How old should my baby be before using a straw sippy cup?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends transitioning out of bottles between 12 months and 24 months of age. Although, because infants can begin drinking water as young as 6 months, they can also start using a sippy cup that young. This helps expose your baby to different drinking vessels at an early age, and can make the transition to an open cup easier in the long run for parents and caregivers. “Learning to use a straw sippy cup can help strengthen cheek, tongue, and lip muscles to help further advance speech and feeding skills,” says Dr. Shafi.

Are straw sippy cups sanitary?

Straw sippy cups often come with multiple pieces, like a valve, straw, or even weighted piece. With so many pieces to wash, straw sippy cups can easily become a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. They are sanitary to use for infants, but only with the proper care and cleaning. To keep your baby’s straw sippy cup sanitary, always rinse immediately after use to prevent mold from setting in. If you can’t rinse, allow the cup and its pieces to soak in soapy, hot water before cleaning them with a straw brush. Once you’ve finished cleaning them by hand, place them in the dishwasher to be sterilized, which can help kill any bacteria left behind.

Are straw sippy cups better for my toddler's teeth?

Sippy cups are useful when transitioning to an open cup thanks to the similar sucking motion babies use with a bottle. However, using sippy cups for an extended period of time can lead to developmental problems, like tooth decay or speech problems. Despite their convenience, straw sippy cups are often used for too long and sometimes with liquids high in sugars, like juice or soda. These sugars can stay on your child’s teeth, leading to plaque and other dental issues, such as cavities.

The 9 Best Straw Sippy Cups of 2023

Introducing a sippy cup to your baby is an important milestone in their development. There’s a wide variety of cups for babies and toddlers out there, including cups with spouts, cups with straws, and cups that are simply open. Look for a cup that’s easy to handle, easy to clean, and, if you’re on the go, doesn’t spill or leak.

“Usually, the earliest children can learn to drink from some sort of cup is around 6 months old," says Heather Shafi, MD, of Pediatrician Care Associates in New Jersey. "This is both when they can learn a new oral-motor skill and when their core tends to be sturdy enough for them to be able to sit upright for short periods of time.” We looked carefully at design, material, age recommendations, and maintenance when reviewing products.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

OXO Tot Transitions Straw Cup at Amazon

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Best Budget:

Munchkin Trainer Cup at Amazon

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Best Transition:

ezpz Mini Cup + Straw Training System at Amazon

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Best Stainless Steel:

Pottery Barn Grow With Me Stainless Steel Sippy Cup at Potterybarnkids.com

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Best Silicone:

Avanchy Le Petite Silicone Mini Cup at Amazon

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Best for Older Toddlers:

b.box Insulated Drink Bottle at Amazon

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Best for Travel:

Skip Hop Toddler Sippy Cup at Amazon

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Best Plastic:

Nuby Active Sipeez No Spill Cup with Flex Straw at Amazon

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Best with Spout:

Nuby Tritan No Spill Trainer Cup at Amazon

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In This Article

Our Picks
How We Selected
What to Look For
FAQ
Why Trust Verywell Family

4.9

Amazon

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Pros

Spill-proof lid
Removable handles
Soft straw shaped to babies' mouths

Cons

Straw can splash liquid
Straw can be difficult to sip for some

The OXO Tot Transitions Straw Cup with Removeable Handles is our top pick because it's well-sized for small hands and doesn't leave behind any messes. The cup is spillproof and features an easy-to-use attached flip top, so it's perfect for on the go. It's a wonderful option for babies new to the sippy cup scene.

Flip open the lid to reveal an almond-shaped straw that conforms to your baby’s mouth. If your kiddo prefers gripping the cup like a bottle, you can remove the handles. The straw also comes apart for easy, thorough cleaning.

Price at time of publication: $12

^{Key Specs:
Capacity: 6 ounces | Material: Plastic | Age recommendation: 6 months and up | Dishwasher safe: Yes}

Amazon

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Pros

Weighted straw works for any angle
Flip-top cover
Easy-to-hold handles

Cons

Straw is hard to clean
Handles can’t be removed

Easy to use and affordable, this sippy cup boasts a weighted straw, which can help your kiddo drink from any angle, including tilted up like the bottles they may be used to. The weight keeps the straw pointing down into the liquid.

Testing Notes: "The weighted straw in these sippy cups is what makes them so genius. Transitioning our son from his bottle to the sippy cup was difficult, but the fact that he could hold this sippy cup at any angle and successfully drink helped tremendously. Cleaning this cup can be a bit of a chore, but the included straw cleaning brush makes the process a bit easier."

