Best Sippy Cups for Your Baby or Toddler

One of your child’s important milestones is learning to drink from a cup, and many parents find that starting with a sippy cup is helpful. The best sippy cups for babies and toddlers are ones that help make the transition smooth, but with so many options out there, it can be challenging to find the right one for your baby! Over 6,000 Pampers Parents are here to help you out, so read on to learn which sippy cups made the list of their favorites.

Transitioning to a Cup: How a Sippy Cup Can Help

Once your baby is about 6 months old, they’ll start to develop the fine motor skills that will allow them to hold a cup on their own. At this time, you might want to introduce a sippy cup, which may ease the transition from sucking from a bottle to sipping and drinking. Additionally, sippy cups often support tiny fingers with specific designs for easier gripping.

Introducing a sippy cup doesn’t mean your little one will immediately stop breastfeeding or bottle feeding altogether. It’s a gradual process, but some of the tips and tricks below can help:

Stick to mealtimes. Start with giving your child a sippy cup only at mealtimes or when thirsty. This helps prevent your little one overusing it, which can affect oral development and lead to tooth decay.
Start with water or milk. You can give your little one a sippy cup for drinking small sips of water; then, once they are at least 12 months old and are drinking cow’s milk, you can also offer milk in a sippy cup. If you're breastfeeding and using a breast pump, you can offer breast milk in a sippy cup, too.

What Type of Sippy Cup Is Best?

The main difference among sippy cups is the type of spout. The options are a

soft spout
hard spout
straw
flat rim.

You may wish to ask your baby’s healthcare provider or dentist for advice on which type may be best for your little one. A sippy cup with a hard spout or straw might be recommended over a cup with a soft spout, for example.

Things to Consider When Buying a Sippy Cup

In addition to the type of spout, features to look at when choosing the best sippy cup for your little one include the following:

Safety. Check that the sippy cup meets safety standards set by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) and hasn’t been recalled. Keep in mind that the FDA has banned the use of bisphenol-A (BPA) in sippy cups. None of the products on this Pampers Parents list contain BPA.
Spout. Again, sippy cups generally come with a hard spout, soft spout, straw, or flat rim. Initially, a sippy cup with a spout or straw may work best and reduce spills. Some sippy cups come with a nipple option, too, which may help with the transition from a bottle.
Age. Each product on this list has a recommended “use from” child age. It’s usually somewhere between 6 and 12 months.
“No spill” feature. Sippy cups often have a valve that stops the liquid from coming out unless your child sucks. Unfortunately, this encourages sucking and not sipping or drinking, which is the purpose of a sippy cup. According to some experts, it may be better to go for a cup that has a spout but no valve.
Handles. Experts recommend choosing a model that has two handles. But as your child learns to hold the cup, you can go for a model without a handle. Some models allow you to remove the handles so you can use the same sippy cup for longer. Some cups are easier to hold for other reasons. For example, a particular cup might have an hourglass shape that’s thinner in the middle, or a bumpy surface that makes it easier for small hands to grip.
Leak proof. Many sippy cup makers claim that their design is leak proof. Double check this as some spouts are not truly leak proof. Also, some designs may be more prone to leaks if the lid isn’t secured 100 percent correctly.
Mouth design. Are sippy cups good for your baby’s mouth? Some manufacturers claim that their spout or straw is better for proper mouth development. We recommend checking with your baby’s dentist or healthcare provider about which make or model they recommend.
Materials. Sippy cups can be made out of materials like silicone, plastic, glass, and stainless steel. Although all sippy cups sold in the United States meet the latest safety standards, you might prefer one type over another.
Easy to use. Try to find a sippy cup that is bottom heavy, as your child may find it easier to keep upright. This may also reduce the number of spills. Just as with baby bottles, your baby or toddler may prefer one kind over another. It might help to buy a few different kinds of sippy cups and see which one your child prefers. Some of the sippy cups that come with a straw have a weighted or bendy straw to make it easier for your little one to drink.
Size. Sippy cups come in several different capacities. Bigger may not be better—your little one can only take in so much liquid at a time.
Cleanability. Keeping the sippy cup clean is crucial. Most sippy cups can be placed in the dishwasher. Many cups have number of small parts, and washing these by hand can be time-consuming.
Cost per set. You might find it comes in handy to have more than one sippy cup at home. For instance, you might like to have a few on hand so you have some clean ones to use while the dirty ones are in the dishwasher. Plus, you might like to keep some cups at home, and one or two in the diaper bag or car, so you always have one when you need it. Many of the sippy cups on this list come in a set of two or more.

Best Sippy Cups With Soft Spouts

If you’re looking for your baby’s first sippy cup, look no further! You may like to consider these great sippy cups with a soft spout as your little one learns to transition from a bottle. Some even come with a nipple ending, so sippy cups with soft spouts can also work for breastfed babies making the transition.

1. NUK Large Learner Sippy Cup

Why pick this one? This NUK tractor-themed sippy cup could be just what you’re looking for if you’d like a simple sippy cup for your little one. It has a soft, spill-proof spout. According to the manufacturer, the soft spout may make the transition from bottle to sippy cup a little easier. It has two easy-grip handles that your baby can easily grab hold of. As your little one learns how to hold the cup herself, you can simply remove the handles. Its colorful design is appealing, but if you don’t like the tractor design there’s another version of this same sippy cup that has a butterfly design. This sippy cup is dishwasher safe and BPA free.

Highlights: Unlike any other sippy cup on this list, this one has an air vent in the spout to help prevent your little one swallowing air while drinking.

Price*: about $9.89 on Amazon.com

Pampers Parents pros and cons:

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2. Tommee Tippee Deco Easy Grip Sippee Cup

Why pick this one? This Tommee Tippee sippy cup is chunky enough in design to be easier for your little one to hold, while still being lightweight. The cup has an hourglass shape so that your child can grab hold of the thinnest part. There are no handles with this model. The manufacturer claims the soft spout is gentle on gums, especially if your baby is teething. It has a two-piece valve that helps prevent spills between sips. Just keep in mind that cleaning these smaller parts by hand can be tricky. It can be cleaned by hand in hot soapy water, in the dishwasher, or in a bottle sterilizer. This sippy cup is BPA free.

Highlights: This sippy cup comes in a range of colors (for example, combinations of greens, blues, and grays), but your little one might like this magical purple version best.

Price*: about $9.99 on Amazon.com

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3. MAM Trainer Cup

Why pick this one? This sippy cup is designed to help your baby transition from sucking to drinking. It comes with a spill-free nipple as well as an extra-soft spout—keep in mind that the spout is not leak proof.

You can choose which tip you prefer to use. Some parents might go with the silicone nipple to help transition their baby from breast to bottle, and then transition to the soft spout to help their baby learn how to sip.

There is a dust cap to keep the spout nice and clean. There are two nonslip handles to make the cup easier for your little one to hold.

At eight ounces, it holds a little less than the other sippy cups on this list.

The manufacturer says this sippy cup can be used from the time your baby is 4 months old, which is earlier than all the other cups on this list. The reason could be that it has a nipple option, which makes this sippy cup essentially a bottle when used with the nipple end.

The wide opening of the cup makes it easier to fill with liquid and to clean after use. The cup is made entirely of BPA- and BPS-free materials.

Highlights: The cup comes in teal, decorated with cute animal prints, and there are measurements on the side of the cup so you can track how much your baby is drinking.

Price*: about $7.49 on Amazon.com

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4. SUNZIO Stainless Steel Cups

Why pick this one? The only stainless-steel sippy cup on this Pampers Parents list is this one by SUNZIO. Keep in mind that although the cup itself is stainless steel the lid and grip are made from food-grade silicone. Although the total price may seem high, you’ll get a set of four sippy cups for this price, which makes each cup cost about average when compared with the other sippy cups on this list. The lid is spill proof, but know that you’ll need to stretch the silicone lid over the cup for it to be leak-free, and you’ll need to carefully follow the instructions on how to do this. It may take a little getting used to. The lid is shaped like an elephant, and you get a set of four very nice bright colors like blue, green, orange, and pink. The silicone grip is nonslip, making it easier for your little one to hold. This sippy cup is dishwasher safe, but can be easily hand-washed if you prefer. SUNZIO offers free replacements of any torn silicone lids in case they tear over time. Highlights: A mesh pouch is included with your purchase so that you can store one cup separately within the diaper bag, for example.

