10 of the best sippy cups for babies 2024
DOES YOUR BABY NEED A SIPPY CUP?
Your child will need to learn how to drink from somewhere other than a bottle teat or breast and the NHS recommends a sippy cup when you start weaning at six months old. At this stage, they are just for offering sips of water during meals as breast milk or formula should be the main drink until the child is 12 months old.
What are the main types of sippy cups?
Free-flow sippy cups are recommended by the NHS and dentists as they are better for your baby’s teeth, particularly if they are being used for sweet drinks or milk. This is because free-flow cups have no valve so there is no sucking involved. They are either open cups or have a free-flow spout.
Open cups: These are small versions of a standard cup. The downside is there are likely to be a lot of spillages at first. You could use an open cup at home and have a spill-free one when you’re out and about.
Free-flow spouts: These have spouts which can be hard or soft and there is no valve. The spout can flip down or have a lid to avoid spillages.
Trainer cups with teats: These are most similar to baby feeding bottles and may help with the transition.
Spoutless 360˚ cups: These are spill-proof as they have a covered rim with a valve. Drinking can be done from every part of the rim.
Sippy cups with straws: These have straws which usually flip down to make them spill-proof. The straws are sometimes weighted so that the end of the straw follows the liquid and it can be drunk from any angle. They can sometimes be fiddly to clean.
What features should I look out for?
Leakproof cups won’t allow any liquid to seep out into your bag, the bottom of your buggy or anywhere they’ve been left in any position other than upright.
Spill-proof cups can be knocked over without any liquid escaping.
Cups with spouts can either be hard or soft. A soft spout may be more gentle on the gums if your baby is teething.
Check how easy to clean the sippy cup is. The fewer parts, the easier it will be. If you’d like to put it in the dishwasher, check that it’s suitable.
All widely available plastic sippy cups should now be BPA-free as bisphenol A is now considered to be harmful.
Measurements on the side can be handy to see how much water has been drunk or for measuring out milk.
Some sippy cups are insulated to keep milk warm and water cold.
Handles can make it easier for a baby to grab and hold the drink.
Check the capacity. A weaning baby won’t drink much water but a toddler will have a lot more so get a larger cup if you want it to last longer.
WHICH ARE THE BEST SIPPY CUPS TO BUY?
This list has been narrowed down to the very best with thorough research and the following considered:
Consumer reviews
Best-seller lists
Recommendations from industry experts
Award-winning products
Personal experience and the products loved by other parents.
The list is updated annually. It was last updated on 2 February 2024.
If you buy through a link, we may earn a small affiliate commission. 5% of profits are donated to UK Baby Banks to help parents in need of essentials.
1. BABYCUP FIRST CUPS
Why buy this cup?
This is an open cup that’s been designed to fit in a baby’s small hand and make sipping easier.
Key features
Simple to wash and dishwasher safe.
Bright coloured but also translucent and with measurement markings on the side.
Made in Britain from recyclable polypropylene that is BPA and phthalates-free.
50ml capacity.
What the reviews say
They are very small but the perfect fit for a baby’s hands. They survive being dropped and are easy to clean.
2. DOIDY CUP
Why buy this cup?
This open cup has a unique slanted design that makes it easier for a baby to drink out of and avoid spills. It’s multi-award-winning and has been around since 1950 and remains very popular today.
Key features
Designed and made in the UK from recyclable plastic that is BPA, phthalate and PVC-free.
Dishwasher safe in the top rack.
Available in a wide variety of colours.
Comes with a travel pouch.
200ml capacity.
What the reviews say
A great way to teach a baby to drink from an open cup and the handles help.
3. MUNCHKIN MIRACLE 360˚ TRAINER CUP
Why buy this cup?
This no-spill, spoutless cup is hugely popular. You can drink from anywhere around the rim and the valve closes when the child stops drinking.
Key features
It has handles to make it easier to hold.
Easy to clean and dishwasher safe on the top rack.
Capacity of 7oz/207ml
Made from BPA-free plastic.
Comes in a variety of colours.
What the reviews say
Make sure you take it apart into three pieces to wash it. Fully leakproof. You will probably want to buy lids if you want to put them in a bag.
4. NUK 3-in-1 TRAINING SET
Why buy this cup?
