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Straws, spouts, and more types of sippy cups for any skill level. Transparent Spout Pouch
The transition from a bottle to a sippy cup can happen in the blink of an eye. Children can start using sippy cups when they start eating solid foods, which may occur as young as 6 months old. The goal of shifting away from a bottle to a regular cup is to encourage sipping over sucking.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children can use a sippy cup (also called a training cup) with a spouted lid or a cup with a straw. There’s also the option for kids to drink from an open cup without a straw—the best choice for kids by the time they turn 2 years old. Sippy cups are a good go-between for transitioning from the bottle to mastering an open cup; they’re durable and often help reduce spills or leaks. Some come with straws, soft or hard spouts, and handles; others transform into an open cup for versatility—and we’ve tested them all.
To help parents find the best sippy cups—and get down to business about the effects of sippy cups on kids—we spoke with several experts, including a pediatrician, pediatric feeding therapists, and speech-language pathologists. We also tested various types of cups, such as straw sippy cups and open cups, in our lab and the real world with our parenting editors and their children, ages 9 months to 2 years old. We evaluated each cup on its design, leak resistance, durability, ease of use, cleaning, and value. Whether your child is just beginning to use a sippy cup or needs a new option, we dropped, shook, and tossed these cups to find the best—and most durable—ones for your family.
Sippy cups with valves encourage a sucking motion over sipping—the opposite of how a child should learn to drink from a cup. There are several popular sippy cups on the market with valves, but you won't find them on our list because they're not recommended by experts and can do more harm than good.
Most experts agree that open cups, with or without a straw, are the best options for children, which you can incorporate while using a sippy cup. “If a child is drinking exclusively from a sippy cup, they’re using an infant swallowing pattern. If a child continues to use an infant swallowing pattern, it can impact the way they’re able to chew and swallow solid foods,” explains Kate Marble, MA, CCC-SLP, speech-language pathologist at Akron Children’s. “In turn, if [you’re] offering a sippy cup, it is best practice to offer the sippy cup in conjunction with an open cup or straw.”
Stefanie LaManna, MS, CCC-SLP, CNT, Associate Director, Health Care Services in Speech-Language Pathology at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association agrees that you should use sippy cups in moderation. “Issues can arise when a child only drinks from one type of cup and doesn’t have opportunities to learn how to drink from things like a straw or an open cup,” she says. “A sippy cup of any kind, used in moderation with a lot of practice with straws and open cups, is a good goal for families to help their child develop the skills they need.”
Ultimately, you may have a lot of trial and error to determine what your kid will use, what’s easiest to clean, and what won’t leak or spill all over the house and car. That’s why we’ve included options for different types of sippy cups, including some with spouts, handles, and more.
The Nuby No-Spill Soft Spout Grip N’ Sip Trainer Cup performed the best in our lab test and with our kids in the real world. Thanks to its lightweight feel, hourglass shape, and two integrated handles, we found the sippy cup comfortable to hold and carry. The soft silicone spout is a breeze for children to drink from and feels gentle against emerging teeth and sore gums.
We appreciate how this Nuby sippy cup didn’t leak during our testing period in the lab or in the hands of busy toddlers. We dropped, shook, and turned the sippy cup upside down with no signs of leakage. Moreover, there were no wet spots in a diaper bag after we tossed the cup inside for travel purposes.
The Nuby Grip N’ Sip Trainer Cup consists of three pieces that come apart seamlessly. For example, you twist the lid open, and the mouthpiece easily pops out for cleaning. We put the cup in the dishwasher (it’s top-rack safe), and it came out like new.
Despite so much use—and many throws from kids—the cup is still in great shape. The top plastic piece had a few scratches, but the material held up well overall.
