Sippy cups allow babies to learn how to drink rather than suckle, and dentists and dieticians recommend giving babies water from a cup from around 6 months old. Because all babies are different and moving from the breast or baby bottle can be a challenging transition, they come in all shapes and sizes. Your baby’s age and habits will help you choose the best sippy cup to suit your needs, and most parents buy a selection to see which their baby gets on with.
Here at Mumsnet we're obsessed with making parent's lives easier, and we know just how much of a difference the right product can make when it comes to feeding and changing during the baby and toddler years. That's why we've done the leg work for you, by vetting and collating Mumsnetters' top recommendations for everything from the best breast pump to the best changing bags.
There are many kinds of sippy cups - whether you’re going for soft spouts, hard spouts, straws or free-flowing, open cups - with tons of great features. You might want to consider leak-proof for travel; spill-proof for, well, always; cups with handles for tiny hands to easily hold; eco-friendly options; and those all-important transitional sippy cups designed to change and adapt as your little one grows.
Choosing the best sippy cups (and not spending a fortune working your way through every model on the shop floor) is tricky. That's why we've undertaken rigorous, independent testing of our top eight sippy cups with real parents to make sure we're only recommending the very best items available. We've also taken into account real recommendations from the Mumsnet forums - the largest UK online network of parents - as well as expert advice in the field of feeding.
These are the best sippy cups 2024.
1
Overall best sippy cup
Munchkin Miracle 360 Degree Sippy Cup
Buy now from Amazon Buy now from John Lewis Buy now from Boots
What we like
Mumsnetters say it’s pretty much spill-proof
Dishwasher-safe and easy to clean
What we don't like
Might be difficult for some little ones to use
Key specs
Price on writing: £7 | Capacity: 7 oz | Recommended age: 6 months+ | Material: Recycled plastic
What Mumsnet users say
Our verdict
Tried and tested by Mumsnet: Read our full Munchkin Miracle 360° Sippy Cup review
This spoutless cup from Munchkin is a big hit with parents who deem it pretty much spill-proof - worth an award, in our book. Its 360-degree drinking edge allows your child to sip from any side, helping develop their muscles ready for open cups. It seals up again as soon as they stop drinking: goodbye, spillages! It’s also easy to fill and clean with no fiddly parts and it’s dishwasher-safe on the top rack: another big tick from us.
While this cup isn’t completely free-flow, it does teach children to sip from the edge of a cup rather than chomp on a spout, which means they won’t have any liquid swilling around their teeth. If it seems this might be too tricky for your little one (as some parents, including our tester Laura, reviewed), they could grow into this after something with more of a sucking style (see below).
Related: How to transition from bottle to cup
2
Best budget sippy cup
Tommee Tippee Essentials Free-Flow First Cup
Buy now from Sainsbury's Buy now from Amazon Buy now from Tesco
What we like
Dishwasher-, microwave- and steriliser-safe
BPA-free
Encourages sipping rather than sucking
What we don't like
Not spill-proof, though spout does flip down to prevent too much leakage
The spout can get tiny food bits stuck in it, but a thorough wash will get it all out
Key specs
Price on writing: From £2 | Capacity: 190ml | Recommended age: 4 months+ | Material: Polypropylene, silicone
What Mumsnet users say
sabrinathethirtysomethingwitch · Recommended Another vote for the Tommy Tippee free flow. I've tried a couple of others and he can't get the hang of them. Drinks water out of the TT and gets all excited when he sees the cup. See PostOur verdict
Tried and tested by Mumsnet: Read our full Tommee Tippee Essentials Free Flow First Cup review
The classic cup has been a favourite with parents for years and it can be found in most supermarkets. There are cheaper cups, but we think it’s excellent value for money as a solid, well-made model from a trusted premium brand. With a low-ish price tag, you can buy a few (one for at Grandma’s, one for under the pushchair…) without breaking the bank.
Free-flow cups are a recommended option and this is a great one thanks to easy-to-grab handles and its good size for babies to wield themselves. Though it doesn’t promise to be totally spill-proof, the spout flips down and many parents have been merrily carrying a Tommee Tippee like this in change bags for years. They’re great for on-the-go. This can be used from as young as four months too, so you can get your child started on sippy cups early. Graduations on the side help you keep track of how much your baby has drunk. Lastly, they’re also easy to clean with no fiddly valve.