Price*: about $32.97 on Amazon.com

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Best Sippy Cups With Hard Spouts

Sippy cups with hard spouts can be a good choice for older babies and toddlers. Although soft spouts often work best for a baby’s very first sippy cup, your little one will eventually be ready for something a bit sturdier.

1. The First Years Take and Toss Spill-Proof Sippy Cup

Why pick this one? This sippy cup by The First Years offers good value. For this price, you get a pack of four.

This sippy cup comes with a valve-free hard spout. The cup and tops come in a wide range of summery colors like lime green, bright blue, sunny yellow, and vivid orange. You can mix and match the cups and tops as you wish.

The spout comes with a little “travel cap” to prevent spills when you and your baby or toddler are on the go.

Keep in mind that this sippy cup doesn’t come with a handle.

The cups are dishwasher safe, and free of BPA, PVC, and phthalates.

According to the manufacturer, these sippy cups can be recycled, but check what the rules are in your community first. The price for four sippy cups means you may prefer to treat these sippy cups as disposable, but they are durable enough to last as well.

Highlights: These sippy cups are stackable for easier storage.

Price*: about $8.07 on Amazon.com

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2. Gerber Graduates Fun Grips Sippy Cup

Why pick this one? This two-pack of Gerber sippy cups is just as the name suggests—fun. These sippy cups come in a range of appealing cup and lid colors that you can mix and match. There is a blank spot on each cup where you can add your little one’s name. This feature might come in handy if your little one is at daycare, or if you have more than one toddler and don’t want to mix up which cup is whose. The manufacturer claims the hard spout is bite resistant. The raised swirly design may make this sippy cup easier for your child to hold onto. The manufacturer says that the hourglass shape of the cup reduces the risk of it tipping over. It's dishwasher safe, and BPA free.

Highlights: This product is spill proof, leak proof, and break proof. To ensure the lid is properly sealed there is an arrow on the lid that you can guide to the “seal zone” area on the cup.

Price*: about $5.99 on Amazon.com

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The Best Sippy Cup With a Flat Rim

Giving your little one a sippy cup with a flat rim is a way to introduce your child to using a standard cup. This one is a great because it also prevents spills.

Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Cup

Why pick this one? Overall, this sippy cup was voted as the very best by Pampers Parents. It is the only one on this list without a spout or straw and instead has a spill-proof 360-degree rim. With this design, it mimics a normal cup while still helping to prevent the liquid getting everywhere if your little one drops the cup, or turns it upside down.

The sippy cup comes in two designs, one with a slower flow rate for babies who are over 6 months old, and one with a faster flow rate for children over 12 months.

With this sippy cup, all your child has to do is place their lips to the rim and the fluid will flow; at all other times the top of the cup will seal to prevent leaks.

The handles make the cup easier to hold, but the handles are removable for when your child no longer needs them.

There are only three pieces to this product and no intricate parts, so this sippy cup is relatively easy to clean by hand.

This product comes in a set of two different colors: blue and green, pink and orange, and purple and pink. This sippy cup is BPA free.

Highlights: The top of the cup automatically seals when your little one is not drinking.

Price*: about $13.49 on Amazon.com

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The Best Sippy Cups With Straws

Pampers Parents do like sippy cups with soft spouts, especially for young babies and those making the transition for the first time. Overall, however, sippy cups with straws make up almost half of the list! Here are five of the best sippy cups with a straw instead of a spout. Some are designed to be used from babyhood onwards; some are for use during toddlerhood only.

1. OXO Tot Transitions Straw Cup

Why pick this one? This is a very nice, simple sippy cup. It has a spill-proof straw with a valve that opens as soon as the straw touches your child’s lips so that liquid flows as your child tries to drink but doesn’t leak at other times.