For babies transitioning from bottle to cup, the Dr. Brown’s Milestones Narrow Sippy Bottle makes the exciting switch easier. A soft silicone spout replaces the nipple on any Dr. Brown’s Narrow bottle, transforming a baby bottle into a sippy cup with one piece. Our kids didn’t struggle with a learning curve when drinking from or holding the bottle. The sippy bottle comes with a removable sleeve that features two handles (while some of our older toddlers didn’t need it, it’s handy for beginners).
If this sippy cup isn’t on your radar because the brand doesn’t specifically market it as “leak proof”, don’t worry— the sippy bottle didn’t spill a single drop of liquid when we shook, tipped, and flipped it upside down in our lab. And when we dropped it, only a few drops of milk hit the floor. Moreover, there are no signs of wear and tear after use in the lab and with kids.
Another plus for busy parents: all parts of the Dr. Brown’s sippy bottle are safe to clean in the dishwasher, electric or microwave sterilizers, or boiling water. Plus, there aren’t as many pieces to assemble or disassemble as the brand’s baby bottles.
A snap-on cap keeps the spout clean if you need to take the sippy bottle on the go. Unfortunately, we had challenges with the cap staying on correctly, so we opted not to use it.
The 100% silicone material of this Beaba learning cup makes it stand out on our list. It’s durable, simple to clean, and easy to use, making it a favorite among parents and kids. We were also impressed with the design and aesthetic of the cup. “It had a stylish, modern look that was both visually appealing and functional,” said one of our parenting editors. The handles and soft silicone spout didn’t cause any issues for kids who immediately mastered drinking from the cup.
The Beaba Silicone Learning Cup demonstrated excellent leak resistance throughout testing in the lab and the real world. Kids vigorously shook the cup in all directions, and the lid never came off. Only a tiny amount of liquid escaped when we dropped the cup from a high chair onto the floor. Otherwise, the cup maintained a reliable seal, and there were no unexpected spills. Plus, the robust silicone material withstood kids throwing the cup to the ground with all the force of a Major League pitcher.
Cleaning this learning cup is remarkably straightforward and hassle-free. The cup can be placed securely on the top rack when using the dishwasher, ensuring it undergoes a gentle but effective cleaning cycle. If washing by hand, regular dish soap and warm water are sufficient to keep the cup clean and hygienic.
While you can purchase the cup by itself, you can also buy the Beaba feeding set, which makes a great baby shower gift.
The company says the lid is “airtight,” and they’re not wrong. While kids can’t remove the lid themselves (a win in our book), we needed a little strength to do so. On the plus side, we were able to remove it one-handed. Once you take the lid off, you can use the cup as an open sippy cup or as a spot for snacks.
The Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Cup is one of the most popular 360 sippy cups on the market—and for good reason. Instead of a spout or straw, this sippy cup features a 360-degree edge, allowing kids to drink from any side. It can be a learning experience for babies transitioning to a sippy cup, but kids in our test were able to get the hang of it quickly. Two handles provide a spot for tiny hands to grasp the cup solidly, but it’s important to note they are not removable. However, the company makes the 360 sippy cup without handles, too.
We found that this trainer cup doesn’t spill unless you shake or drop it aggressively. Even then, only a few drops escaped—a pleasant surprise for one editor whose kiddo likes to chuck her cups off her high chair. The 360 trainer cup acquired a few scratches on the handles from repeated drops but stayed pristine otherwise.
Overall, cleaning the cup is simple. The lid has several holes underneath the silicone piece, but they’re a breeze to clean because the cup is dishwasher safe. The cup didn’t stain or build up any residue throughout the testing period.
We also tested the Munchkin Miracle 360 Stainless Steel Sippy Cup, which performed nearly the same as the original 360 cup. The only differences? The stainless steel option keeps drinks cold for hours and doesn’t include handles.
Although our editor testing this one with her child didn’t experience much spillage with the cup, testers in our lab did. When we dropped the cup from a countertop, the liquid inside the Munchkin 360 sprayed everywhere. In the cup’s defense, the company doesn’t say the Miracle 360 is leak proof or spill proof.
