Toddler Cups Easy to Clean No Mold

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Simply put, sippy cups are cups with lids that can help young children learn how to drink from a cup, acting as a transition for babies moving from bottles to a cup. Not only do sippy cups minimize spills once a baby no longer uses a bottle, but they also allow your child to further develop their motor skills as they learn to grasp and hold a cup independently. Once your child gets the gist of using a sippy cup, they can eventually transition to using a regular open cup.

When should I introduce a sippy cup?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), parents should start phasing out bottles between 12 and 24 months, but remember that there is a learning curve that comes with the transition. Dr. Keila Rodriguez MD, IBCLC, recommends that parents use a gradual approach, and "bring out the sippy cups around 10 to 11 months to allow your baby to touch, play with, and see a sippy cup so they are not brand new when it is time to begin using one."

Dr. Rodriguez also reminds parents that at age 1, "children should be using a sippy cup anytime they drink, but should only be sipping on water (not milk or juice) throughout the day to prevent tooth decay."

At night, the AAP advises parents to refrain from putting children to bed with a sippy cup, just as they advise against babies drinking bottles in bed.

When should my child stop using a sippy cup?

In agreement with the AAP, Dr. Rodriguez generally recommends that children begin using a cup around 2 years old, when they can manage an open cup on their own, keeping in mind your individual child's development and when they might actually be ready for this additional transition.

Sippy cups' claim to fame is that they generally don't leak, but that's not always the case. Depending on the type of opening, sometimes the liquid can spill out of the side, out of a straw, or leak due to wear and tear over time because of breakdown, or leak out the lid. Not all sippy cups are created equal, so choosing the right one is worth taking your time.

How do I choose a sippy cup?

Here are the basic types of sippy cups available:

• Spoutless cups: These cups are covered with a soft lid that keeps liquid from spilling or leaking out, and allow children to drink from anywhere around the rim, like a regular cup. They're also called 360 degree cups, and while they're a bit harder to learn to use than a cup with a spout, it's can be easier for children to learn how to drink from a standard cup after they've used this type.
• Soft spout: These sippy cups have a spout made from a softer material such as silicone.
• Hard spout: On these cups, the spout is made from hard plastic. This type of spout can resist chewing.
• Straw cups: These cups have a straw, rather than a spout, for your child to drink from. Some experts recommend them over sippy cups; we have a list of our favorite straw cups if you want to delve more deeply into this type.
• Open lid:This style mimics regular cups, but these cups are made from unbreakable, soft materials like silicone.

When choosing a sippy cup, material, shape, and capacity are some things to consider. It is also important to understand that the more parts a sippy cup has, the more there is to clean and keep track of.

How we chose the best sippy cups

The best sippy cup is the one your child will drink from happily, so in that respect, finding the right one can involve a bit of trial and error. That said, since there are many sippy cup styles, finding the best involves seeking standouts in each style. As always, experienced parents are the best people to ask about baby gear, and since BabyCenter has decades' worth of parent chatter archived in its Community, we looked there initially to find potential candidates for the list.

Once we knew what sippy cups parents use at home and recommend to each other, find the best was a matter of researching each to find the cups with the best combination of looks, performance, and price, as well as those that meet standards from the AAP, Dr. Rodriguez, and other experts. As twin moms, we couldn't resist asking our own networks for advice, too; after all, parents of multiples are using sippy cups twice (or more!) as often, so we wanted to learn their favorites. Keep reading to find our favorite cup of every style: spoutless, straw, with handles, and so on.

The Munchkin Miracle 360 lets kids sip successfully from anywhere on the spoutless rim by simply tilting the cup and sucking on the edge. Once your child stops sucking, the valve reseals itself and won't spill if your little one decides to chuck it on the floor. Parents like that it's easy to clean, since there are no spouts, straws, or other extra parts. The design is dental-health friendly and helps kids develop muscles that are used for drinking. And if you're avoiding plastic, there's a (more expensive) stainless-steel version of this cup.

Heads up

The flow rate on this cup is a bit slower than the 10-ounce version, which makes it better for younger children.

Parents say

"The 360 cup works really well for us. My baby loves it so much!"

"I really like these cups. It gives my child experience with a large cup and teaches kids how to drink out of a cup without a straw."

"Great cup – the best sippy we have. It doesn't splash liquids when dropped on a hard floor."

