Are you looking for the best sippy cup for your little one? If you search online you’ll quickly find there are so many options and so many styles to choose from. It can easily become overwhelming.
So, how do you know which is the best sippy cup? As a new parent, it’s hard to pick right first time, without a little help. And that’s what we’re here for. Here we’ll break down exactly which sippy cup you need at every age. By the end you’ll be a sippy cup pro and your little one will be drinking every day without any spills!
4 – 6 Months
Wow, your baby is four months old already and starting on solids! This means you can introduce water with a meal.
But as babies at this age have only been fed with a bottle or breast, a sippy cup can be a bit confusing at first. A transitional cup is great, as they’re made with features that are similar to a bottle but offer small changes like handles and a soft spout that mimic a full training cup.
6 – 12 Months
At six months old you’ve hit solids and sippies territory. This is where finding the right sippy cup starts to become harder for parents. Try and follow these simple steps:
- Choose your starting sipping method (more on this below).
- Choose a cup with handles – it’s easier for little hands to hold independently.
- Keep going even if they don’t get it first time – this is a new challenge for them, but they’ll get there if you keep at it.
Spout, Straw or Spoutless?
Confused about all the sippy cup jargon? Let’s break down the differences for you now and run through your options at this age. You can choose from:
Spout
Spouted trainer cups are usually made from harder plastic and are shaped like a nipple, but narrower. They will also have a “bite-proof” spout as little ones at this age will be teething and love nibbling holes in their new cups. They won’t be able to with this one!
Straw
You know what this one is right? Yep, it’s a trainer cup with a straw! As a straw has a narrower opening and is a completely new way of drinking for a little one, it can be challenging. Try to introduce one when your baby has got used to holding and drinking from a spout. Also a weighted straw cup is a good idea as it will feel natural for them to tilt when drinking – this cups means they’ll get fluid at any angle, even if they tip.
Spoutless
With no spout or straw this 360-degree rimmed cup has a sealed lid that lets liquid out when sucked and never leaks. It can be difficult to master at first, but is a favourite of parents due to being leak proof and the ease of use it promises as baby grows.
12 Months and Over
Woohoo, you’ve celebrated their first birthday. What a milestone! And now you’ve officially got a toddler on your hands and will be dealing with all the challenges that brings.
One of which is transitioning from bottles and breastfeeding to exclusively using a sippy cup for milk. Now is the time to introduce a “big kid” cup. Progressing from using handles, your little one’s fine motor skills can now handle a larger cup with no help. As is the case with the choices at six to 12 months, the type of cup you choose depends on your child.
Toddlers might prefer to move from a spouted cup to a spoutless or straw cup as it’s easy for them to master at this age. All types are still an option though. You’ll also find that cup sizes are larger with more capacity for milk or water.
Your choices at this age include:
Spout
If you’re happy with a spouted sippy cup you can stick with it at this age. This option increases the volume of liquid and gets rid of the handles. It’s actually recommended for nine months up, so you can introduce it sooner if you want.
Straw
At 12 months and over, using a straw is easy. Your toddler may also prefer this cup as they can drink faster – it’s also soft on their gums too.
Spoutless
If you didn’t introduce this type of cup in their first year, you might find you prefer it best now. It’s our best seller as it comes dentist recommended and the 360-degree drinking edge means kids can drink from any side.
It’s also available in multiple sizes and materials and can even be used well into early adolescence. You know they’ll get loads of use out of it!
18 months and up
You don’t need us to tell you that they’re well into the “let me do it myself” phase at this age. Your toddler will likely want to mimic mum and dad as much as possible, but the idea of introducing a real cup still sounds like an accident waiting to happen.
Yes a nearly two-year-old can hold a cup, but it doesn’t mean they’ll use a firm grip all the time. A trainer cup means they can feel like they’re drinking like a big kid, but it also gives you the peace of mind to know that there won’t be lots of spills. With a removable lid it makes this cup a great multi-stage solution for when your toddler is ready to move onto an open cup. And you’re ready to let them!
Hopefully you’re now feeling a little less overwhelmed and are confident in finding the best sippy cup for your baby or toddler. Looking for more parenting tips? Why not check out our StrollerCoaster podcast?