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Your little one accomplishes a lot in one short year—and that includes graduating from a baby bottle.
The AAP says bottles should be phased out between 12 and 24 months. What's more, they say, once introduced, water should always be served in a cup. Why? Think of the bottle as a security blanket of sorts. A toddler who is still drinking from a bottle, may find comfort in the act, thus skip meals and rely more heavily on the liquid calories if they know the bottle is available.
And while children this age should technically be capable of sipping straight from an open cup — and should practice the act — it's inconvenient if your baby is drinking anywhere that a mess matters. That's where sippy cups come in. Sippy cups are essentially cups that help your baby learn how to drink out of a real cup without the possibility of spilling the contents all over themselves and everything around them.
Today, there are many different kinds of sippy cups:
- Spout: These types of cups have a spout, i.e. a tube projecting from the container, soft or hard. These types of sippy cups are often good for the initial transition, since a spout bears some resemblance to a nipple on a bottle.
- Straw: These types of cups have a straw instead of a spout. And like spouted cups, these sippies encourage sucking rather than sipping.
- 360-degree: These sippy cups, which allow liquid to flow from all angles, don't have a spout or a straw, and instead encourage the child to sip much like they would from a regular cup.
No matter what type of sippy cup you're leaning towards, you'll notice there are many different variations out there. When it comes to straw cups, here's what you'll want to consider:
- Handles: There are options with and without handles. The former is best suited for younger babies, while the latter is preferable for older babies and toddlers.
- Straw type: Though a straw cup obviously has a straw, there are different types of straws. Some are weighted at the bottom; these keep the straw down even if the baby tips the cup, so water will still come out. There are also flip-up straws, where the built-in straw collapses into a lid for travel purposes. And, finally, there are straws that disassemble into multiple components for easier cleaning.
- Material: Though plastic is the most common type of straw cup, there are also stainless steel, glass, and silicone options available.
How we chose the best straw cups for babies
When your baby is ready to graduate from the bottle, It's a big deal. A sippy cup makes the transition a little bit easier, since it helps your little one learn to drink from a regular cup, but doesn't give them so much freedom that they spill whatever they're drinking all over the place. And although there are tons of sippy cups on the marker, many parents find that straw cups help make the transition from bottle to cup easier, since babies are used to the sucking motion required to drink from these cups.
To help you find a great cup for your little one, we consulted thousands of posts in the BabyCenter Community to see what straw cups parents give their kids and recommend to each other. Then, our expert editorial team vetted each product to narrow the list down to the best of the best. Keep reading to find our favorite bargain straw cup, the top easy-to-clean straw cup for babies, and more.
And if you're looking for more baby tableware options, check out the best sippy cups and baby bowls and plates for assistance.
This sippy cup satisfies two of the biggest concerns for parents transitioning from bottles: it's leak-resistant and easy for your little one to drink from. The 6-ounce size for smaller kids has two sturdy handles for kids who haven't quite finessed their motor skills, which you can remove when the time comes; then you can move up to the 9-ounce size if your child needs a bigger drink. Also nice: Like a bottle, this cup has measurements on the side, so you can track your child's fluid intake if you're so inclined.
Heads up
The straw on the silicone is soft and prone to breaking if your child chews on it. Note that only the 6-ounce cup comes with handles.
Parents say
"OXO Tot Transitions Straw Cup has been our go-to since LO was 6 months old. She's 26 months old now. You can buy replacement straw assemblies when they get old/worn out. No leaking problems (unless you need to replace the straw), and my daughter had no problems learning to use it. It's the 'milk cup' of the house. The straw comes apart into two pieces that are very easy to clean with a straw brush, and I feel like I can get every nook and cranny of the cup and straw clean, so it's good for milk."
Specs
- Choose from 6 or 9 ounces
- Tritan plastic, silicone
- Recommended for 4 months and up
- Care: Dishwasher-safe
Amazon brands like Mama Bear, never fail to offer great value. Though budget-friendly, this set of two straw cups is just as functional as some of its name brand competitors — and even has some additional features like a weighted straw for the newest set of drinkers. It's dishwasher-safe, too. As your baby gets older, the cup grows with them, too, since you can easily remove the handles to make the cup more like a traditional one.
Heads up
The attached lid may get in the way a bit.
Parents say
"I tried a few different cups with DD, and she just couldn't get the hang of it. I tried the Mama Bear straw cups, and she got it right away."
Specs
- 9 ounces
- Plastic, silicone
- Recommended for 6 months and up
- Care: Dishwasher-safe
It's undeniably hard to come by a straw cup that's easy to clean — so many have crevices where liquid can get trapped — but this silicone sippy stands out among the rest. There are just three simple pieces: the cup, the straw, and the lid. And everything comes apart swiftly and easily, so you can wash each piece clean. You'll have this straw cup for years to come, since you can use it fully assembled for young babies or as an open cup for older children. If it hits the floor, there's no chance of cracking or breaking, either, thanks to the super sturdy silicone material.
Heads up
It does tend to leak a bit if tipped too far.
Specs
- 5 ounces
- Silicone
- Recommended for 6 months and up
- Care: Dishwasher-safe
When babies are first learning to use a sippy cup — especially straw cups — it can be tough to nail down the angle needed to suck liquid up and out of the cup. This product can help, since the straw is weighted and it has a unique design that allows the cup to dispense liquid from any angle. It's a great choice for active families, too, since the cup has a fully locking flip top lid that won't leak in transit. And if you're skeptical? Munchkin offers a full replacement guarantee, so you can give it a try, no strings attached.
Heads up
Various pieces can be a bit cumbersome to clean. Note that while the 7-ounce version of this cup comes with handles, the 10-ounce version does not.
Parents say
"These are the best ever!!!!!!"
Specs
- Choose from 7 or 10 ounces
- Plastic
- Recommended for 6 months and up
- Care: Dishwasher-safe
The vast majority of sippy cups are made of plastic, but if you're trying to limit your usage, these stainless straw cups are great. They're particularly good for larger families, too, since they stack neatly in the cupboard. They're outrageously durable, which is handy since ollder children can use the same cups, just without the lid and the soft silicone straw. And because they're vacuum-insulated, whatever you put inside — warm or cold liquid — will stay that way for hours at a time.
Heads up
This cup may be a bit heavy for very young children to hold.
Specs
- Choose from 8.5 or 12 ounces
- Stainless steel, plastic, silicone
- Care: Lids and straw are dishwasher-safe; hand-washing cup is recommended
Because of its larger capacity (it comes in both 12- and 14-ounce versions) and handle-free design, this plastic straw cup is most suitable for older toddlers and preschoolers. But it's an excellent option for outings, daycare, and school lunches, since it has a carry handle and the spout locks securely in place and won't pop out even when dropped. Your kids will undoubtedly be drawn to this straw cup, thanks to all kinds of fun designs and colors, too.
Heads up
The straw/top combo, and particularly the mouthpiece, is a bit difficult to clean.
Parents say
"We really like the CamelBak ones. They are super easy to clean in the dishwasher."
Specs
- Choose from 12 or 14 ounces
- Stainless steel, tritan plastic
- Recommended for age 3 and up
- Care: Lids and straw are dishwasher-safe; hand-washing cup is recommended
With its 14-ounce capacity, this is one of the largest straw bottles for babies on the market, which is particularly great as your child's thirst grows. It's worth noting that, because of its size, it's much easier for older children to grasp. This stainless bottle, which comes in a number of fun designs, is also handy for keeping their beverage of choice nice and cold.
Heads up
Though dishwasher-safe, the straw can be difficult to clean. Due to its shape, it tends to retain water.
Parents say
"But my son by far loves these the best! We have never had one leak either."
Specs
- 14 ounces
- Stainless steel, plastic
- Recommended for age 3 and up
- Care: Top rack dishwasher-safe
Like bottles, you shouldn't consider sippy cups a permanent addition to your baby's routine. Instead, they're meant to serve as a transition between bottles and open cups, since they help minimize spills.
And when you first introduce the sippy cup, commit. The AAP suggests using it for all liquids, even milk, from the get-go. Then, once your little one's movements are a little more smooth (usually before age 2), you can switch to an open cup.
The AAP says it's also important to only give your child their cup during meal or snack times or if they're thirsty, since using it more liberally can lead to over-drinking (and more diaper changes), plus make your child less likely to eat an adequate amount of nutrient-rich food during meal times.
Overall, straw cups aren't very easy to clean, but if you're used to cleaning bottles (and all of their parts), it should seem relatively manageable. Not unlike many anti-colic bottles, the majority of straw cups have small parts like valves and narrow straws that require some extra TLC when cleaning — especially if you use them to serve more than water.
Sure, some are technically dishwasher-safe, but you may still find that water gets stuck in some of the nooks and crannies. To get these cups (and their parts) fully clean, you may need to rely on handwashing and special tools like bottle brushes.
Always consult the package instructions to make sure you're cleaning your child's cups properly.
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