Sippy cups are specifically designed to help young children drink without spilling. They usually have a valve or other mechanism in place to prevent spills and can be extremely useful when children are transitioning from bottles to regular cups. Some sippy cups are even designed to be heat- and cold-resistant, making them great for both hot and cold beverages.
It’s crucial to take your child’s age and preparedness into account when switching them from a bottle to a sippy cup. You should also consider various sippy cup materials, such as glass, plastic, and stainless steel. Some materials could be more brittle or more difficult to clean than others.
We’ve compiled a list of some of the best sippy cups for transitioning from bottle available to help you choose the best option for your child.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall Sippy Cup: Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Cup
- Best Budget Sippy Cup: The First Years Take & Toss Spill-Proof Sippy Cups
- Best Transition Sippy Cup: NUK Learner Cup
- Best Spill-Proof Sippy Cup: MAM Starter Cup
- Best Sippy Cup For 6-Month-Old: Munchkin Latch Transition Cup
- Best Sippy Cup For Toddlers: First Essentials by NUK
- Best Sippy Cup With Straw: Nuby No-Spill Cup with Flex Straw
- Best Stainless Steel Sippy Cup: Pura Kiki Stainless Steel Insulated Sippy Bottle
- Best Open-Top Sippy Cup: Olababy Silicone Training Cup
- Best Sippy Cup For Breastfed Baby: MAM Trainer Cup
- Best Glass Sippy Cup: Green Sprouts Glass Sip & Straw Cup
- Best Insulated Sippy Cup: Thermos Foogo Vacuum Insulated Straw Sippy Cup
- Best Hard Spout Sippy Cup: Nuk First Essentials Hard Spout Sippy Cup
In This Article
HappyBabyHub’s Best Sippy Cups For Transitioning From Bottle Picks
Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Cup – Best Overall Sippy Cup
- Your child can drink from any side of the rim
- Does not spill during gentle child play or if tipped
- Easy to take apart and clean
- Handles make it easy for a learning baby to hold
- Spills if thrown or dropped on the floor
This innovative sippy cup is not just a gimmick – it’s designed to promote children’s oral health while eliminating the mess that comes with traditional sippy cups. With its 360° drinking edge, kids can drink from anywhere around the rim, just like a regular cup, which helps support proper muscular growth in their mouth.
The Miracle 360° Cup is also incredibly easy to use and clean since it has no additional spouts, valves, or small parts that can get lost. Plus, when your child is not drinking, the valve automatically closes, forming a leak-proof seal to prevent any spills.
The First Years Take & Toss Spill-Proof Sippy Cups – Best Budget Sippy Cup
- These sippy cups are cheap and you get 4 or 6
- The lid snaps on tight, so your toddler cannot take the lid off
- The bright colors are very playful
- Comes with a cover to keep the spout clean while traveling
- This set comes with a lot of cups, but only one of the covers
Sippy cups occasionally disappear, whether they are left at the park, misplaced at preschool, or tucked beneath the car seat. These inexpensive cups are dishwasher-safe, BPA-free, and perfect for families on the go. Your child will love the bright colors, and you’ll love the convenient, valve-free, snap-on lids that prevent spills. Plus, there’s even an extra travel cap for drinking on the move.
NUK Learner Cup – Best Transition Sippy Cup
- Easy to clean (dishwasher safe)
- Use with or without the handles
- Does not spill
- Comes with an inside lid
- With the handles, hard to fit in cup holders (but they are removable)
It’s no secret that babies can be picky, but the NUK Active Cup makes the transition a breeze. The spout is made of soft, 100% silicone, which is gentle on their gums, teeth, and palate. Plus, it has an air vent built into it, ensuring your baby drinks only the liquid and not the air.
The NUK Active Cup is super lightweight and ergonomically designed for toddlers to hold easily. It even comes with a convenient carry clip that can hold up to 10 oz. And when it comes time to clean, you have options. It’s dishwasher safe, or you can use a regular bottle brush to clean the cup and spout.
The NUK Active Cup also features adorable designs, like turtles and ladybugs, that your little ones will love. It’s no wonder both moms and babies adore the NUK Active Cup.
MAM Starter Cup – Best Spill-Proof Sippy Cup
- Easy to hold for baby
- Great first sippy
- Easy to take apart and throw in the dishwasher
- They don’t leak
- A bit hard to get the water out
The MAM Starter Cup has an extra-soft, spill-proof spout to make the transition from sucking to sipping easier. The ergonomic design and non-slip grips are ideal for little hands. And this sippy cup is constructed of polypropylene and silicone and undergoes thorough product safety testing by outside laboratories.