Read next: The best sterilisers and baby bath tubs according to parents
3
Best sippy cup for breastfed babies
NUK First Choice Learner Sippy Cup
Buy now from Amazon Buy now from NUK
What we like
Soft, silicone, free-flow spout mimics the shape and feel of a breast
Upside-down trainer handles with no-slip grips
Spout with anti-colic air system
What we don't like
Not recommended for dishwasher use
Key specs
Price on writing: £10 | Capacity: 150ml | Recommended age: 6-18 months | Material: Silicone
What Mumsnet users say
Our verdict
Tried and tested by Mumsnet: Read our full NUK First Choice Learner Bottle review
With its soft, silicone, free-flow spout, this cup from NUK is a great choice for breastfed babies as it mimics the shape and feel of a breast while teaching them to sip from a cup. It’s a great place to start for your baby to develop more strength and coordination before moving onto an open cup or similar.
We love the upside-down trainer handles with no-slip grips - really easy for babies to grab hold of. The spout features NUK’s anti-colic air system which prevents babies gulping air as they drink and getting windy. It has a no-spill design too which, though not totally spill-proof, will reduce the amount of water that ends up on the floor. A plastic lid covers the spout to keep it clean while on the move, it’s very easy to hand wash and it can be sterilised (though it’s not for dishwasher use).
Related: Discover the best nipple cream and our tried and tested highchair recommendations
4
Best transitional sippy cup
MAM Trainer Cup
Buy now from Amazon Buy now from Boots Buy now from John Lewis
What we like
Can swap teat for soft, silicone spout to aid transition
Easy-grip handles
Can be used from as early as 4 months
What we don't like
Some users reported that it broke quite easily/quickly
Teat top could mean your baby doesn’t move onto a proper sippy cup quite as quickly
Key specs
Price on writing: £12 | Capacity: 220ml | Recommended age: 4 months+ | Material: Silicone
What Mumsnet users say
Our verdict
Tried and tested by Mumsnet: Read our in-depth MAM Trainer+ review
For total cup newbies, the MAM Trainer Cup offers a clever design to aid transition. Just attach the teat and your baby can start using the MAM as a baby bottle. Once they’re used to handling the cup themselves - encouraged by the easy-grip handles that aid development - swap the teat for the soft silicone spout (which is non-spill and free-flow). It’s a clever system, but bear in mind that the teat top could mean your baby doesn’t move onto a proper sippy cup quite as quickly.
Gradations on the cup itself let you know how much your baby has drunk. The dust cap also displays measurements and it helps to keep the cup clean. We like that the MAM Trainer Cup can be used from four months old, to get them started early. Bonus: the parts are simple to take apart and easy to wash, with a wide lid that makes it easy to get a bottle brush right inside.
Read next: Find the best changing mats and top-ranking nappies according to Mumsnetters
5
Best eco-friendly sippy cup
Klean Kanteen Kid Classic Sippy Cup
Buy now from Amazon Buy now from Klean Kanteen
What we like
Other lid attachments so your child can grow with it
Attractive range of colours and designs
Can be attached to a lightweight buggy or backpack
What we don't like
High price tag but a bottle for life
No handles: harder to hold than some sippy cups
Key specs
Price on writing: £17 | Capacity: 355ml | Recommended age: 6 months+ | Material: Stainless Steel
What Mumsnet users say
IndecentFeminist · Recommended We have lots of Klean Kanteens here. They can be pricey, but have really lasted and certainly do the job. Love the wide openings for ice cubes etc. See PostOur verdict
Tried and tested by Mumsnet: Read our full Klean Kanteen Kid Suppy Cup review
Trying to reduce your plastics? You’ll love Klean Kanteen’s stainless steel water bottles for kids as it’s a bottle for life, which reduces wastage. The Classic Sippy comes with a spill-proof sippy cap and dust cover for little ones, but it’s also compatible with Klean Kanteen's bamboo, sports and loop mouth pieces so it can grow with your child. The bottle itself is virtually bomb-proof - it doesn’t scratch or dent, so it'll survive as time goes by. Just don’t lose it (eek!).
