Transitioning from a bottle or breast to a sippy cup can be a challenge. If you've already tried it, you'll know from first-hand experience how often plastic cups without a lid aren't the best when it comes to baby weaning products and are likely to go flying and soak everything and everyone in the immediate vicinity. That's why many parents choose to give their children a sippy cup to bridge the gap.
Sippy cups are designed to teach your baby or toddler how to use a big kid cup and help that transition from nipple or bottle teat a little bit easier for your baby. Most sippy cups are also leakproof, making them ideal for keeping in your handbag or changing bag without having to worry about it leaking on your things.
The best sippy cups at a glance
Best all-round sippy cup: Munchkin Miracle 360 Degree Trainer Cup – Buy here on Amazon
Best sippy cup for bedtime: Litecup Sippy Cup – Buy here on Amazon
Best transition sippy cup: MAM Trainer Bottle – Buy here on Amazon
Other features of sippy cups include the handles, which are sometimes removable, 360-designed lids which mean they can be sipped from any angle and your child's sippy cup should always be BPA-free to avoid toxins. You may also be able to find the perfect sippy cup as part of your baby's weaning set so everything matches and is familiar to baby.
So whether you're looking for a baby training cup or toddler sippy cups, here are our top picks...
The best sippy cups 2023
Best spoutless sippy cup
Description
It was Shortlisted in the 2016 M&B Awards Innovation of the Year category.
The Munchkin Miracle 360° Cup is available in a range of bright neon colours in different sizes - and you can also buy a version with handles, too. It doesn't feature a spout, but instead, you can drink from 360 degrees around the top, from any angle. The seal closes when your child finishes drinking, with no spills - however, it can spill if it gets knocked over or from a high chair, so beware that it's not completely spill-free.
Tested by mum Tracey Hanson and Evan (2 years old): "Evan is autistic so has struggled with other trainer cups, but we thought we'd give the Munchkin 360 Sippy Cup a try, after it was recommended by a speech therapist. My first impression was that the cup looked grown up, something we wanted for Evan so he could feel like a big boy with no spills. Unlike other products on the market, the cup didn't leak and Evan took to it straight away. We have already recommended the cup to other parents with autistic children – thank you Munchkin!"
Read our full Munchkin Miracle 360° Sippy Cup Review
Pros
- Available in a range of colours
- 360-degree lid
Cons
- Isn't completely leakproof
Best all-round sippy cup
Description
It won Silver in the 2016 M&B Awards Best Weaning Product category.
And here's the version with handles! This Munchkin Miracle baby trainer cup features the same 360-degree technology as the version without handles, designed to reduce spillages and enable your little one to drink from any angle.
Tested by mum Carly Surman for the M&B Awards 2016: "Over the past nine months I have tried many cups and sippy cups to get my son to drink more fluids. However, after trying endless cups we've had great success with this, it's fantastic! Once he grasped how to use it, he was away. He seemed to drink his usual daily intake in one gulp! The design of this cup is amazing."
Read our full Munchkin Miracle 360° Trainer Cup Review
Pros
- Has handles
- Features 360 degree technology
Cons
- Difficult to see how much baby has drank
Best sippy cup for bedtime
Description
The Litecup Sippy Cup + Nightlight was Shortlisted in the 2015 M&B Awards Best Sleep Product.
Not just a sippy cup, but also a nightlight - this dual-purpose Litecup Sippy cup is great if you like to leave some water for your little one to reach in their room during the night, and saves the need for an additional night light plugged into the sockets. The light isn't too bright, but obviously, some children might not like having a night light, so it's not for everyone. It's battery-powered (obviously) and comes in a wide range of bright colours to choose from. It's also BPA-free.
Review: "These cups are amazing. My two children have now grown out of sippy cups but still need night-time drinks in their rooms. These allow them to have the drinks, to find them easily with the lights, and to not have to worry about any spills. They are also brilliant as they are energy-efficient - they are light sensitive and switch off during the day. Will definitely be buying them again."
Read our full Litecup Sippy Cup + Nightlight Review
Pros
- Lights up in the dark
- BPA free
Cons
- Batteries don't last long
Best budget sippy cup
groceries.asda.com
Description
With sturdy handles for little ones to hold on to and a SoftFlex Spout for easy drinking, it's ideal for getting the hang of sipping. It's also designed to be non-spill and is also BPA free meaning it has all the important features for a budget price to help your children learn to use a cup for the first time.
One reviewer said: 'I’ve used these for both of my older babies / toddlers. My youngest started using them from 8 months. Fantastic you can buy replacement teats too. Also exceptional customer service. Highly recommend.'
Pros
- SoftFlex Spout
- BPA free
Cons
- Replacement spouts aren't available
Best transition sippy cup
Description
This won Bronze in the 2018 M&B Awards Best Weaning Product category.