It satisfies and surpasses all global and American safety norms. Plus, these sippy cups are created without the use of BPA, BPS, PVC, lead, or phthalates. They also include a dust lid that prevents spills and shields the container from dirt.
Munchkin Latch Transition Cup – Best Sippy Cup For 6-Month-Old
- Soft part for the mouth
- Great handle
- Lightweight
- Moves with baby’s mouth
- The handles in that position make it almost impossible to put the cup in cup holders
The Munchkin Latch Transition Cup is here to aid in the difficult transition from a bottle to a cup. Two easy-to-hold side handles make it easy for your baby to grip onto, while the secure-fitting lid ensures that spills are kept at bay, making it the perfect cup for when you’re out and about with your little one. The Latch transition cup comes equipped with an anti-colic valve that prevents air bubbles from entering breast milk, which can reduce gas and fussiness.
But that’s not all! The Latch transition cup’s unique nipple shape bends as your baby moves their head while drinking, minimizing the amount of air your baby ingests, and leading to less frustration during feeding time. Need to hit the road? The snap-tight top makes it easy to carry around, and as your baby grows, the handles can be easily removed.
First Essentials by NUK – Best Sippy Cup For Toddlers
- Leakproof
- Very easy to clean with just one plastic attachment to clean
- Easy to grip without slipping
- Pretty good flow
- With the plastic attachment inside the cup, a little bit of milk will still be left inside the cup
The First Essentials Sippy Cup can help your infant progress toward independent drinking. Its bite-proof spout is made to help your toddler drink on their own. A special flow control valve on the cup makes it completely leak- and spill-proof. Additionally, this 10-ounce sippy cup’s hourglass design prevents it from tipping.
Nuby No-Spill Cup with Flex Straw – Best Sippy Cup With Straw
- Easy to disassemble
- The shape makes it easy for your child to hold it
- Easy to clean
- Fun colors
- Sometimes built-up pressure will have water push out the top
As your little one grows, it’s important to transition them from a bottle to a straw cup for healthy drinking habits. Nuby’s Flex Straw is the perfect solution – it features a soft silicone straw that won’t harm their developing teeth and palate and is designed to be easy to clean and assemble. Plus, the cup comes in a range of bright and fun colors that kids love! And of course, it’s BPA-free, so you can feel confident about what your child is drinking.
The No-Spill straw cup features Nuby’s Touch Flo valve, which only opens when your child sips, ensuring that only liquid flows through the straw. It is also easy to inspect to ensure it’s clean and clear. The Easy Grip base is perfect for little hands to hold on to, and the liquid flows down the base of the cup, encouraging your child to drink with the cup upright.
Pura Kiki Stainless Steel Insulated Sippy Bottle – Best Stainless Steel Sippy Cup
- The milk stays cold for hours
- The silicone lid is easy to drink
- It doesn’t sweat and the sleeve provides a great grip
- Easy to clean
- It will leak if it doesn’t have the silicone cap on it
Made with a double-wall vacuum insulated stainless steel bottle and medical-grade silicone components, this sippy cup is not only stylish but also incredibly safe for your child. Say goodbye to plastic parts and hello to a fast-flowing silicone sippy spout that will help your little one transition from a bottle nipple.
Ideal for children between 6 months and 4 years old, this sippy cup is compatible with all silicone products from Pura, including Natural Vent Nipples with different flow rates, Silicone Straws, and sealing disks. And with pressed internal volume markers visible inside the bottle, measuring out the perfect amount of liquid has never been easier. Plus, other brands’ nipples and spouts work seamlessly with the bottle too.
Olababy Silicone Training Cup – Best Open-Top Sippy Cup
- Very stable
- Incredibly easy for your baby to hold and scoop food with
- Textured handle
- They wash easily
- It is an average size
Made of 100% high-purity grade silicone and contains no harmful chemicals like phthalates, PVC, lead, or BPA. Soft silicone construction reduces the chance of harming gums and emerging teeth, which fosters independence and success. The non-slip surface makes it easy for little hands to grab and hold onto, and a large weighted foundation increases stability while reducing spills.
The sippy cup is see-through, allowing for easy portion control and measurement with visible markings. Baby’s worry about drinking from a cup containing an unknown liquid is minimized because they can see what’s inside. With the silicone straw lid, you can transform this open cup into a straw cup that is ideal for older children.
MAM Trainer Cup – Best Sippy Cup For Breastfed Baby
- Easy to clean or wash
- Easy to hold
- Can be used as a toy and keep your baby busy
- Trains your baby to drink by themselves
- A little hard to suck the nipple at first but baby will get the hang of it
With one soft silicone nipple and one extra soft spout included, it’s easy for your baby to learn how to sip instead of suck. The textured surface on the spill-free nipple helps make it comfortable for your little one to use.
The cup also comes with a protective dust top that doubles as a measurement cup, which helps you keep track of your baby’s liquid intake while keeping the cup clean and germ-free. The MAM Trainer Cup also features broad holes for easy filling and cleaning, as well as non-slip handles that your baby can hold onto easily.
Green Sprouts Glass Sip & Straw Cup – Best Glass Sippy Cup
- The interior glass part is small, it holds just the right amount for a baby
- It is quite drop-proof
- The straw and straw top are very easy to clean, as is the rest of it
- The handles are easy to grab and hold
- There are a lot of small parts to wash and put together
This cup is made of glass, which is a durable material, and it comes with a soft plastic base that cushions blow and provides protection against shattering in case of an accident. The soft silicone nipple offers a free-flow feature that makes it a fantastic choice for breastfed babies who are transitioning to sippy cups.
What’s more, this sippy cup is designed with both a straw and a sippy spout, which enables your baby to drink in the most natural way possible. The exterior of the cup is made up of polypropylene and synthetic rubber components that are safe and free of BPA.
With detachable handles and dishwasher-safe components, cleaning and maintaining the cup has never been easier. This sippy cup is perfect for babies as young as four months old and is sure to make the transition from bottle to cup a breeze!
Thermos Foogo Vacuum Insulated Straw Sippy Cup – Best Insulated Sippy Cup
- The insulation makes it a great cup for milk
- They seal pretty well when the lid is snapped on
- A toddler can learn fairly easily how to open and close it on their own
- Super easy to clean
- If the child opens the cup, turns it upside down, and shakes it, milk will come out
This amazing bottle is equipped with Vacuum insulation technology that can keep the contents fresh and at the right temperature for up to 10 hours! Both the interior and exterior of the bottle are made of tough stainless steel that can withstand daily use and wear and tear.
Not only that, but the double wall construction also keeps the bottle sweat-proof, even when filled with cold liquids. At 10 ounces, this straw bottle is small, lightweight, and perfect for little hands to take on the go.
The curved shape of the bottle makes it easy to grip, and the scratch-resistant, non-slip base ensures stability while in use. The sanitary push-button lid is simple to use, and the pop-up silicone straw provides a comfortable and easy drinking experience for your little one.
Nuk First Essentials Hard Spout Sippy Cup – Best Hard Spout Sippy Cup
- Inexpensive
- Easy to clean
- Quick to assemble/disassemble
- Cute design
- The inner piece gets a bit funky pretty quickly
This sippy cup features a tough, bite-resistant spout that helps your baby switch from bottles and nipples to cups like a champ. And the fun doesn’t stop there, folks! This also boasts Seal Zone Technology, which means it will never spill, leak, or shatter – even if your little one takes it on a wild ride of their own.
Plus, it’s BPA-free and dishwasher-safe for ultimate convenience. This sippy cup is perfect for babies 12 months and up who are ready to take on the world of independent drinking.
How To Choose Sippy Cups?
- Leakproof: One of the main advantages of sippy cups is their ability to avoid leaks while your child learns to drink from a cup. While some versions are more accurately referred to as leak-resistant, others are actually leak-proof. Most sippy cups for young children are leak-proof, but others are not. If your youngster has a strong suckle, they shouldn’t have any trouble using a leakproof cup.
- Material: A variety of materials, including plastic, silicone, latex, stainless steel, glass, and aluminum, are used to make sippy cups. Choose a better material, like glass, if you’re still uneasy about the BPA scandal and suspect that plastic may be hiding additional dangerous chemicals (1).
- Ease Of Cleaning: Since spouts and straws are ideal areas for muck to accumulate and bacteria to flourish, cleaning convenience is crucial. To prevent the potential of mold, look for cups that can be entirely disassembled and cleaned in the dishwasher.
- Hard Or Soft Spout: If you believe your child may reject the sippy cup, use a soft mouthpiece. You should be able to start with a harder spout if your youngster has previously demonstrated an interest in regular cups. It could be helpful to get both kinds and start your infant off with a soft spout before switching to a firmer one after a few months, once they’ve become accustomed to the sippy cup.
- Age-Appropriate: You can begin switching your infant from a bottle to a sippy cup around the age of 6 months. Starting with a cup that has a spouted, leak-proof top and easy-grip side can help make the move simpler because open and straw cups may have a high learning curve. Straw cups can be introduced between 6 and 9 months. From around 12 and 18 months, When your infant demonstrates they are ready, you can introduce spoutless, open cups.
Types Of Sippy Cups
- Soft Spout: Soft spouts are made to be easy on the gums as a baby is learning to use a spout to drink. Although those terms are also used to describe all the other varieties, they are occasionally referred to as transition cups. A soft spout frequently has air vents built into the design to assist in preventing air from being swallowed, and it enables far more water to flow through than a bottle nipple does.
- Hard Spout: Sippy cups with a hard spout enable your child to go from sucking to tilting and drinking. The time to introduce it is frequently after they have mastered the soft spout.
- Spoutless: Children may drink from these cups anywhere around the rim, like a regular cup, since they have a soft lid that prevents spills and leaks. They’re also known as 360-degree cups, and although they’re a little more challenging to use than cups with spouts, kids may find it simpler to learn how to drink from a regular cup once they’ve used this kind.
- Straw: The straw doesn’t interfere with tongue position as much, and it requires better posture as you have to hold the cup right-side-up for the straw to operate, which is the alternative approach to addressing the problem highlighted about spout-style sippy cups.
When Should I Transition From Bottle To Sippy Cup?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents begin weaning their children off of bottles between the ages of 12 and 24 months (2). This shift will require some getting used to, but it is important to do in order to avoid tooth decay. At age 1, children should only hydrate themselves throughout the day with water in sippy cups.
If you wait too long to wean your child from their bottles, they may become too dependent on them and it will be difficult to get them to stop using them. However, if your child is still using a bottle at 18 months old, you should try to get them to transition to a sippy cup. You can start introducing the sippy cup to your child several months in advance so that they can get used to it. Some infants can start using a sippy cup as early as six months old.
What Sippy Cup Do Dentists Recommend?
When it comes to selecting a sippy cup for your child, the American Dental Association (ADA) provides some helpful guidelines. First, it’s recommended to avoid sippy cups with “no-spill” valves, as they require a sucking motion that can be harmful to oral development. Instead, opt for cups that allow for sipping. Additionally, cups with two handles are preferable, as they promote a proper grip and help with coordination. Finally, look for a cup with a weighted base to prevent spills and reduce the risk of injury (3).
What Kind Of Sippy Cup Should A 1-Year-Old Use For Milk?
The best type for a 1-year-old for milk is one that has a soft silicone spout. This type of sippy cup will help to prevent your child from spilling milk and will also be gentle on their gums.
Can I Skip Bottles And Go Straight To Sippy Cup?
Yes, you can skip bottles and go straight to a sippy cup. There are a few things to keep in mind when making this transition, however. First, you’ll want to make sure that your child is old enough and has the coordination to drink from a sippy cup. Second, you’ll want to gradually transition from bottles to sippy cups over the course of a few weeks. And finally, you’ll want to make sure that the sippy cup you choose is the right size and shape for your child’s mouth.
Are Straw Cups Better Than Sippy Cups?
Some parents find that straw cups are better for their children than sippy cups, as they are easier to drink from and less likely to spill. Others find that sippy cups are better, as they are more difficult to tip over and can be sealed to prevent leaks. Ultimately, it is up to the parent to decide what type of cup is best for their child.
Are There Any Dangers To Using Sippy Cups?
While they can be helpful in teaching children to drink from a cup, there are some potential dangers associated with using sippy cups. One danger is that children can easily become attached to their sippy cups and use them well into childhood. This can cause problems with their teeth and jaws, as well as problems with their speech development. Sippy cups can also cause ear infections, as the liquids can pool in the child’s ear when they are lying down.
If you are using a sippy cup with your child, it is important to monitor their use and make sure they are not using it for prolonged periods of time. You should also clean the sippy cup regularly to prevent the buildup of bacteria.
How Many Sippy Cups Should I Buy?
When you’re on the road with your infant, sippy cups are crucial for keeping them hydrated. We advise keeping at least five to six sippy cups on your diaper bag at all times, just in case one gets misplaced or soiled. With a few spares on hand, you can always be sure your little one stays hydrated and healthy while you’re on the go.
What Should I Do If My Child Refuses Sippy Cups?
If your child refuses to use a sippy cup, there are a few things you can try.
- Make sure that your sippy cup is the right size and shape for your child. If the sippy cup is too big or too small, your child may not be able to use it properly.
- Make the link by offering a bottle nipple without the bottle and then swiftly following with a sippy cup.
- Try different types of sippy cups until you find one that your child likes. Some sippy cups have different spout sizes or shapes, which can make a big difference for a child who is reluctant to use one (4).
- Reluctant children may be convinced if they see a drop of breast milk on the spout.
- If your child is still refusing to use a sippy cup, you can try offering a reward for using it, such as a sticker or a small toy.