Specs

• Made of BPA-free plastic
• Capacity: 7 ounces
• Dimensions: 8.2 x 3 x 7.4 inches
• Choose from blue, green, pink, or purple
• Top-rack dishwasher safe
• Recommended for babies 6 months and up

This spill-proof sippy cup has a soft, nipple-like spout that's gentle on little mouths and perfect for transitioning smoothly from breast or bottle. A nifty vent prevents your child from getting too much air while sipping, and the easy-grip, removable handles are ergonomically designed to help little hands keep hold of their milk or water. This cup comes complete with a handy cap to keep the spout clean on the go.

Heads up

The spill-proof feature makes for a slower flow, which may frustrate some babies and toddlers.

Parents say

"I bought this cup to transition my baby from the bottle, and it only took a day for her to switch over. It's perfect for tiny hands. Also, it doesn't leak!"

"My daughter loves the Nuk Learner Cup! She accepted it right away."

Specs

• Made from BPA-free plastic
• Capacity: 5 ounces
• Removable handles
• Dishwasher safe
• Available in 13 colors and patterns
• Recommended for babies 6 months and up

Buying options:

$12

The Lalo Little cup is one that will serve your toddler's transition to a sippy cup well. This versatile silicone cup can be used with a straw, with a spout, or left open-topped like a traditional cup, helping your child to develop independence with ease. The handles are easy for little hands to hold and the soft silicone material is great for teething toddlers.

Heads up

The silicone shouldn't stain, but the manufacturer recommends that you rinse immediately when the cup is filled with liquids that might easily stain.

Parents say

"Really really love the Lalo set with the Little Cup."

Specs

• Made of BPA-free silicone
• Capacity: 4 ounces
• Choose from gold, beige, sage green, blue, and grapefruit pink
• Top-rack dishwasher safe and microwave safe
  

For the baby who insists on holding his bottle on his own, the Munchkin Latch can make the transition to a cup a little less frustrating. It's also loved by parents of babies who just won't take a bottle. The spout of this 4-ounce cup is super pliant and allows your baby to latch while drinking. A clever anti-colic valve works to eliminate air bubbles that can lead to crankiness. The handles are removable so the cup can grow with your baby. And the Latch transition cup and the Latch bottle have interchangeable tops, so you can easily transition to the cup's sippy-style spout when your baby is ready.

Heads up

Some parents say babies love the spout too much and end up chewing it.

Parents say

"I second all the moms who say their baby hated bottles but would drink from this! This may be a life-changer!"

"My exclusively breastfed son wouldn't take any bottle. I spent hundreds on every brand of bottles and nothing worked until I purchased these."

"My 7-month-old loves this transition cup! The flexible mouthpiece seems to be the closest thing to a breast."

Specs

• Made of BPA-free plastic and silicone
• Capacity: 4 ounces
• Removable handles
• Top-rack dishwasher safe
• Recommended for babies 4 months and up

This cup is vacuum insulated and keeps liquids cold for up to 12 hours. Since it's not made of plastic, the cup is slightly heavier – but it's contoured to fit easily into your child's small hands. It's got a non-slip base, making it harder for your tike to swipe it off the table, and the hard spout resists the wear and tear of little teeth. As a bonus, the stainless steel inhibits the growth of bacteria, making it easier for parents to keep clean.

Heads up

Though the cup is stainless steel, the lid and spout are made of plastic. Also, though it's from Thermos, you can't use it for hot liquids.

Parents say

"We love that this keeps all of our son's drinks cold and that it's just as spill-proof as any other sippy cup we've tried. After going through the sippy cup drama of trying six different brands, we finally found the best ones for our family."

"This is my first stainless-steel cup, and I'm never going back to plastic! These are so much better. We never had a stinky cup issue even when these got lost in the car for a few days; the smell washes out completely and easily."

Specs

• Made from stainless steel and BPA-free plastic
• Capacity: 10 ounces
• Top-rack dishwasher safe
• Available in blue/yellow and pink/purple
• Recommended for toddlers 12 months and up

Add to baby registry:

Add to Amazon registry

Buying options:

$14 for a 2-pack

$14 for a 2-pack

$7

$15 for a 2-pack

This is the cup for toddlers who live to test limits and turn everything upside down and topsy-turvy. It has a weighted straw with a one-way valve that lets your child drink from any angle – even upside down – while the locked top keeps the liquid from spilling out. A flip top covers the straw, keeping it clean when not in use. The 7-ounce model has handles to help your child keep a good, tight "hands off, it's mine" grip on his beverage of choice.

Heads up

The click-lock lid can be overtwisted, making it hard to get off. The retractable straw cover can break if your child likes to use cups as projectiles. And the straw can leak if the cup becomes pressurized.