This sippy cup comes with three different lids so that it can grow with your child.
Key features
The first lid is a trainer cup lid that can be used from 6 months and has a soft spout and handles. The second is a 360˚ spout-free drinking rim that is spill-proof. The third is suitable for toddlers and has a retractable straw that is good for when you are out and about.
All of the lids are leak-proof.
Capacity of 230ml.
BPA-free.
Dishwasher safe.
What the reviews say
It’s great to have a cup that can be adapted as your child develops and it doesn’t leak.
5. Tommee Tippee Superstar training Sippee
Why buy this cup?
Tommee Tippee is well-known for its sippy cups and this is their updated version for babies six months plus. There is a two-piece valve which seals the liquid in between sips.
Key features
100% leakproof at all angles and even when shaken.
The spout is made with anti-bacterial technology, which prevents the growth of germs.
Easy grip handles.
300ml
Steriliser and dishwasher safe.
BPA, BPS, PVC, Phthalate and Nitrosamine free.
Comes in pink, blue and green.
There is also a smaller 190ml version for babies four months plus.
What the reviews say
Easy to use and easy to clean. You can’t easily see how much liquid is left, which might be a downside for some.
6. NUK LEARNER CUP in STAINLESS STEEL
Why buy this cup?
If you’re looking to use less plastic, the main body of this cup is stainless steel. This has the added benefit of keeping drinks warm or cool. It has a bottle-like teat to aid the transition to a sippy cup.
Key features
Soft, flexible silicone spout.
Easy-to-grip handles.
Anti-colic air vent.
Leakproof.
125ml capacity.
Can be used from 6 to 18 months.
Available in grey and pink.
What the reviews say
Very durable and doesn’t leak. Many love how it can keep the temperature of liquids consistent.
7. MAM 2-in-1 TRAINER CUP
Why buy this cup?
This is good for transitioning from a baby bottle as it comes with both a spill-free, silicone, size 3 teat and a spill-free extra soft spout.
Key features
Good-sized, non-slip handles.
Suitable from 4 months old.
Capacity of 220ml.
Comes with a protective cap.
There is a measuring scale on the bottle.
BPA-free.
Dishwasher and microwave safe but it cannot self-sterilise in the microwave like other MAM bottles.
Available in pink and blue.
What the reviews say
A great transition bottle and easy to clean. A few have complained that it’s a struggle to get liquid from the spout.
8. TUM TUM TIPPY UP CUP
Why buy this cup?
This sippy cup has a weighted straw, which follows the liquid so it can be drunk from any angle.
The straw has no valve so a minimum of sucking is required.
The flip-top lid is leakproof when closed.
There is a handy measuring scale on the side.
Can be used from six months old.
Capacity of 200ml.
The cup is made from BPA-free polypropylene and the straw is food-grade silicone.
Dishwasher safe although they recommend hand washing.
The base cup (not the straw or lid) can go in the microwave.
Made by a family business in the Peak District.
What the reviews say
Some complain that it leaks sometimes, the weight can become rusty and that it’s a bit hard to clean but the majority of views are very positive with many praising its durability and ease of use.
9. Easytots Dinkycup
Why buy this cup?
This open cup is made from food-grade silicone and has a patented rounded bottom which rebalances the cup at whatever angle it is placed down.
Key features
Can be used from 4 months.
Small 50ml capacity. It is 6cm tall.
There are bumps on the side to make it easy to grip.
There are internal and external volume lines.
What the reviews say
It’s a perfect size for weaning and very easy to clean. The quality is good and the textured sides are really helpful.
10. MAM starter cup with glow handles
Why buy this cup?
This starter cup has glow-in-the-dark handles so it can easily be found at night.
Key features
Can be used from four months old.
It has a very soft, silicone spout.
The non-slip glow handles are charged by natural daylight.
150ml.
Available in pink and blue.
What the reviews say
Easy for a baby to hold and doesn’t leak. The glow-in-the-dark handles are very handy at night. A few have said it’s quite hard to drink out of.
Some baby products are useful for longer than others. If you’re in two minds about whether to buy something, it can be worth considering its lifespan. The longer you use it, the better the cost per use and the more it will justify its place in your home. Here are thirteen baby products that are still in active service with my now five-year-old.