A flip-top lid makes it easy to take this option on the go, and the handles are good for small hands learning to grasp their cup. While young kids will likely have no problems with the cup, some adults find the weighted straw hard to clean.

Price at time of publication: $7

^{Key Specs:
Capacity: 7 ounces | Material: Plastic | Age recommendation: 6 months and up | Dishwasher safe: Yes}

Nordstrom

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Pros

Easy to fill and clean
Durable material
Transitions to regular cup

Cons

Can’t see liquid levels while closed
Doesn’t seal shut for travel

Toddlers can use the surprisingly stylish Mini Cup as a covered cup with a straw and later as a standard cup without one. The weighted base makes it harder to tip over, and the food-grade silicone is both soft on tender gums and safe for dishwashers and microwaves. While it doesn't have handles, the small size, curved shape, and silicone material make it easy for young kids to grasp. This cup doesn’t seal, so it’s not the best for an on-the-go life.

Price at time of publication: $17

^{Key Specs:
Capacity: 4 ounces | Material: Food grade silicone | Age recommendation: 9 months and up | Dishwasher safe: Yes}

Pottery Barn

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Pros

Pretty, matching set
Keeps liquids cold

Cons

Can't see when liquid is low

Though it's on the pricier side for a sippy cup, this stainless steel straw sippy cup is useful if your kiddo is a fan of freezing cold water. The stainless steel will keep the water cold, but since it’s not see-through, you won’t be able to tell how much your cutie is drinking without opening it. We love that you can buy this attractive dishwasher-safe cup with matching snack containers, plates, cutlery, and more.

Price at time of publication: $39

^{Key Specs:
Capacity: 8.75 ounces | Material: Polypropylene, stainless steel, and silicone | Age recommendation: N/A | Dishwasher safe: Top rack}

Amazon

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Pros

Durable material
Colorful modern style
Transitions to cup

Cons

Can’t see liquid levels inside
Doesn’t seal shut for travel

An amazing option for little hands, these adorable mini cups have a stand-out style. The silicone cups come with a lid and straw that controls airflow (so sucking is easier for new straw users). The straw also has a stopper, so your tiny scientist can’t pull it out of the cup. The cups are dishwasher safe and will survive any fall. When your baby is ready, simply take the top off, and you’ve got a perfectly sized open cup for their little hands. These don’t seal shut, so they may not work well for travel.

Price at time of publication: $14

^{Key Specs:
Capacity: 6 ounces | Material: Silicone | Age recommendation: 4 months and up | Dishwasher safe: Yes}

Courtesy of Amazon

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Pros

Keeps drink cool up to 8 hours/warm up to 6 hours
Opens with one button
Built-in carry handle

Cons

Shows fingerprints easily

For older toddlers who have the hang of drinking out of a straw sippy cup they're going to need an upgrade. The b.box insulated drink bottle works like magic, thanks to its double-walled stainless steel design that keeps drinks cool for up to eight hours and warm for up to six hours. We can confirm the push button opening is a breeze for small hands to maneuver after one of our writers received a sample of the BPA-free bottle herself. Plus, parents and caregivers will greatly appreciate the leak- and spill-proof design when the lid is closed and a built-in carry handle for easier portability.

Price at time of publication: $21

^{Key Specs:
Capacity: 12 ounces | Material: Stainless steel and silicone | Age recommendation: 12 months+ | Dishwasher safe: Top rack}

Amazon

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Pros

Larger volume
Comes with extra straw
Silicone sleeve protects from cold

Cons

Heavy when full

The perfect option for long, hot summer days, this stainless steel sippy cup is sure to keep drinks icy cold. The silicone sleeve protects little hands from feeling too cold, and a handy hook and loop grab strap attach to a stroller or diaper bag.

The 12-ounce volume is also convenient for life on the go, though the cup can be heavy for little hands when it’s full of liquid. We like that the pop-up lid prevents spilling during travel, as well as the fact that the cup comes with an extra straw.

Price at time of publication: $18

^{Key Specs:
Capacity: 12 ounces | Material: Stainless steel and silicone sleeve | Age recommendation: 12 months and up | Dishwasher safe: Yes}

Amazon

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Pros

Affordable three-pack
Easy to clean

Cons

No lid to cover straw

This affordable three-pack of straw sippy cups crafted from plastic is easy to use and holds a lot of liquid. The curved shape makes it easy for little hands to grip, and the soft silicone straw has a no-spill valve that opens only when a child sips from it. There’s no way to cover the straw, so you may not want to take these out and about.

