose of this is to keep your child’s tongue in a healthy placement; exclusive use of hard spouts can lead to difficulties and delays in transitioning from an infant suckle-and-swallow reflex to a mature swallowing reflex, and may lead to possible speech difficulties, like a lisp.
- Should I opt for a straw instead? Rather than a hard or soft spout, straw cups can offer an alternative that’s ideal for healthy oral development. They encourage a mature swallow reflex, do not disrupt healthy tongue placement, and direct liquid straight into the mouth, rather than over the front teeth, preventing tooth decay.
- What is the cup made out of? When you’re buying eating and drinking receptacles for your child, choosing those made of durable, safe, non-toxic materials, and that are easily washable, is always your best bet. Some of the most effective sippy cups are made from a combination of hard, BPA-free plastic and silicone, though others include stainless steel, offering natural thermal capabilities
- Should I choose a cup with handles? When little ones are transitioning into the use of a sippy cup, they’re also using their developing motor skills. Handles can make it easier for small hands to grasp and hold the cup, reducing frustration and offering a more effective experience for all involved. Some include handles which can be removed as your child grows and no longer need them.
- Is it leak-proof? As with bottles, sippy cups will quickly become a new, on-the-go essential for your child. This means they’ll occasionally be carried in diaper bags and purses, where leaks can prove disastrous! They’re also likely targets for shaking, banging, and tossing around by excited toddlers, so a sippy cup that can hold up to some chaos without leaking is ideal.
Are there any dangers to using sippy cups? How can I limit any negative effects?
Making the transition away from using a bottle is a necessary step to preserve your child’s oral health and encourage the development of a mature swallow reflex. Using certain types of sippy cups exclusively or offering unlimited access to sweet drinks can be problematic to your child’s long-term health. Wondering how to limit the negative side effects of sippy cup use?
Related: The Ultimate Sippy Cup Safety Guide (Quick Read)
- Oral development. While sippy cups with hard spouts are okay in moderation, they’re not ideal for long term use, as they don’t encourage healthy anterior-posterior tongue movement and placement; over time, this can lead to a delay in the development of a mature swallow reflex and may even cause speech impediments. Reserving these cups for occasional use and, instead, choosing soft spouted, spoutless, or straw cups is best for your child’s oral health.
- Tooth decay. While the use of a bottle beyond the appropriate age can lead to tooth decay, so also can sippy cups, which cause liquid to pass over the front teeth rather than directly into the mouth. Limiting sugary drink access to short periods only can help mitigate this issue, as will regular daily tooth brushing. The use of a straw cup, on the other hand, can encourage liquids to go right into the mouth, eliminating a lot of the problem.
- Habit development. This is, really, less about the cup and more about what’s in it. Staying hydrated is essential to everyone, and it’s normal and healthy for your child to have regular access to their cup. However, if they’re given regular, unrestrained access to sugary juices and beverages, it will lead to a reliance on these tastes and drinks that can continue into childhood, and even adulthood; possibly playing a role in future ‘weight’ issues. It’s always best to stick with water or milk, reserving juice or other sweet drinks for a limited-access treat.
Our picks of the best sippy cups
Best overall
Our opinion
Spout style: Spoutless
Material: Plastic, silicone
Has handles?: Yes
Dishwasher safe?: Yes
Color(s): Green, blue
The best sippy cups for toddlers encourage healthy swallowing and tongue positioning, are easy to hold, and won’t leak. That’s the case with the Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Cup (check price on Amazon), which uses an effective 360-degree design allowing kids to sip from the rim of the cup without risk of spillage. When they’re done sipping, the cup automatically seals, so liquids remain inside. A sturdy, and convenient, pair of handles allow little hands to grip the cup easily.
These cups take their leak-proof design seriously, and can be squeezed into a diaper bag or purse, toted upside-down, or included in all manner of toddler chaos with nary a drop lost, making them a classic on-the-go pick.
What we love:
- The spoutless design is a super-healthy pick for baby’s oral development, as it encourages proper tongue positioning and the development of a mature swallow reflex
- It’s designed to be easy and functional for both tots and parents, with a fully leak-proof design and two handles that make the cup easy to grasp
Best insulated sippy cup
Our opinion
Spout style: Soft
Material: Stainless steel, silicone
Has handles?: No
Dishwasher safe?: Yes
Color(s): Stainless steel, clear
If you’re searching for alternatives to plastic sippy cups, stainless steel might be the material for you. Food grade stainless steel is easy to clean, holds temperature well, and is free of any toxins. The Pura Kiki Insulated Sippy Cup (check price on Amazon) resembles those trendy stainless steel water bottles, but, instead of a sports cap, it’s topped with a soft silicone spout that’s triple vented, designed to regulate air intake and liquid flow.