It’s recommended from six months old, though we think a six-month-old might struggle to hang onto it reliably (no handles) but it’s a good and long-lasting starting point. It has a plastic cover to keep the spout clean but bear in mind that it isn’t attached to the bottle itself and customer reviews say it’s just asking to get lost. To add to its credentials, the cup is BPA-free.
Related: The best nursing chairs and nappy bins for every home
6
Best first sippy cup
Bickiepegs Doidy Cup
What we like
Open cup style - great for independence
Recommended by medical professionals
Easy-to-grasp handles
What we don't like
Not leakproof
Takes a while to learn how to use it
Doesn’t come with a lid
Key specs
Price on writing: £4 | Capacity: 200ml | Recommended age: 3 months+ | Material: Plastic
What Mumsnet users say
herecomesfrog · Recommended Get a doidy cup! They're brilliant, good size for little hands and angled so they can see the water coming at them. My toddler had one from 6 months and she much preferred it to a sippy cup. Takes a little while (and a lot of spills) to get used to but definitely worth it. See PostOur verdict
Tried and tested by Mumsnet: Read our full Doidy Cup review
Doidy Cups may not look terribly modern. In fact, this same design has been around since the 1950s but we say: if it ain’t broke, why fix it? The Doidy is a slanted cup that's easier for babies to sip from than an ordinary open cup. It’s loved by healthcare professionals because of the independence it brings, the fact that it’s an open cup (the Holy Grail of cup training!) and the way it helps children to develop hand-eye coordination. The downside? You might end up with a few spills on the floor.
The handles are easy to grasp and, as your baby brings it to her lips, she won’t need to tip it too far to take a sip - the water sort of comes to them. It’s also available in a huge array of colours that babies will enjoy. While it can be used from just three months of age, frankly, we’d be impressed if any three-month-old baby was sipping delicately on this without help. No harm in helping them with it for a while until they’re familiar and can lift it themselves.
Related: The best baby wipes and nipple shields according to mums
7
Best sippy cup with straw
TUM TUM 3 Way Trainer Cup
What we like
3-in-1 - transitions from free-flow straw cup to sippy cup then open cup
Great size for a baby and toddler
Two handles each for gripping
Made of food-grade silicone
What we don't like
Not spill-proof when tipped or dropped
Key specs
Price on writing: £13 | Capacity: 180ml | Recommended age: 6 months+ | Material: Food-grade silicone
What Mumsnet users say
MBJames · Recommended Open or straw cups are best for oral development. We got a 3 in 1 training cup from TumTum Tots. See PostOur verdict
Tried and tested by Mumsnet: Read our full Tum Tum 3 Way Trainer Cup review
Designed with the help of Stacey Zimmels, a speech therapist who specialises in feeding and swallowing, the Tum Tum 3 Way Trainer Cup is unique in that it transitions from a free-flow straw cup to a transition cup without the straw and then to an open cup. This allows your baby to develop their sipping skills while progressing to eventually using an open cup.
It’s suitable for use from six months, which is when you’ll typically start weaning, and will last long into the toddler years.
Available in three colours (grey, blue and pink), this sippy cup looks both stylish and minimalist. It’s also made of silicone so is soft to the touch and feels lovely to hold, although you should be aware that its capacity is relatively small for older toddlers.
Read next: The best wearable breast pumps, potties and travel potties
8
Best sippy cup for toddlers
Camelbak Eddy+ Kids Bottle
Buy now from Amazon Buy now from Camelbak
What we like
Flip, bite and sip use
Leak- and spill-proof
Loads of cool designs to choose from
What we don't like
Pricey but can replace the spout if needed, rather than the whole thing (just don't lose it, kids!)
Key specs
Price on writing: £13 | Capacity: 400ml | Recommended age: 3 years+ | Material: Plastic (50% recycled material)
What Mumsnet users say
Our verdict
Tried and tested by Mumsnet: Read our full Camelbak Eddy+ Kids Bottle review
Boisterous or busy toddler on your hands? Kids aged 3+ won’t argue over the Camelbak Eddy (we can hope…) thanks to the fun, adventurous designs. They’re made for flip, bite and sip use with a straw, a button-press lid and a valve that delivers a steady flow. Important for active toddlers, they’re supposedly leak proof when closed and spill-proof when open, and our Mumsnetter’s review supports that.
Your toddler can carry this fave cup around using its convenient handle. Yep, it’s toddler-adventure ready! The cap and bottle are odour and stain resistant, safe to pop in the dishwasher and free of BPA, BPS and BPF. In fact, they’re made of 50% recycled material. Lots to love!
Related: The best reusable nappies and potty training pants according to Mumsnetters
Types of sippy cup
The main types of sippy cup are:
Spout: liquid flows through the spout. Those with softer spouts are often aimed at breastfed babies as they mimic the feel of breastfeeding. They are closest to a bottle and allow sucking. Hard spouts sometimes follow, encouraging tilting and sipping. These often allow for biting.
Straw: Sippy cups that come with a straw attached or included, rather than a spout, help to get your child used to drinking from a straw and a cup, for when they eventually get there. With a straw, your child won’t have to tip or lift their cup - nice and easy.
Spoutless/flat lid: Lastly, there are cups with a flat lid - no spout at all. Like the Munchkin on this list, they’re sometimes called 360 cups. Kids can drink from any angle so it resembles a normal cup, but it still has a lid (often, this seals shut after use) to prevent spills.
Which type of sippy cup do dentists recommend?
Free-flow or open cups are what’s most recommended by dentists so go for one of those in the first instance - this is because sipping is better for babies' teeth than sucking. Dentists and health experts say no-spill and valved types aren't as good for your baby's teeth, so it makes sense to use open or free-flow cups where possible, and opt for no-spill designs for in bed or in the buggy.
Otherwise, look for cups that are easy to use (as this is all about giving them independence so think handles, easy-grip and easy drinking design); leak-free and spill-free (especially important for outings); easy to clean; robust; and with no harmful chemicals (such as BPA-free).
How to help your baby learn to drink from a cup
It can feel quite overwhelming to introduce a new way of drinking to your baby, especially at a time when you're also contending with the mess weaning brings along. Here's some advice from baby experts the NCT:
Sit with your baby and slowly tilt the cup to their mouth, so they can take a sip of water
Opt for a cup with two handles to start with - these are easier for babies to hold
Use an open, tilted (like a Doidy Cup) or free-flow cup to start off with, so they learn to sip rather than suck
Take your time, be patient and expect spills
For more information on weaning your baby, check out Mumsnet's ultimate guide to introducing solid foods.
What’s the best sippy cup to buy?
It depends on your child’s age, abilities, preferences - and your preferences too. We chose the Munchkin Miracle 360 WildLove Trainer Cup as our overall best sippy cup because of its free-flow, spill-free and has a 360 degree sipping edge. If you’re after a budget option, the long-respected Tommee Tippee Essential Free-Flow First Cup is a good choice. NUK First Choice Learner Sippy Cup is good if your baby is breastfed, while the Bickiepegs Doidy Cup is a long-loved all-round first. Try the TumTum Tippy Up Sippy Cup if you want one with a straw. We hope our list has something for everyone.
How we choose our recommendations
We turned to the experts on the front line: our Mumsnetters! We trawled the Mumsnet forums for honest recommendations from real parents on which sippy cups worked well for them, looking particularly at which lasted well (without leaking) and were popular with babies. We also noted any models that received negative reviews.
We then researched by consulting the NHS and National Childbirth Trust (NCT), as well as dental experts on their recommendations for best baby beakers and sippy cups. We also checked out advice from consumer champions, such as Which?, on what to look out for.
Having created a longlist of 30 recommended beakers, we looked up various industry awards and reviews to see which sippy cups were scooping the most accolades, and checked out customer reviews on retailer sites too. We then weighed up all of that research to bring you this list of 14 best sippy cups, which we hope helps.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.
About the author
Mum-of-three Jenny Wonnacott is a Content Editor for Mumsnet, specialising in writing, editing and optimising pregnancy and baby care content.
Before joining the content team at Mumsnet, Jenny worked as a journalist for newspapers, radio, TV and b2b trades magazines for over a decade. She is also a bestselling sci-fi author (writing as J M Briscoe) and parenting blogger.
As a parent of three primary school-aged children,Jenny is passionate about making Mumsetters' lives easier through rigorous research of all items recommended in buyers' guides such as these, as well as product reviews and expert advice on all things parenting related.