Price at time of publication: $9

^{Key Specs:
Capacity: 10 ounces | Material: Plastic | Age recommendation: 12 months and up | Dishwasher safe: Top rack}

View On Amazon

Pros

Hybrid straw-spout cup
Weighted straw

Cons

Tricky to clean

A good option for beginners, this hybrid trainer cup has a straw that feeds into a silicone spout. The weighted straw allows little ones to sip from any angle, and the 8-ounce size is suitable for older babies who may want more to drink. The cover pops on the top for more hygienic travel.

Price at time of publication: $9

^{Key Specs:
Capacity: 10 ounces | Material: Silicone | Age recommendation: 6 months and up | Dishwasher safe: Top rack}

How We Selected the Best Straw Sippy Cups

We studied the features of more than 20 straw sippy cups on the market and researched reviews from customers and competitors. We assessed price, features, design, ease of cleaning, spill and leak prevention, material, and volume when deciding our picks. We also consulted with Heather Shafi, MD, a pediatrician in New Jersey, to understand which criteria are most important when choosing a cup.

What to Look for in a Straw Sippy Cup

Age-Appropriate

Before settling on a straw sippy cup, always check the manufacturer’s age recommendation to ensure it’s safe for your little one to use. The age recommendation of a product can typically be found on the product’s packaging or manufacturer’s website. This age recommendation simply shows the product was designed or intended for children of that age or older.

Children can begin phasing out bottles between 12 months and 24 months old. However, a sippy cup is safe to use for babies before that big transition happens.

Type

There are many different types of straw sippy cups on the market, including stainless steel, plastic, and glass. Some sippy cups are available with handles, giving babies an easier and more secure hold. Some parents and caregivers prefer buying a variety of straw sippy cups to see which type their little one will handle best.

If you want your child’s drink to stay cold or warm for a long time, consider a stainless steel straw sippy cup. The insulation helps keep the drink cool all day long, which is ideal for those hot summer days at the zoo or pool. While stainless steel straw sippy cups may cost more, they’re durable and can be reused for longer than plastic cups.

For a more budget-friendly option, straw sippy cups made from plastic are a great starting point. They’re easy to clean, and some even come with a contoured design so babies can hold their cup easier. Many parents and caregivers are concerned about the chemicals in plastic, though almost all are now BPA-free.

Another alternative to plastic is glass. These cups, like stainless steel, are reusable, but they’re not as durable when dropped. If a protective cover is not on a glass sippy cup, it poses a risk of injury to your baby, as the glass could break.

Capacity

Just like adult cups, straw sippy cups are available in different capacities, from as little as 4 ounces to as much as 12 ounces. How big your child’s sippy cup needs to be can depend on many factors, like your family’s daily activities.

For example, if your little one is using a sippy cup to transition to an open cup, you can try a small cup for less mess. If your family plans on taking a trip, you could also opt for a bigger cup to hold more liquid for the flight or car ride. Infants as young as 6 months and up to 12 months old can have anywhere from 4 to 8 ounces of water in a day. A straw sippy cup with this capacity can help parents and caregivers measure how much liquid the child has in a given day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old should my baby be before using a straw sippy cup?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends transitioning out of bottles between 12 months and 24 months of age. Although, because infants can begin drinking water as young as 6 months, they can also start using a sippy cup that young. This helps expose your baby to different drinking vessels at an early age, and can make the transition to an open cup easier in the long run for parents and caregivers. “Learning to use a straw sippy cup can help strengthen cheek, tongue, and lip muscles to help further advance speech and feeding skills,” says Dr. Shafi.
Are straw sippy cups sanitary?

Straw sippy cups often come with multiple pieces, like a valve, straw, or even weighted piece. With so many pieces to wash, straw sippy cups can easily become a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. They are sanitary to use for infants, but only with the proper care and cleaning.
To keep your baby’s straw sippy cup sanitary, always rinse immediately after use to prevent mold from setting in. If you can’t rinse, allow the cup and its pieces to soak in soapy, hot water before cleaning them with a straw brush. Once you’ve finished cleaning them by hand, place them in the dishwasher to be sterilized, which can help kill any bacteria left behind.
Are straw sippy cups better for my toddler's teeth?

Sippy cups are useful when transitioning to an open cup thanks to the similar sucking motion babies use with a bottle. However, using sippy cups for an extended period of time can lead to developmental problems, like tooth decay or speech problems.
Despite their convenience, straw sippy cups are often used for too long and sometimes with liquids high in sugars, like juice or soda. These sugars can stay on your child’s teeth, leading to plaque and other dental issues, such as cavities.

Why Trust Verywell Family

Maya Polton is a former marketing manager and current freelance writer who covers food, home, and parenting. She’s also the mom of an 11-year-old son, 8-year-old son, and 4-year old daughter, who are all done with the sippy cup phase.

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