“Sippy cups are largely easy, mostly affordable, and great for on the go,” says LaManna, a speech-language pathologist. The First Years Take & Toss Sippy Cups are proof of this. You can get a four-pack of these reusable sippy cups for just a few bucks without sacrificing functionality for kids and parents. The cups fit in a cup holder in the car and a diaper bag's side pockets. An optional spout cover helps prevent leaks, but we didn’t use it often (some kids liked tinkering with it, though). Our editors testing these in the real world say their kids had zero difficulties holding and drinking from the cup.
These plastic sippy cups proved their durability during our drop test and regular use at home. We don’t see any cracks, scratches, or other signs of damage or staining from repeated use and cycles in the dishwasher. The sippy cups can easily withstand the rough handling of babies and toddlers.
We had mixed feelings about these sippy cups' leak resistance. In the lab, The First Years Take & Toss Sippy Cups exceeded our expectations, barely leaking after intense shaking, tipping it over, and flipping it upside down. During real-world testing, we found the cup to slowly drip when tipped or flipped upside down. However, if the liquid didn’t reach the spout in these positions, there was no leakage.
Children should drink from an open cup by 2 years old, and the Lalo Little Cup can help them reach that milestone. This silicone training cup transforms from a straw cup to a spout and an open cup. It also features two silicone handles for kids to grasp easily, but they are not removable like the lid and straw pieces. We found the overall minimalistic design pleasing to the eye and soft to the touch.
Although the cup did leak during our drop test, the lid never came off. The silicone material also didn’t suffer from any scratches or cracks. We love how straightforward the cup is to clean, with only three pieces to disassemble. We ran all the pieces in the dishwasher but cleaned the straw with a special brush to prevent residue buildup. Silicone can sometimes stain, depending on what it holds (such as beets or tomato sauce), but we never experienced staining with the Lalo Little Cup, which did have juice in it at times.
Unfortunately, the biggest problem with this training cup is its leak resistance. While it didn’t leak when a toddler repeatedly shook it, we did find that the Lalo Little Cup leaks when tilted upside down or dropped.
The b.box Insulated Drink Bottle is the ultimate “big kid cup” with its stainless steel material and 12-ounce capacity. Stainless steel keeps drinks cold for up to 8 hours and warm for up to 6 hours, so your child can use the cup all day regardless of their drink choice. We appreciate that the straw is angled and provides an easy flow for drinking without a valve. One of our kiddos has been drinking out of this cup for over a year with no issues getting liquid out (it’s also his favorite cup).
This cup has been through the wringer: going to preschool, on family vacations, and living in a car seat’s cup holder. The only wear and tear we see is a small dent in the stainless steel after one kiddo dropped the cup on the concrete. Otherwise, the cup flawlessly survives tipping, tilting, shaking, and other movements.
We’ve washed this cup dozens of times according to the manufacturer’s recommendations (top rack only). The stainless steel material and silicone straw top feel and look the same day as we started using the insulated kids’ bottle. Just note this pick is for children ages 12 months and up.
The push-button lid provides an extra layer of protection for leaks and hygiene purposes. It also has a large carry handle, so kids feel like grown-ups when they carry it. However, we found that the lid can easily fall off if you bump it into something, and it’s difficult to reattach.
Like the Dr. Brown’s Milestones Narrow Sippy Bottle, this Phillips Avent Trainer Cup transforms from a baby bottle to a trainer cup. However, unlike the Dr. Brown’s sippy bottle, this Phillips Avent pick has handles with soft rubber grips for comfy and secure handling. Kids quickly learned to use the handles and the silicone sippy spout. The training sippy cup even comes with a Phillips Avent baby bottle nipple, making this a great (and familiar) option for babies transitioning between a bottle and a sippy cup.
This training cup had minimal leaks and held up well against drops and impacts. It is clear, which makes it easy to see cracks or other damage. After dropping it in the lab, we only saw a small dark scratch on the top of the cup, but this didn’t change how the cup performed.
