Best Sippy Cups and Straw Cups (2026)

First cups come in four kinds: open, straw, 360 and spout. The comparison below shows which of them has the valve the AAP says to avoid.

The AAP's page on moving from the bottle to a cup sets the timeline: the transition "will begin around 6 months, when you offer your child a cup for the first time," and you then cut bottle feedings slowly, "completing the transition sometime between 12 and 18 months." Which cup matters less than using one, with one exception the AAP spells out: the valve.

How we chose: each cup is described from its listing and the brand's claims, not tested by us, and each was sold by Amazon.com or the brand's own store in September 2026; guidance comes from the AAP's page on discontinuing the bottle and its guide to starting solid foods.

The nine cups side by side

Prices are Amazon's, as of the time shown, and subject to change. Details

When to offer the first cup

The AAP says to "offer your child a cup when they start eating solid foods, usually around 6 months." It leaves the type of cup to you: "You can use a 'sippy' (training) cup with a spouted lid or offer a cup and straw. Some children may choose to drink from an open cup without a straw – and that's just fine, too."

Two listings here (ezpz and Nuby) say 4 months and up. The AAP ties the first cup to starting solids instead; our first-foods gear guide covers the CDC's readiness signs.

Start with what your baby already drinks: "Begin by putting formula or breast milk in their cup," the AAP says, then add plain water at mealtimes as they get the hang of it.

Key point: the AAP says it's healthiest for kids to drink from an open cup by about 2 years of age. It says sippy cups are only for the learning stage.

Why the valve matters

Many sippy cups have a valve under the spout to stop spills, the AAP says, "But kids have to suck to get any liquid from them, which is just like drinking from a baby bottle." Its advice: "If you prefer a sippy cup rather than an open cup (with or without straw), choose one with no valve."

Here is how the picks line up, per each listing:

• No valve: the ezpz Tiny Cup has no lid at all. The Munchkin Miracle 360 has no valve, according to Munchkin; its rim seals when your child stops drinking.
• Valved: Philips Avent My Easy Sippy (built-in valve), Nuby Clik-It (Touch-Flo valve), b.box (two-way valve) and OXO Tot Transitions (straw valve).
• Spill-proof, mechanism not described: Dr. Brown's First Straw Cup, Munchkin Any Angle and NUK Learner Cup.

A valved cup still has a place in the diaper bag, where spills are the bigger problem. At meals, which is when the AAP says to offer cups, use the open or no-valve one.

Open, straw, 360 or spout

• Open cup (ezpz Tiny Cup): the skill the AAP wants by age 2. It spills, so start with an ounce or two at the high chair.
• Weighted straw cup (Dr. Brown's, Munchkin Any Angle, b.box): the weight keeps the straw in the liquid, so a baby can drink with the cup tipped. The AAP lists "a cup and straw" as an option.
• 360 cup (Munchkin Miracle 360): drinks from the rim like a regular cup, without the spills.
• Soft-spout sippy (Philips Avent, NUK, Nuby): familiar, but the most bottle-like of the picks.

The AAP also suggests handles: "Opt for one with two handles to help little hands get a grip." Every pick except the Philips Avent and the ezpz has them, and several come off as grip improves.

What goes in the cup

The AAP says plain water is the healthiest drink and that the fluoride in tap water helps prevent tooth decay. Sippy cups, it says, should hold only "plain fluoridated water without juice or sugar."

Some listings mention juice, but the AAP's solid foods guide says "Babies younger than 12 months should not be given juice." After 12 months it limits juice to 100% fruit juice, no more than 4 ounces a day, and only in a cup. It also advises offering cups mainly at mealtimes rather than letting a toddler carry one around all day.

Moving off the bottle, step by step

The AAP's steps, briefly:

1. Offer a cup at meals from about 6 months, starting with breast milk or formula.
2. Tell your child they can drink from a bottle at mealtimes, and gradually drop bottle feedings at other times, "especially naps or bedtime."
3. Aim to finish between 12 and 18 months.
4. Ask other caregivers to follow the same routine.

The AAP explains why timing matters: children who drink from bottles well into their second year may skip meals, and risk cavities when their teeth are "constantly bathed in milk, formula, juice or other drinks." If it turns into a power struggle, talk with your pediatrician.

Related: easy-to-clean high chairs for cup practice, bottles for breastfed babies until the switch, and our recall checker for any secondhand cup or bottle.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my toddler fights giving up the bedtime bottle?

Expect some protest. The AAP's bottle-to-cup page says "Temporary sleep problems can turn into serious struggles if you give in to your child's protests and offer a bottle at bedtime." It suggests "extra snuggles, songs or bedtime stories" instead.

How much milk should go in the cup?

Small amounts. The AAP says "Milk and juice contain natural sugars that deliver extra calories and increase cavity risks, so offer small portions."

Why not let my toddler carry a cup all day?

The AAP says children who carry their cups around all day "like security blankets may drink way too much (and need more frequent diaper changes)."

---

NurseryProof is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This guide summarizes public guidance and is not medical advice; ask your pediatrician about your child's move from bottle to cup, especially if your child has a medical condition or feeding delay.