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The bottle-to-cup transition isn’t easy. But this doesn’t mean your tot will never get the hang of drinking from a “big kid” cup. While many infants and young toddlers resist a sudden switch from the comfort of a well-loved bottle to a standard cup, you can help to soothe this transition. Enter the sippy cup.
From soft silicone spouts to 360 sippy rims, these cups are made for the transitioning toddler. With easy-to-grip handles or textured sides, spill-proof valves, and leak-resistant designs, these cups will help your kiddo to gently move away from the bottle – without making a major mess.
What’s the best age to start using a sippy cup?
While there is no magical age that makes this transition easier, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) notes that the bottle-to-sippy cup change-over should start at six months. This is the time when your baby is going from liquids only to some solid foods. As the number of bottle or breast feedings decrease, your kiddo can start using their cup more often. The AAP notes that most children should complete the bottle-to-cup transition by 12 to 18 months of age.
Continued reliance on a bottle could make it more likely that your toddler will skip meals, gain too much weight, or develop cavities. These issues make it important to start the sippy cup transition as soon as your child is ready. Your toddler should then move from their sippy cup to an open cup by the time they reach age two.
If you’re not sure which of the many sippy cups is the best choice for your child, don’t stress. Here are some of our favorites to get you started.
Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Cup
Best Sippy Cup with Handles
The BPA-Free, leak-proof, freezer-safe Miracle 360 training cup with handles is easy for little hands to hold.
- Comes with handles
- Dishwasher-safe
- Recommended for babies as young as 6 months
Your transitioning toddler’s fine motor skills are growing by the day. But this doesn’t mean they’re ready to hold on to the same type of glass as mom or dad. The Munchkin Miracle 360 with Handles is a top tip for kiddos who need an extra grip. This trainer cup holds seven ounces of liquid, has a spout-less design, and two easy-to-hold handles on the sides, “Baby loves it. Easy to grab the handles and drink herself. She was using this cup starting around 6 months old,” noted one proud parent!
The BPA-free sippy cup is dishwasher-safe and rated for children six months and older. And don’t worry about spills. provided your kiddo doesn’t ruen their sippy cup into a makeshift football, Munchkin’s innovative design automatically seals after your tot finishes sipping their water, formula, or milk.
Tommee Tippee Insulated Sporty Bottle Sippy Cup
Best On-the-Go Sippy Cup
The Tommee Tippee cup features a bite-resistant spout, an easy-to-hold handle, and a spill-proof design.
- Bite-resistant spout
- Insulated design
- Dishwasher safe
- May need to replace the valve before the rest of the cup wears out
The Tommee Tippee Insulated Sporty Bottle Sippy Cup Is a sporty selection for kiddos 12-months and up. With a sports bottle-like design, this sipper looks more like something your big kid would use. But don’t let the sleek design fool you. This cup is definitely made for the toddler set. The two-piece detachable non-spill valve means less mess and the bite-resistant spout adds to this cup’s overall durability.
Without BPA, BPS, PVC, or Phthalate, this cup is a safer choice for your sipping kiddo. And if your child struggles to grip straight, slim holders, you won’t have to worry about fine motor failures with Tommee Tippee’s cup. The double-wall insulated body has an ergonomic design with easy-to-grab handles. Bonus, the insulation will keep your little one’s drink cool for longer than other cups could. Take this Amazon reviewer’s word for it, “My daughter and I both love these cups!!!! She loves them because they are easy to drink and hold. It holds a decent amount of liquid (enough for one trip!!!). I love them because they can keep her drink either cold or warm. My daughter loves cold water and this keeps her drinks cold for a few hours.” This cup features high-style options along with its superior insulation ability, “I also love the cute colors these cups come in. They are both vibrant and bold.”
NUK Fun Grips
Best Value
Made from the same type of stainless steel that keeps mom and dad’s coffee hot, this Munchkin “miracle” keeps your kiddo’s drinks cool for up to 15 hours.
- Easy to hold
- Bite-resistant spout
- Dishwasher safe
- Can be hard to clean the lid
Are you looking for a cup with value? You don’t have to break the bank just to build your kiddo a sippy cup stash. The NUK Fun Grips four-pack is an inexpensive option that your little one will love.
The textured sides are easy for tiny fingers to grip and the 100 percent leak-proof, spill-proof design will make your life easier. This cup also features a flow-control valve that helps transitioning tots to get the hang of drinking from something other than a baby bottle. Recommended for toddlers 12 months and up, this cup is BPA-free and dishwasher safe!
This parent wrote a glowing Amazon review of NUK and their cups, “We live this brand. We started transitioning at 1 year of age with both my kids. Now 2 and 4 years we have tried many brands but this one always prevails. Easy to clean. Mold resistant, no spill!! All win wins. We love this cup.”
Munchkin Miracle 360 Stainless Steel Sippy Cup
Best Stainless Steel Sippy Cup
$16 $17 Save $1
Made from the same type of stainless steel that keeps mom and dad’s coffee hot, this Munchkin “miracle” keeps your kiddo’s drinks cool for up to 15 hours.
- Insulated stainless steel
- Sleek design
- 360 degree rim
- Requires a combo of hand and machine washing
Your travel coffee mug isn’t the only stainless steel cup that you need to own. The Munchkin Miracle 360 Stainless Steel Sippy Cup is a kids’ cup with the sleek stylish appeal of a more grown-up beverage container.
Not only does the stainless steel design add to this sipper’s aesthetics, it is simulated, vacuum sealed, and can keep drinks cool all day long. The 360-degree spout-less design provides a very different drinking experience from your baby’s bottle and the flat edge almost eliminates messy spills.
Without complicated valves or soft spouts to remove and wash, the 360 degree cup is easy to keep clean. You also won’t need to worry about teeny tiny parts that go missing after the first use!
And yes, this cute cup is the pint-sized companion of the modern hydro flask. “Recommend for literally every parent. We have hydro flasks, thermos etc, toddlers deserve their own version,” notes one parent reviewer.
b. box Sippy Cup with Fliptop Straw
Best Straw Design Sippy Cup
The straw design of this b. box sippy cup lets baby drink from almost every angle. The easy-to-grip handles make holding the cup a breeze and the spill-proof design prevents messes.
- Design allows tots to sip from all angles
- Handles for an easy grip
- Dishwasher safe
- May take babe time to get used to the straw
Are you searching for a straw-type sippy cup for your older infant or toddler? The b. box Sippy Cup with Fliptop Straw is made for children six months-plus and features a weighted straw, spill-proof design. The straw is easy for kiddos to use and lets them drink from almost any angle without making a mess.
Not only does this cup get high marks for ease of use and design, the added handles make it a breeze for baby to pick up and carry. And, the flip-top lid keeps the straw spout safe when your little one doesn’t want to drink!
If you’re still not sold on the idea that a straw -type of cup won’t make a mess, read what one parent reviewer wrote, “My top essential features for a sippy straw bottle for my 14 month old was #1 it needs to be leak proof. Which this sippy has proved to be! Took his sippy along during our playground outing and anywhere he left his cup at, there wasn’t any milk leaking from it, even after we came home and he would leave on the bed, no leakage!”
Dr Brown’s Milestones Cheers 360 Training Cup
Best Transitional Cup Design
The 360 spout-less design makes it easy for a toddler to transition from a sippy cup into a traditional big kid cup. The sip and see silicone valve stops spills, but lets your kiddo get a view of what is inside of their cup.
- 360 spout-free drinking rim
- Comes in a two-pack
- Sip-and-see valve
- Na handles for an easy grip
Dr. Brown’s Milestones Cheers 360 Training Cup is another 360 degree option that can help toddlers to transition from the bottle to the big kid cups with ease. Without a spout your kiddo will learn how to drink from a cup — minus the mess that a grown-up glass could create. Dr. Brown’s design has a silicone valve that stops spills before they happen.
This cup’s sip-and-see valve is clear, giving your child a view of what is in their cup. This makes it easier for them to know when it’s time to ask you for more! The beveled cup is easy for little fingers to hold and just as easy for bigger hands to clean. Without spouts and seals to worry about, you can rinse the cup quickly and won’t need to worry about losing multiple parts in the dishwasher.
One reviewer wrote this glowing recommendation, “My son struggled to use other brands of cups that are similar, but these are much easier for him. The plastic part isn’t as hard, making it easier to drink from, and lighter weight. I like the clear top and that the cup is more translucent, to see what is inside.”
Re Play Silicone Sippy Cup
Best Eco-Friendly Sippy Cup
Made from recycled milk jugs with a medical grade silicone, spout the Re Play sippy cup is good for the environment and your baby. The hourglass-shaped cup is free of BPA, BPS, PVC, Phthalates, and surface coatings.
Re Play Silicone Sippy Cup is an eco-conscious alternative that is made from recycled milk jugs! If plastic waste is on your mind, this is the sippy cup to choose. The cup, for children 12-months and up, has a soft silicone spout that does more than just make it easy for your toddler to drink. The spout’s recycled content is an Earth-friendly option that can make you feel better about your sippy cup selection.
And don’t worry about durability when it comes to recycled materials. These cups are strong and will stand up to the tosses, tests, and messes your toddler creates. Plus, the cups are dishwasher safe and easy to keep clean. Just take it from this reviewer, “My favorite sippy cups. My toddler loves them for milk and they are spill and leak proof. Easy to clean. I hope these never go out of stock!”
Philips AVENT My Easy Sippy Cup
Best Spill-Proof Design
This AVENT sippy cup’s one-piece built-in valve design prevents messy spills. With a rippled exterior texture, your tot’s tiny hands can hold the cup tight.
- Spill-proof design
- Dishwasher safe
- BPA-free
Spills are something every parent wants to avoid at all costs. The last thing you need during your busy day is a stream of milk weaving its way from the dining room table onto the floor. With the Philips AVENT My Easy Sippy Cup, you won’t need to worry about this type of major mess. The one-piece built-in valve prevents spills and the rippled anti-slip design reduces the risk your kiddo will drop their cup.
The cup, recommended for toddlers 12-months and up, also features a soft spout that is easy on your little one’s delicate gums. The plastic sipper is also BPA-free and dishwasher-safe! This cup is the perfect transition tool, as one parent notes, “Bought these for my 10mo. She grips them easily enough, and it’s not so different from a bottle that she is confused. It’s leakproof which was my biggest concern!!!”
What should baby be drinking?
Now that you know more about the best sippy cups for transitioning toddlers, you’re ready to think about what should go into your new purchase. Start with what your baby already knows– breast milk or formula. The Cleveland Clinic recommends adding a few ounces of water to the cup for one meal per day.
Avoid sugar-packed juices or sodas. These beverages may taste good to your toddler, but they can add unnecessary calories into your child’s daily diet or increase the risk of tooth decay.
Along with that, pay attention to when your kiddo drinks from their sippy cup. Think of the soft sipper as the same type of cup you drink from. You don’t carry a tall glass of water around with you 24-7. And, neither should your child. Offer your tot a sippy cup with meals or snacks when they tell you that they’re thirsty.
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