Featuring an eye-catching design, easy grip handles and spill-proof teat, this MAM sippy cup impressed our mum testers. One standout feature is the measurements up the side of the cup, allowing you to keep track of your baby's fluid intake throughout the day. The soft silicone spout helps with the transition from breast or bottle, and the small handles are designed for small hands—a great transitional cup option.
Tested by mum Mhari Kerr for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018: "This bottle allows babies to drink for themselves and is very trustworthy. In my experience, the liquid stays securely inside and there have been no disasters. Also, it is easy for little hands to hold, plus it's easy to clean! The design is very nice, it is more interesting than a regular, plain sippy cup. The bottle has ounces written on the side so you can keep track of how much fluid your baby is taking, which is very handy."
Read our full MAM Trainer Cup Review
Pros
- Dishwasher safe
- Removable handles
Cons
- Smaller options aren't available
Best sippy cup with removable handles
Description
This sippy cup was Shortlisted in the 2018 M&B Awards Best Bottle Feeding Product category.
One of the unique selling points of this cup from OXO Tot is that the handles are removable, making it easy to clean - although our panel of testers did find it quite hard to clean underneath the spout. The spout is made from soft silicone and has a cap to prevent spilling when it's in a bag.
Tested by mum Katharine Forsythe for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018: "This is a great little cup, it's funky, a handy size and hygienic to drink out and about. The cup is easy to assemble and disassemble for washing as well. I have had lots of cups for my three children and I think this is one of my favourite toddler cups!"
Read our full OXO Tot Transitions Soft Spout Cup with Removable Handles Review
Pros
- Non-slip grip
- Patented almond-shaped spout conforms to baby's palate
Cons
- The bulky lid can get in the way of drinking
Best sippy cup with straw
Description
This was shortlisted in both the 2015 and 2016 M&B Awards Best Weaning Product category.
If you want your little one to try using a straw, this Munchkin Click Lock Tip and Sip cup is a good way to introduce the concept. The straw is weighted so that even when the cup is tipped up, the straw will remain in the drink. The tight-fit click-top lid means it's good for travelling, although the flip-top straw cap does come off quite easily. It also comes with a nifty straw-sized cleaning brush.
Tested by mum Amanda White for the M&B Awards 2016: "I LOVED this product, as did my 7 month old son. It truly is non spill, feels very durable. The weighted straw is fabulous and means that little ones will always be able to drink, regardless of how they're holding the cup."
Read our full Munchkin Click Lock Tip & Sip Straw Cup Review
Pros
- 2 pack
- Great for learning how to use a straw
Cons
- Might take your child time to get the hang of it
Best no-spill sippy cup
Description
It was Shortlisted in the 2018 M&B Awards in Best Weaning Product category.
The spillproof seal of the Nuby 360° Maxi Cup is a genius idea. The cup is convenient to clean as you can disassemble it and clean the different parts separately, before easily slotting them back together. A great choice for weaning!
Tested by mum Monica Patarro: "We chose to do baby-led weaning and I wanted to avoid him spilling all his water out from a regular cup, so this leak free 360 cup was perfect. Now there is no more mess when drinking water on his own, so I can give him the cup and not worry about it leaking. Also, it is so easy to dismantle and clean in parts, only takes a couple of minutes!"
Read our full Nuby 360° Insulated Maxi Cup Review
Pros
- Dishwasher safe
- Spill-proof
Cons
- Design can start to come off after a while
Best sippy cup to hold
Description
The clever two-piece, non-spill valve prevents unwanted spills and mess when you are out and about or at home. Plus, the big handles are really easy for little hands to hang on to, even one-handed. As your little one gets more confident with their tipping and sipping drinking skills, it's easy to remove the handles and non-spill valve to encourage them to hold the cup and practise free-flow drinking, which can help their oral development. The soft spout on this cup from Tommee Tippee is smooth and gentle on gums, even when your baby is teething. All the cups are dishwasher safe if placed on the top shelf and can be steam sterilised, making things a little bit easier for you too. A range of colours and designs are available.
Reviewed by mum, Jade: "Perfect. Just what I needed for my 6-month-old to help them learn how to drink from something other than a bottle. Non spill too which is a bonus as the beaker I got him from 4 months + isn't and he likes to hold that over the side of his tray when my back is turned and pour the water on the floor."
Pros
- Easy to clean
- BPA Free
Cons
- Water is difficult for young children to get out
Best open sippy cup
Description
Designed to make the transition to open cups as easy as possible for your youngster, the two-handled design of the Doidy Cup features a unique slant which enables children to learn to drink using the same mouth action as breastfeeding and to see the liquid inside. While a few testers admitted the design led to spilt drinks, they also agreed with practice, their child was able to drink from the Doidy cup successfully.
