Essential travel mugs for busy parents

travel mugs

by Lorna White |
Updated on

As a busy mum or dad there's always something going on - a baby crying, a toddler wanting to go play outside, mouths to feed, washing to hang.

Moments for a cup of coffee are few and far between and tend to result in a couple of sips before you rediscover it on the kitchen table some time later, stone cold. This is where travel mugs could come in.

If this sounds familiar, we have the solution! With a travel mug you can take your hot drink on the go with you, and it will keep your drinks hotter for longer so you can actually enjoy your coffee or tea break. Travel mugs also come in all sorts of cute designs too to add some joy to your morning.

Best at a glance:

  • Best overall travel mug for parents: Chilly's coffee cup, buy on Amazon

  • Best travel mug for BPA- free plastic: BODUM Double Walled Travel Mug, buy on Amazon

  • Best travel mug for personalisation: SHO Calix coffee cup, buy on Sho Reusable

Whether you're looking for a travel mug to take out and about with your pushchair in your pram cup holder, a non-spill option that will prevent any accidents, something to reduce your takeaway cup footprint, or a mug that will keep your drink hot so you can enjoy it for longer, here are some of the best travel mugs on the market - a true essential for any parent.

The best travel mugs for parents

Best essential travel mug for easy holding

Description

Keeping your beverage hot for three hours, this triple-insulated mug from Corkicle has a stay-put silicone bottom along with a sliding, shatter-proof crystal clear lid. We love the handle for easy holding and to keep it clean, just pop it in the dishwasher.

One review said: " My daughter placed one of the Corkcicle coffee mugs in a gift basket for my birthday. Amazing! I never have to reheat my coffee in the microwave several times each morning. I’ve since ordered 3 more. Now, what to do with all my other mugs!"

Pros

  • Hot for 3+ hours
  • Triple insulated

Cons

  • Dishwasher safe only

Best essential travel mug for travel

Description

You may have seen, or even used, the brilliant Chilly's bottles - which can be used for hot and cold drinks and when it comes to travel mugs, it doesn't get much better than Chilly's. But we love this coffee cup version, great for on the go or even when you're busy at home. As with any Chilly's bottle there are loads of designs available, meaning you can match to your buggy and changing bag! We love this Matte blue for a bit of glitz.

One review said: "I love the colour. Honestly, it keep your drinks hot for hours. I make a cup of tea at 10am and it’s still hot by 2-3pm. Easy to clean. Good quality. Only I would like it a stopper that it dropped/knocked over the liquid couldn’t escape."

Pros

  • Double walled coffee cups maintain the temperature of your drink 
  • The powder coat exterior finish is clean, smooth and vibrant.

Cons

  • Hand wash with mild soap and water

Best essential travel mug for BPA-free plastic

bodum
Price: $34.90

Description

This BODUM travel mug is made of double-walled, BPA-free plastic to keep your drink warm or cool for several hours. It has a closable lid with a stopper for the opening and a slip-proof rubber silicone band with BODUM branding.It is spill-proof but not fully leak-proof so please keep it upright when in use. For easy cleaning, it's also dishwasher safe.

One review said: "As a product that fulfils its title, it ticks all the boxes (or stars). It’s very well made and, importantly, well designed. It has a look of quality and feel of durability around it. However, in use there are things to watch for that are not necessarily the fault of the product, more of its use and could be applied to other reusable mugs. Firstly, its stainless steel. The rubber grip around it provides an secure way of holding it, even with gloves but if you carry this externally (I.e. in a pouch on the side of the bag) the whole lot eventually reduces down in temperature to meet the ambient. What this means in winter when your barista adds the coffee it can be going into a vessel that's as cold as a cup straight from the fridge, so ask them to give it a hot water rinse before adding the coffee."

Pros

  • Travel Mug
  • Made with the materials

Cons

  • This travel mug is not leak-proof due to possible over pressure

Best essential travel mug for durability

Description

The Keep Cup is microwave safe, dishwasher safe and manufactured from recyclable materials. It comes in 3 different sizes (227ml, 240ml, 454ml) and has replaceable components that allow you to change the look of your cup whenever you want.

One review said: "I thought this was expensive, but it was totally worth the money. Not only does the coffee stay hot for over an hour, but because of way it made with layers it does not get hot in your hand. The actual cup stays cold. It just keeps the contents hot. Lovely to hold and an excellent keep cup."

Pros

  • 12 Fluid Ounces
  • Splashproof, press fit lid that allows room for your nose, while mouthpiece ensures optimal liquid and aroma flow. 

Cons

  • Some reviews say it doesn't keep your coffee warm for very long

Best essential travel mug for easy assemble

Description

Leak proof and easy to clean, this travel cup is a great option for when you have your hands full as it opens and closes with one click. The slim shape looks great and means it will fit snugly into the bottle holder on your pushchair or in your changing bag.

One review said: "I have had this travel mug for a couple of weeks now and absolutely love it. I have been using it at home only, so I cannot say how leak proof it would be when transported in a bag. I would say it is quite easy to tell when the lid is pushed in the open position and you need quite a bit of force to push it in, also, the lid is designed to be lightly sunk in, so it doesn’t stick out. It is very easy and comfortable to drink from, though I would really urge anyone using it to try their drink from a fully open position first to make sure it is at the right temperature. The beauty of this product is that it really keeps your drink at the temperature it had when you closed the lid."

Pros

  • Easy to hold
  • Leak proof

Cons

  • You will need to take the lid apart now and again for cleaning as the remnants (coffee, chocolate particles) get stuck in the lid and need cleaning out

Best essential travel mug for sweat proof design

Description

If you're a bit accident prone (and lets face it, plenty of spills happen when babies and toddlers are involved) then this is a great travel mug. Auto seal technology automatically seals between sips to prevent leaks and spills; while the lid-lock prevents the Auto seal button from accidently being pushed while on-the-go!

One review said: "I liked the look of this travel mug and working in a school, I really loved the lock feature. However, compared to previous Contigo travel mugs I have purchased, I found it didn’t keep my drink as hot for as long. Within 3 hours it had started to lose temperature."

Pros

  • Autoseal technology automatically seals between sips to prevent leaks and spills
  • BPA-free plastic

Cons

  • Only 10 left in stock

Best essential travel mug for simple twist

cup
Price: £27.99

Description

Another fab idea for hot drinks around kids, this Topl cup is completely spill-proof. Simply tighten the lid, then loosen it a bit, then press down the middle section, and off you go. You can drink from any angle - think of it as an adult 360 degree sippy cup! There are lots of different colours available, we love coral.

One review said: "This cup is insanely smart, fashionable and feels incredibly well-made! It’s super simple to use and has saved me from a few spills when I’ve forgotten to close the lid and have accidentally knocked it over! The coral is such a perfect colour, and the chrome detailing and black lid adds a touch of class to it. It was a lovely surprise to find a carry-bag made from recycled ocean plastic in the box! Perfect for when I want to chuck the cup into my bag and know there’s extra security! This cup goes above and beyond expectations!! Highly recommend."

Pros

  • Moulded lip for the most natural drinking experience
  • Silicone base pad for grip on slippery surfaces.

Cons

  • One review said the lid may be a little fiddly

Best essential travel mug for 360-degree drinking

rCup reusable travel cup
Price: $43.07

Description

This is the world's first reusable travel cup made from recycled single-use cups, so you're doing the environment a favour too. It also has an innovative design allowing 360-degree drinking. It's BPA free and designed to last at least 10 years. Comes in three stylish colours.

One review said: "My hubby threw his beloved coffee cup down the drive. Bought originally from the lobster hatchery In Cornwall I sourced the exact same one. It was about 6 years ago it was bought and used pretty much daily. Keeps drinks hot and feels nice in the hand. It’s not the cheapest but he loves it."

Pros

  • Made with recycled paper single-use cup
  • Dishwasher safe and last up to 10 years

Cons

  • Not many colours to choose from

Best essential travel mug for ergonomically designed

Description

Another briliant eco-friendly travel cup, made from rice husks. This clever cup is good for hot drinks as well as cold. It's ergonomically designed to make drinking fuss-free and easy, won't burn your hands and is dishwasher safe.

One review said: "I have had rice husk cups before but wanted something with a bit of insulation. Along came the bioGo eco cup which is perfect. Keeps drinks hot for an HR and you can always preheat the cup too. Attractive, dishwasher safe and a good size. Note, it is too tall to fit in my microwave but that's not a show stopper. BioGo provided me with amazing custom service when I had a problem with the non-slip disc coming off. They replaced my cup without any quibbles and were friendly and efficient. Would highly recommend."

Pros

  • They fit in car cup holders
  • Designed with a "nose-dome" to avoid nose-to-lid collision

Cons

  • One review said drinks tend to go warm after 15/20 mins

Best essential travel mug for personalisation

Description

The Calix is SHO's reusable coffee cup. It has been designed to eliminate single-use coffee cups by providing a more satisfying drinking experience - it keeps drinks cool for 12 hours or hot for 6 hours.Fit with the straw lid to transform into the perfect iced-coffee sipper (sold separately). Now available to personalise with a name or message.

One review said: "I use this all the time, even in the summer to keep water cool when I'm at home. I always forget about my coffee and often have to heat it up in the microwave, so this has been ideal. It's great for heading out on chilly walks too, doubling up as a hand warmer! I love the range of colours available and the lid fits snugly so no spills!"

Pros

  • Designed to eliminate single-use coffee cups 
  • Perfect iced-coffee sipper 

Cons

  • One review said, hot drinks only only stay warm for about 3 hours

Lorna White is the Senior Digital Writer for Mother&Baby. After running the Yours magazine website, specialising in content about caring for kids and grandchildren, Lorna brought her expertise to Mother&Baby in 2020. She has a keen interest in a range of topics from potty training and nutrition to baby names and early development and has a wide range of experienced medical experts and professionals at her fingertips. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her two young sisters, dog walking and enjoying the outdoors with her family.

Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us
How we write our articles and reviews
Mother & Baby is dedicated to ensuring our information is always valuable and trustworthy, which is why we only use reputable resources such as the NHS, reviewed medical papers, or the advice of a credible doctor, GP, midwife, psychotherapist, gynaecologist or other medical professionals. Where possible, our articles are medically reviewed or contain expert advice. Our writers are all kept up to date on the latest safety advice for all the products we recommend and follow strict reporting guidelines to ensure our content comes from credible sources. Remember to always consult a medical professional if you have any worries. Our articles are not intended to replace professional advice from your GP or midwife.