Parents say

"This amazing cup really helped my son transition from baby bottles to cups. It's easy to use and it comes with a handy brush to keep the straw nice and clean."

"I have three of these and just purchased two more. They're great for my little one. The weighted straw is genius."

Specs

• Made of BPA-free plastic
• Capacity: 7 or 10 ounces
• Choose from blue, green, orange, or pink
• Top-rack dishwasher safe
• Recommended for babies 6 months and up

For those parents who want the peace of mind that their children are eating and drinking from safe products, green sprouts Sprout Ware plant-based plastic sip and straw cups are made for you. Sprout Ware plant-plastic is a plant-based material that replaces petroleum plastics. The silicone spout and straw promotes healthy oral development and the straw can be removed as your child transitions to cups. To prevent spills, liquid flows out only when pressure is applied to the spout.

Heads up

This cup is safe for the top rack of your dishwasher, but Sprout Ware recommends hand-washing the cup to prolong its life.

Specs

• Made from BPA-, BPF-, and BPS-free plant-based plastic
• Capacity: 6 ounces
• Choose from green, yellow, aqua, pink, navy, or gray
• Top-rack dishwasher safe
• Recommended for babies 6 months and up
  

Simplify and enjoy the journey as your child transitions to a big kid cup seamlessly. We love that this cup is designed with handles that are removable and parts that come apart and fit together easily, making the cup easier to clean. The straw valve opens with a simple touch and the leak-proof cap is hinged so it is easy for your toddler to open or close independently.

Heads up

Parents have found that this cup isn't as spill-proof as other models on the market.

Parents say

"My little guy loves these Oxo Tot Transitions straw cups!"

Specs

• Made from BPA-free Tritan plastic and silicone
• Capacity: 6 ounces
• Choose from teal, pink, or navy
• Top-rack dishwasher safe
• Recommended for babies 4 months and up

Once your toddler has figured out the straw situation and needs a bottle that holds more liquid, we love the CamelBak Eddy+ Kids, a durable and functional bottle that will last through those rough and tumble years. The fun graphics, spill-resistant design and the big bite valve are sure to keep your kids happy and hydrated, and the Eddy doesn't look like a babyish sippy cup, so older kids are likelier to appreciate it.

Heads up

The straw is best cleaned using a small wire brush to prevent mold.

Parents say

"We ditched sippy cups all together and use the Camelbak Eddy Kids water bottles which our daughter loves."

Specs

• Made from BPA-, BPF-, and BPS-free plant-based plastic
• Capacity: .4 liters (about 14 ounces)
• Choose from 30 colors and patterns
• Top-rack dishwasher safe
• Recommended for age 3 and up
  

If a product is helping save the planet, we are sold! Re-Play pulls one milk jug out of the landfill every six seconds, helping to reduce single-use plastics. Available is a huge rainbow of color choices, these sippies are good-looking and easy to clean, with just three parts. These are the only sippy cups that we could find on the market that are safe to boil, refrigerate, freeze, and microwave.

Heads up

You can exchange this hard-spout top with a straw cup lid when your child is ready for that stage. Re-Play warns that this cup can be microwaved only in short 20-second bursts to warm contents; the cup is not suitable for microwave cooking.

Specs

• Made from recycled polypropylene
• Capacity: 10 ounces
• Choose from 39 different multi-color 4-packs
• Dishwasher safe
• Recommended for babies 6 months and up
  

Sippy cups – also called trainer cups and transition cups – are spill-proof to help babies drink on their own without frustration and mess. They're a helpful tool for transitioning your baby from breast or bottle to (eventually) a regular, open cup. They may also help your little one build hand-eye coordination and develop oral motor skills.

You can find sippy cups with soft and hard spouts, straws, or flat lids with child-activated valves. Some cups are plastic, others are silicone, glass, or stainless steel. Training cups come in different sizes, depending on your baby's age and dexterity, and with or without handles.

While most plastic sippy cups are BPA-free, just to be safe, don't let your child drink from a plastic cup or bottle that is scratched or damaged. Any plastic can leach chemicals. If you're worried about plastic, consider using steel or glass cups.

One downside to sippy cups is that they can be hard to clean well. Liquid gets trapped in the nooks and crannies of the cup and its little parts, leading to bacteria and mold. If you can't wash a sippy cup right away after your child's done, try to rinse it out. Then take it apart later and give it a good scrubbing, or run it through the dishwasher (a dishwasher basket will help keep all the pieces together).

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Source: https://www.babycenter.com/baby-products/nursing-and-feeding/best-sippy-cups_40007436

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