The Sippy Cups We Actually Use

Amanda
2 days ago
5 min read

Updated: 17 hours ago

My youngest wanted a tumbler like her older sister and me. My oldest needed something easy to hold when transitioning from bottles. I've tested seven different cups over the past two years. I wanted sippy cups that didn't leak, and were good for tooth and mouth development.

Some work well. Some have too many pieces. A few leak. Here's what's held up.

What Makes a Sippy Cup Worth Buying

Easy for toddlers to use independently
Simple to clean (fewer pieces is better)
Durable enough for daily use
Dishwasher safe
Doesn't leak everywhere

The Ones That Work

1. Nuby No-Spill Insulated Cool Sipper (Best for Bedtime)

What it is: Soft silicone spout, no-spill design, insulated

We replaced bottles at one year for both girls. My youngest still has milk before bed during stories, and this is what we use.

The soft silicone spout is better for teeth than a hard plastic one. It doesn't spill, even when she tips it upside down.

What works:

Truly no-spill
Soft spout, better for mouth and teeth development
Insulated keeps milk cold

What doesn't:

Milk gets stuck in the spout slots (probably why it doesn't spill)
Top can be harder to clean

Best for: Bedtime milk, transition from bottles

👉 Nuby No-Spill Insulated Cool Sipper

2. Elk and Friends Glass Sippy Cups with Silicone Straws

What it is: Glass cup with silicone sleeve, silicone straw lid

I wanted glass sippy cups. These work.

The lids fit on well. The straws are safe silicone. The silicone sleeve comes off easily for cleaning. Dishwasher safe.

What works:

Glass instead of plastic
Cute designs
Comes with lids that don't have straw holes (for storage or transporting)
Easy to clean

What doesn't:

Not leak-proof
My youngest sometimes pushes the straw in

Best for: At-home use, when you want glass

👉 Elk and Friends Glass Sippy Cups

3. Infantino Baby Silicone Sippy Cup with Straw

What it is: All-silicone tumbler with straw

My youngest wanted a tumbler like her older sister and me. This one is all silicone, including the straw.

The straw easily detaches and can be cleaned on the inside by opening the straw at the slit. Doesn't leak at all. Safe if she throws it at her sister's head.

What works:

All silicone (safe, durable)
Straw is cleanable from the inside
Doesn't leak
Safe to throw (unfortunately tested)

What doesn't:

Sometimes the suction doesn't work if the straw wasn't closed properly

Best for: Toddlers who want to look like big kids with tumblers

👉 Infantino Baby Silicone Sippy Cup with Straw

4. Re-Play Recycled Plastic Sippy Cups

What it is: Classic hard-spout sippy cup, recycled plastic

These are what I imagine when I think "sippy cup." Durable, recycled plastic, easy for the girls to learn to use and hold.

What works:

Durable
Easy for toddlers to hold
Made from recycled plastic

What doesn't:

Little plastic stopper inside can be hard to clean
Learning curve to assembly (sitters and grandma have put it on wrong so nothing would come out)

Best for: First sippy cup, learning to hold a cup

👉 Re-Play Recycled Plastic Sippy Cups

5. Munchkin Splash (Open Cup for Learning to Sip)

What it is: Small weighted open cup

Good when you don't want a straw. Perfect size for learning to sip.

My 3-year-old is great at it. My 1.5-year-old is okay—spills a bit, but that's expected.

What works:

No pieces to clean
Teaches open cup drinking
Weighted base helps stability

What doesn't:

Will spill (that's how they learn)

Best for: At-home meals, learning to drink from open cups

👉 Munchkin Splash open cup

6.Lalo Cup

What it is: Sippy cup with straw, weighted bottom

I wanted to like this one more than I do. It's okay—good size, easy for toddlers to hold, and seals well when everything stays together.

But that's where it ends.

What doesn't work:

Sofia pulls the straw out and dumps it
Lid is nearly impossible to remove (good for kids, terrible for mom)
Have to dig my nails in to get the lid off
If there's liquid in it, removing the lid squeezes liquid out everywhere
Suction is sometimes too strong and sticks to the bottom

What works:

Good size for toddler hands
Easy to grip
Seals well (when the straw stays in)

Best for: Maybe kids who don't pull straws out? Not working for us.

👉 Lalo Cup

Good Transition Options

SAMiGO Silicone Baby Cup (For Baby-Led Weaning)

What it is: Small silicone cup with handles

Both girls learned to drink from cups using these. We started around 11 months.

The size is just right—small enough for their hands, and their face doesn't get buried in the cup when drinking. We got the muted colors, not the animal designs. Easy to clean, no extra pieces.

What works:

Perfect size for learning
Easy for small hands to grip
Simple to clean
Feels like a big girl cup

Best for: First cup for baby-led weaning, early drinking skills

👉 SAMiGO Silicone Baby Cup

Luxgola 20 ox Tumbler

What it is: Silicone straw that fits in regular cups

Not a sippy cup, but useful for transitioning to regular cups.

I have a fear of someone falling with a straw in their mouth. This silicone straw is safer than hard plastic. Fits in regular tumblers.

Best for: Older toddlers ready for regular cups but still using straws

👉 Luxgola 20 ox Tumbler

What Didn't Work as Well

Tommee Tippee Starter Weighted Straw Cup

We used this for both girls when they first transitioned from bottles. Easy for little hands to hold. Straw was simple to use. Comes with a small cleaning brush.

What didn't work: