10 sippy cups that your kids will actually want to drink from

Babies aren’t exactly known for their patience, so a frustration-free sippy cup is key. This innovative design from b.box features a weighted straw that keeps liquid flowing even if they’re trying to drink while laying down and a two-way valve to keep it from leaking when they’re not. On the go? No problem. A convenient flip-top lid hides the straw away to keep it clean when you stash it in your diaper bag. (And when they’re ready to start the transition to regular cups, you can swap to the b. box training cup which mimics the flow of a big kid cup and features an integrated straw within the lid to slow it down.)

Recommended age: 6+ months

A great first post-bottle option, the MAM Trainer Cup comes with two different tops–a nipple and a spout–to ease the transition from sucking to drinking. The double, non-slip handles are easy to hold and cleaning is a breeze.

Recommended age: 4+ months

This dentist-recommended spoutless design from Munchkin comes highly recommended in parent circles. And for good reason! Not only is the clever design totally leak-proof, it also allows little ones to drink from any angle. And without a spout to suck on, it helps promote healthy oral development without soaking your couch, carpet, backseat and everywhere else in the process. Perhaps one Amazon reviewer said it best: “Get these. Use them for everything. Never look back. Be overly dramatic when you tell people how much you love them. Realize you need more interactions with adults. But yeah, get these cups.”

And while they are super easy to clean, be sure to completely disassemble when doing so to prevent mold from growing in the lid.

Price is for a set of two.

Recommended age: 6+ months

The easy-to-hold straw cups from OXO Tot are great for toddlers making the transition from bottle to cup. Their clever, leak-proof design requires them to bite the straw for liquid to come out–great for your bag, not great for your boob if you’re still nursing and they get confused 😬 Still, parents rave about the fact they’re easy to clean, easy to track liquid intake and comfortable for baby.

Recommended age: 6+ months

We love a good stainless steel water bottle, but if you’re looking for something for the youngest in the crowd, we’d choose this instead. It’s lightweight with double handles so it’s easy to hold and keeps drinks (or smoothies!) cold for longer. The durable construction can easily survive the inevitable falls and the valve-in straw and flip top lid combo mean it’s truly leak-proof. (Just make sure the silicone ring is in the right spot each time you put it together.) And the cute cat ear lid? Well that’s just an adorable bonus.

Recommended age: 9+ months

Sustainable and spill-proof? Yes please. The sippy cups from Re-Play are made from recycled milk jugs and can be recycled again once you’re done with them! The standard construction features and easy to remove and clean single piece valve which is completely dishwasher safe. And at just $5.50 each, they’re easy on the wallet as well.

Recommended age: 6+ months

For keeping toddler drinks cool, opt for the Superstar Insulated Sippy Cup from Tommee Tippee. The durable and spill-proof design features a bite-resistent spout that’s made with antimicrobial technology to keep it from becoming a bacteria-fest. When it’s time to clean, just disassemble and pop it in the dishwasher or sterilizer!

Price is for a pack of two.

Recommended age: 12+ months

Pound for pound, these take and toss cups are probably the best kid product I ever bought. Because they’re dirt cheap they’re great for daycare or other places cups go missing and despite their disposable nature, they can last a good long time. In fact, my oldest is 16 and I could probably dig up one or two from our original box. The sippy top isn’t leak-proof, but they go a long way to prevent soaking themselves and can easily just be used as an open cup without the cap. They’re super simple, a cinch to clean and totally indispensible!

Price is for a set of 10.

Whether in place of or in addition to the above suggestions, the silicone ezpz Tiny Cup is a great way to introduce the skill of drinking from a cup. It’s perfectly sized for little hands and completely indestructible. Just stick with a teensy bit of water and prepare for some wet clothes and floors!

If your little one is having trouble with the transition from bottle to sippy cup, this is the one to try, Designed to be used by speech and feeding therapists to help with tongue training, lip rounding, tongue retraction and other oral motor skills, there’s more than meets the eye with the simple Honey Bear cup. It gets rave reviews from parents of kiddos who struggle with learning to drink from a straw and many say their little one picked it up in just one session. The Honey Bear Cup holds up to 7 ounces and comes with one replacement straw and a booklet with instructions on how to use it. (Note that none of the parts are dishwasher- or microwave-safe, so hand wash everything.)