Review: "I really like the concept. My baby who is 6 month old is happy sipping from the cup with my assistance. She still couldn't hold it just yet but I can tell she much prefers this to a bottle. A lot of other reviewers mentioned babies couldn't use the cup yet. I agree my baby makes a big mess while drinking from the cup and most of the liquid ends up on the floor and her clothes but I believe with a bit of practice she will improve."
Pros
- Two-handles
- Features unique slants
Cons
- Some children spilt their drinks
How to choose the best sippy cup
There are various different things you may want to consider when considering buying a sippy cup, with different benefits to your child. Here's what to look for:
-
Handles - With this one, you'll need to test the water as your toddler may find it easier to use one with handles or may take better to one without.
-
Non-spill – A must if you don't want everything soaking wet within three seconds because, as we all know, toddlers love to throw things.
-
360-degree design – Rather than having a spout or one opening, a sippy cup with this design can be sipped from any angle around the edge. This also makes it easier to move your child onto a beaker or cup.
-
Spout - Your child may prefer drinking from a spout rather than a 360-degree edge.
-
BPA-free – Always choose a cup that doesn't include these nasties.
What's the best sippy cup to start with?
This entirely depends on how fast you want your baby to move on to independent drinking. Many parents prefer to take things slowly, while others will jump straight from a bottle or breast to an open cup.
If you want to steer clear of your baby-sucking, we suggest the Doidy Cup. But if you think your baby will struggle with this, the Munchkin Miracle 360 sippy cup is a Mother&Baby favourite.
When should my child drink from a sippy cup?
So, just how do you know when to use a baby sippy cup instead of a bottle or breast? Usually, if your little one is sitting up by themselves, and has started the weaning journey, then they are old enough to try using a cup. Normally between six to 12 months is a good time to think about introducing one.
It may take a while for your baby or toddler to get used to it, whether they have been feeding on the breast or bottle, but when it comes to how to transition your baby to a sippy cup, practice and perseverance are what's key. You may find it easier to go from a bottle to a cup as your child will have grown used to holding the bottle.
As with anything, the sooner you introduce the item to your baby, the sooner they'll recognise it as part of everyday life – rather than introducing it all of a sudden to a toddler who'll naturally treat it as suspicious and fling it across the room in distrust.
Are sippy cups bad for babies?
The NHS advises against the use of sippy cups, based on their requiring the child to suck, similar to a bottle; it recommends a free-flowing cup instead.
This is because a free-flow cup will encourage the sipping action rather than sucking. This is important for muscle and jaw development. Free-flow cups also allow the liquid to move to the back of the mouth rather than pooling around the front teeth.
Sippy cups are great if you're trying to minimise mess, but consider their use as a short-term solution and intersperse their use with free-flow cups. You could use your sippy cup just for when you're travelling out and about rather than in the home.
How to introduce a sippy cup to your baby
-
Choose a familiar drink: to start introducing a sippy cup to your baby or toddler, use only milk or water. They are familiar liquids and are the best ones for your little one's teeth and health.
-
Go slowly: it's a strange sensation to go from breast or bottle to a sippy cup, so naturally, it will take time and practice before your child is confident. Go slowly and help them get used to the cup, and with time it'll become a natural technique eventually.
-
Build confidence: if your little one wants to grab the cup for themselves, let them try with your assistance. It's a great way to inspire confidence and independence.
-
Variety is key: swap your sippy cup out for a normal cup too, to grow your little one's experiences with both types of cup. This will make the transition to a free-flow cup easier.
How to clean a sippy cup
Choosing a sippy cup without many separate parts will make your job easier overall, but here's how to clean your baby's sippy cup:
1. Rinse the sippy cup as soon as possible after use.
2. Separate every part cup, making sure any straws and detachable mouthpieces are separated from the main cup too.
3. Soak everything in hot soapy water.
4. Scrub every part carefully, paying close attention to any mouthpieces and straws. It may be worth investing in specially-shaped brushes to help ensure you get in all those nooks and crannies.
The NHS recommends sterilising all feeding equipment every time you use it for at least the first 12 months of your baby's life.
How Mother&Baby selected the best sippy cups
Our product recommendations are based on a combination of real-world testing from our burgeoning army of mum testers and the extensive knowledge of our experienced editorial team and product specialists. Where we can, we also consult experts who specialise in that field to ensure you get the right advice along with the right product, and we listen to what you say as well. Our thriving mum community on our Facebook group #mumtribe also often hold great insights as to which products mums really like best and why, helping us highlight the products that meet what you really want.
For the essential products, our annual Mother&Baby Awards shortlist the top products tested, and you can find full reviews from our mum testers provided on the product page. The winners and runners-up for each category will then appear in our top picks article for that product, along with other products that were rated highly by our team.
Lorna White is a Senior Digital Writer and has written for Mother&Baby since 2020. She has a keen interest in a range of topics, from potty training and nutrition to baby names and maternity fashion.