The cup is easy to assemble and disassemble for cleaning, as there are only three parts, and it’s dishwasher safe. The lid twists off, and the mouthpiece pops out. With no cracks or crevices to clean, we had no issues with residue build-up or lingering odors.
The Philips Avent Natural Trainer Cup is almost fully leakproof. In the lab, we didn’t have any drops or spills during testing. However, in the real world, we found that if you hold it upside down long enough, it will start to drip slowly (especially if a child holds the mouthpiece down).
To find the best leakproof and durable sippy cups, we spoke with several experts, including a pediatrician, pediatric feeding therapists, and speech-language pathologists. Additionally, our parenting editors tested 25 options from popular brands in our lab and in the real world to find out which ones live up to the hype. We evaluated each sippy cup on the following criteria to determine which ones made our list.
In addition to our lab and real-world testing, we spoke with several experts, including a pediatrician, pediatric dietician, pediatric feeding therapists, and speech-language pathologists. We asked these experts if sippy cups negatively impact oral development in children, how long children can use a sippy cup, and what parents should look for in sippy cups. The experts we spoke with are:
While our experts agree that a straw or open cup is best, you have options. These are the most common types of sippy cups:
“The best sippy cup for a family is the one that matches where the child is developmentally and what works best for them as a family, especially in terms of affordability and ease of cleaning,” says LaManna. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends looking for sippy cups that have two handles and a weighted base for avoiding spills—two things we prioritized when we selected sippy cups for our tests. The ADA recommends avoiding any sippy cups with “no-spill” valves, since they encourage sucking rather than sipping.
“When introducing open cups, I love using the medicine cups that come with cough medicines. It is small enough to not make a big spill, and wide enough to hold enough water for learning and also wide enough so it does not cover the nose while drinking. It is also perfect for little hands.” — Shavanne Williams-Robinson
The AAP recommends children drink from an open cup by about age 2. You can start offering a cup to your child as young as 6 months old. “When offering a sippy cup, consider only offering it when the child is seated during a mealtime, in an attempt to prevent injury while walking or playing,” advises Marble. “This also helps to prevent ‘grazing’ on the sippy cup throughout the day.”
As for the best beginner sippy cup, it’s all about your family’s preference. “Many people prefer to wait until their baby has mastered open cups until introducing straw cups, but I find that many babies can learn both at the same time,” Parks says.
Not all our experts agree that children should use sippy cups. For example, Williams-Robinson recommends that families skip them and use a straw or open cup instead. However, other experts don’t see an issue with sippy cups unless they’re overused. Like many things, using sippy cups in moderation, is a good rule of thumb—and can also be a stress-free alternative to going straight from a bottle to an open cup (there's a reason we put such a heavy emphasis on our durability tests for leaking).
“One of the issues that can occur is a skill-based one, meaning that when children only drink from a sippy cup, they aren’t learning the skills needed to drink from other things, like a regular open cup or a straw,” LaManna explains to Parents. LaManna recommends letting children learn new skills through practice. “They won’t learn how to drink from a straw if they only use a soft spout sippy cup, so providing lots of opportunities with different types of drinking utensils is important for a child’s development.”
Katrina Cossey is a commerce writer, enthusiastic shopper, and devoted mom. She’s researched thousands of baby products, toys, gifts, and more and personally tested many of them. In her spare time, you’ll likely find her in the beautiful outdoors of Oklahoma with her husband and 4-year-old son. Katrina’s son used sippy cups while learning how to master drinking from an open cup. Katrina’s favorite straw cup for her son is the b.box Insulated Drink Bottle, which her son still uses.
From bottle to cup: helping your child make a healthy transition. American Academy of Pediatrics. 2023.
Storing Flour Long Term Mylar Sippy cups and dental health | mouthhealthy - oral health information from the ada. American Dental Association.