There are three lid colors to choose from: navy blue, pink, and teal. The cup itself is see-through so you can easily tell how much liquid is left.

It comes with two removable handles.

Like most sippy cups, this one is dishwasher safe. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that given the shape of the lid it may be hard to clean all the little gaps and grooves.

OXO also sells soft spout tops, which you can use with this cup, too.

Highlights: The bottle has measurement markings on it so that you can track your little one’s fluid intake.

Price*: about $10.99 on Amazon.com

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2. Philips Avent My Bendy Straw Cup

Why pick this one? You’ll just love the bright color combinations of this Philips Avent sippy cup. Bright purple and teal. Sunny yellow and hot pink. Bold blue and red. You can mix and match the lid and cup for even more colorful combinations as this product comes as a set of two. The straw that comes with this sippy cup is made of soft silicone, and it’s bendy to help your toddler get every last bit of liquid from the bottle. The anti-leak valve helps prevent spills, and the flip-top lid helps keep the straw clean. To make it easier for your toddler to hold, it has an hourglass shape. It also features texturized anti-slip grips so that your little one can get a good hold of it. If you prefer handles, there is a seven-ounce version that comes with two handles. This sippy cup is dishwasher safe, and is BPA free.

Highlights: This sippy cup comes in a pack of two, making this product one of the most affordable on this list.

Price*: about $10.99 on Amazon.com

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3. Green Sprouts Sippy Cup

Why pick this one? With the Green Sprouts sippy cup, the liquid only touches glass and silicone, although there is some plastic in the design. Because there is glass in this product, you should always be around when your little one is using this cup, and you should check it regularly for breaks or cracks.

You have the option of using this sippy cup with the straw or the drip-free spout. There is no valve so fluid flows naturally.

This sippy cup has several other benefits:

A removal travel cap to help keep the straw clean
Two easy-grip handles
A plastic outer cover to protect the inner glass
A shock-absorbent base to help prevent breakage in case it is dropped
Dishwasher safe
BPA and PVC free
Color options like blue, green, and pink.

Highlights: This sippy cup can grow with your little one as you may like to start by using the spout and then switching to a straw as your child grows.

Price*: about $7.34 on Amazon.com

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4. ZoLi INC Straw Sippy Cup

Why pick this one? This sippy cup has a flip-top lid that reveals a straw when your little one is ready for a drink. The manufacturer claims the transition from a bottle to this sippy cup is helped by the crosscut tip of the straw, which helps your little one regulate the flow of liquid. This sippy cup is dishwasher safe. It’s also BPA, phthalate, and PVC free. Although this model holds six ounces of liquid, it’s also available in a nine-ounce version. Color options include bright block colors of red, yellow, gray, and purple, among others. Highlights: The straw is weighted at the end so that it is more likely to stay in the liquid, helping your little one drink no matter what the angle of the cup is.

Price*: about $16.99 on Amazon.com

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5. Skip Hop Straw Cup

Why pick this one? This sippy cup comes in several cute animal prints including a unicorn, llama, cat, and a fish. You can also get a matching backpack, lunch bag, plates, and bib from the manufacturer to complete the set. The flip-top lid helps keep the liquid in and keeps the straw clean. There is a short strap on the cup that your little one can hold onto when not drinking, but this sippy cup doesn’t really have a thinner bit in the middle, so it may be harder for your younger toddler’s hands to hold. It doesn’t come with handles. This sippy cup is dishwasher safe, and it is BPA, phthalate, and PVC free.

Highlights: It comes with an extra straw. It has the biggest capacity of all of the sippy cups on this list.

Price*: about $23.99 on Amazon.com

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The Bottom Line

We hope you’ve found the perfect sippy cup on this list to help your baby or toddler transition to drinking from a cup. Slowly but surely your little one will gain the new skills and confidence needed. There’s so much to learn at this age, and it’s thirsty work, so getting a sippy cup or two is a terrific way to support your little one’s development while keeping him well hydrated.

The Best Sippy Cups for Babies and Toddlers