The vacuum insulation of the cup’s body keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours with the inclusion of a few ice cubes, while internal volume markers solve the problem of portioning their drinks. The outside of the cup doesn’t get too warm or chilly for little hands thanks to a medical-grade silicone sleeve that reinforces its thermal capacity. Another convenience factor? Pura bottles work with all other Pura lids, so are, thus, interchangeable with other items in the product line.
What we love
- It’s made out of food grade stainless steel, so it’s a great non-toxic alternative to plastic
- The medical grade silicone sleeve makes the cup/bottle easier to grasp and prevents cold or warm drinks from transferring temperature to sensitive little hands
Watch for
- It’s large for a traditional sippy cup, and it doesn’t feature handles, so it’s generally better for kids who are a bit older and accustomed to their use
Best for milk
Our opinion
Spout style: Hard
Material: Plastic
Has handles?: No
Dishwasher safe?: Yes
Color(s): Sky blue, aqua blue, navy blue
If you’re a parent who’s eco-conscious when choosing gear and toys for your kids, these recycled, non-toxic plastic sippy tumblers from Re-Play (check price on Amazon), made of recycled milk jugs, are just what the doctor ordered. They eschew tons of fancy packaging and printing for simple, nigh-indestructible hard plastic cups in a wide range of cheerful, bright colors.
These powerhouse cups are both microwave and dishwasher safe, so heating and cleaning won’t cause discoloration or warping. They also use a one-piece valve made of silicone to prevent leaking which can be removed entirely if desired. Another thing to love about these cups is that, once your tot is done with them, they can be recycled.
What we love
- They’re made entirely out of recycled material, and they can be recycled again once your child is done using them
- They’re “virtually indestructible”, meaning they hold up well to toddler chaos, won’t leak with use of the silicone valve, and can go in the dishwasher and microwave
Watch for
- Though the silicone valve prevents leaks, it does not work as a flow regulator
Best with soft nipplet natural
Our opinion
Spout style: Soft
Material: Plastic, silicone
Has handles?: Yes
Dishwasher safe?: Yes
Color(s): Clear
When your little one first begins the transition toward a sippy cup, a pick that can alternate between a traditional nipple and a soft silicone spout has the potential to make life easier for you both. The My Natural Trainer cup by Phillips Avent (check price on Amazon) features both options, including their naturally-styled wide silicone nipple, often lauded for easing the transition between breast and bottle feeding.
The clear, 5 oz bottle-and-cup combo has a removable set of plastic handles that rest under and are secured at the top, making it easy for even the tiniest of hands to grasp. The design of this hybrid pick makes it ideal for the early introduction of a sippy cup and is suitable for use at four months.
What we love
- It can be used as either a bottle or a sippy cup, and it features removable handles which can make it easier for little ones to hang on
- It’s a good pick for babies transitioning from bottle to breast, as it features a Phillips Avent wide natural silicone nipple
Watch for
- It’s rather small, so by the time they hit one year, you’ll probably want to invest in some larger spoutless sippy cups
Best for biters
Our opinion
Spout style: Hard
Material: Plastic
Has handles?: No
Dishwasher safe?: Yes
Color(s): Assorted
One of the downfalls of old-school hard-spouted sippy cups was the damage they caused to children’s teeth as they tried to bite the spout. This can still be a natural reflex in some kids, but the Nuk’s Fun Grips Cup (check price on Amazon) has a hard spout that’s especially designed to discourage repeated, unhealthy biting; the spout is raised and has graduated, sloped sides that make biting nearly impossible. The cup is also fully leak and spill-proof, so, regardless of position, you won’t find yourself dealing with a mess.
There’s also a flow control valve to regulate liquid intake, which is helpful for little ones as they begin their transition to a sippy cup. The hourglass design of the cup is also helpful, as the wider bottom helps prevent tipping or falling.
What we love
- The hard spout is designed to be nearly impossible to bite, as it’s raised with sloped sides
- The hourglass design of the cup places the weight at the bottom, which makes it less prone to tipping over
Watch for
- It’s still a hard-spouted cup, which isn’t great for constant use in older toddlers, as it discourages healthy tongue placement; there’s also no handles on this pick
Best for breastfed baby
Our opinion
Spout style: Soft
Material: Plastic, silicone
Has handles?: Yes
Dishwasher safe?: Yes
Color(s): Blue
Whether your little one is progressing from breastfeeding to bottle or sippy cup, the key to easing their changeover lies in using gear that feels natural and similar to them, while creating a sense of comfort and security. The MAM Trainer Cup (check price on Amazon) is ideal for babies who’ve been breastfed, as it features two tops — a natural, wide, textured silicone nipple and an ultra-soft silicone spout. Starting with the nipple creates an experience that mimics breastfeeding, and as your little one becomes accustomed to drinking from the cup, the spout can slowly be introduced. This cup features durable, easy-to-grip handles on either side to facilitate easy gripping, while its wide opening makes it easy to fill and clean thoroughly, even without a dishwasher.
What we love
- It’s perfect for babies who’ve been breastfeeding, because it features both a textured natural nipple that’s ideal for the transition and an ultra-soft silicone spout to graduate to beyond that
- Their unisex garden and animal designs are fun and cute, and the structure of the cup is well designed, with durable and grippable handles as well as a wide base to prevent tipping
Watch for
- If the lid on this cup isn’t perfectly threaded, it’s prone to leaks, so put it on carefully
Best for toddlers
Our opinion
Spout style: Spoutless
Material: Plastic, silicone
Has handles?: No
Dishwasher safe?: Yes
Color(s): Green
As toddlers grow and try new foods, it’s increasingly important they develop a healthy, mature swallow reflex. This means moving away from cups with spouts and changing over to spoutless or straw cups like the Munchkin Miracle 360 (check price on Amazon). This version of the popular cup skips handles in favor of a textured silicone grip designed to nurture their maturing motor control, as learning to hold a cup in their hands is a skill they’ll need to develop. The spoutless edge lets them drink from any part of the cup’s rim, eliminating frustration, while the cup automatically seals when your child is finished drinking.
What we love
- The spoutless design is ideal for the development of a mature swallow reflex
- Though it skips the handles, it instead uses a textured silicone grip that helps kids learn to grasp the cup with their hands
Watch for
- Though they feature a similar spoutless design to other Miracle 360 cups, their higher volume makes them a bit prone to leaks if they’re dropped
Best for gassy baby
Our opinion
Spout style: Soft
Material: Plastic, silicone
Has handles?: Yes
Dishwasher safe?: Yes
Color(s): Green, clear
A gassy tummy will make babies uncomfortable and fussy, and bottles and cups which don’t use air valves to prevent air from being swallowed can add to this problem. The NUK Learner Cup (check price on Amazon) is perfect for babies who are prone to discomfort caused by gas, as it has a small vent to minimize air intake.
The soft silicone spout of this pick is designed to make the shift between a bottle and a sippy cup easier, while a controlled-flow mechanism prevents leakage during travel, allowing your little one to take sips they can handle easily. Ergonomic, graduated handles with an easy-grip coating are attached to the bottom of the cup rather than the top, so they can be removed when they’re no longer needed without affecting the tension of the cup’s lid.
What we love
- It’s an ideal cup for babies who are prone to gas, as it uses a valve to regulate air intake and control the flow of liquid during drinking
- The handles are ergonomic and easy to grip, but they can be removed when your child no longer needs them
Watch for
- Though the soft silicone spout is ideal for transitioning from a bottle, it’s not great for constant use and should be alternated with straw and spoutless cups
Best for travel
Our opinion
Spout style: Hard
Material: Stainless steel, plastic
Has handles?: No
Dishwasher safe?: Yes
Color(s): Stainless steel, green
A little water bottle that’s just like yours will be an easy favorite of little ones, and it’s just what they’re getting with the Kid Kanteen (check price) mini stainless-steel sippy water bottle. The single-wall stainless-steel canteen is both spill and splash-proof and is topped with a screw-in hard plastic spout with an additional travel cap to keep the drink safe and secure during travel.
A loop on the top attaches easily to carabiners and backpack clips for toting along on their adventures. Please note that, while this bottle is made of stainless steel, it doesn’t have any additional insulation features, so won’t maintain temperatures over long periods.
What we love
- The wide opening of this canteen makes it easy to clean, and ice cubes can fit inside without a struggle
- The cap loop offers a convenient new way for their sippy to be carried on the go
Watch for
- Although it’s stainless steel, there’s no extra insulation to make the cup hold temperature for long periods
Best with straw
Our opinion
Spout style: Straw
Material: Stainless steel, plastic
Has handles?: Yes
Dishwasher safe?: Yes
Color(s): Stainless steel, green
Two big benefits of choosing a straw cup relate to your child’s healthy oral development; the use of a straw encourages healthy anterior-posterior tongue positioning, which facilitates a mature swallow reflex, and it directs liquid into the mouth rather than over the front teeth, preventing tooth decay. Your cool little cat will be able to sip safely with the Munchkin Cool Cat (check price on Walmart) stainless steel sippy cup, featuring a double-wall insulated construction that keeps drinks cool for as long as 15 hours.
The straw in this pick is secured to prevent leaks around the seam, while a flip-top lid with a handy, clear circle indicator makes it easy for both parents and tots to know that the lid is closed. Finally, strong but soft easy-grip handles on both sides of the cup make it easy to hold onto while in their car seat or booster.
What we love:
- It uses a straw, which encourages healthy tongue positioning and allows liquid to bypass the front teeth, helping prevent tooth decay
- The flip-top lid has a ‘closed’ indicator that’s hard to miss, so you’ll be able to avoid accidental leaks
Best for transition
Our opinion
Spout style: Soft
Material: Plastic, silicone
Has handles?: Yes
Dishwasher safe?: Yes
Color(s): clear, orange, blue
When you have the right kind of sippy cup, it’s possible to begin introducing a drinking style earlier than six months. Cups designed to facilitate a seamless transition, like the Munchkin Latch (check price on Walmart), use a super-soft, graduated silicone spout that (very slightly) mimics a bottle nipple, creating an experience that’s more similar to traditional bottle feeding and which can aid with ongoing transition.
The four-ounce size of these cups is ideal for younger babies, and removable handles make it easier for them to grip, even as their motor skills continue to develop. Conveniently, these handles attach at the bottom, not the top, so removing them won’t alter the tension and security of the cup’s screw-on lid.
What are the ultimate advantages and disadvantages of each sippy cup type?
Soft spout
Advantages: Unlike hard-spouted cups, it’s less forceful in keeping the tongue in an improper placement, and will have a less negative impact on kids who bite cups
Disadvantages: It’s still not as ideal for oral development as a spoutless or straw cup, and lets liquid pass over the front teeth, possibly leading to tooth decay
Hard spout
Advantages: Easy to clean and carry, and leakproof designs are readily available
Disadvantages: The hard spout leads to improper tongue placement, which can impede the development of a mature swallow reflex; liquids also pass over the front teeth, which can lead to tooth decay
Spoutless
Advantages: The absence of a spout encourages a mature swallow reflex as there’s nothing to bite, so the tongue remains in a healthy position
Disadvantages: These cups can be harder to master than their spouted counterparts, and still let liquid pass over the front teeth
Straw cup
Advantages: These cups encourage a healthy anterior-posterior tongue position and the development of a mature swallow reflex. They also enable liquids to pass directly into the mouth and beyond the teeth, mitigating tooth decay
Disadvantages: They tend to be less leakproof than their counterparts, specifically around the straw, making some picks difficult to travel with
What’s the best way to clean my child’s sippy cups?
Fortunately for parents, just about every reliable sippy cup these days — including all the picks on our list — is dishwasher safe. This means it’s generally safe to wash baby’s sippy cups with the rest of the dishes in the load, as long as you keep the cups on the top rack. You may wish to use a basket for lids and other small parts, keeping them secure during the wash.
Smaller parts like straws will need to be cleaned independently, as a simple run through the dishwasher can’t access bacteria and particles inside the straw. A small bottle brush will remedy this.
Don’t worry if you don’t have a dishwasher. Sippy cups are as easy to wash as regular plastic cups. A mild dish detergent, a thorough rinse with hot water and towel dry will safely prepare the cup for its next use.
And the winner is…
Drinking gear that’s well-rounded in terms of features and functionality is always best for toddlers, which is the case with the Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Cup (check price on Amazon). It’s spoutless, so concerns over unhealthy tongue position are completely mitigated, while the unique design of this pick allows your tot to sip safely from all sides without leakage — the cup simply sealing on its own when they’re finished drinking. That means safely popping it into your purse, pocket, or diaper bag without those frustrating leaks; a huge ‘win’ when traveling with toddlers.
