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Writer's pictureBecky O'Haire

How to Choose the Perfect Sippy Cup for Your Child

Choosing the right sippy cup doesn’t require elaborate planning and research but it’s important that you get a high-quality product. Your baby will probably use the cup for a year at least, so it should be comfortable to use and safe. When it comes to choosing the best sippy cups, pricing isn’t always the best guide because sippy cups are relatively cheap and a high price tag is no guarantee of quality. It would be a good idea to check with other parents about what worked for them and look at the advice and recommendations from experts about the top-rated sippy cups. Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, look at specific features to make sure they meet your needs.





Important Considerations When Choosing a Sippy Cup for Your Baby


1. Good Grip

The main purpose of a sippy cup is to help your baby transition away from bottle-feeding and learn to sip so that she or he can progress to a regular cup. This means that it should be easy for your baby to hold, considering that their fine motor skills are still developing. A cup with handles and a textured or soft material like silicone would also make it easier to hold.


2. No Spills Without a Spill-Preventing Valve

Yes, you read that right. Spill-preventing valves will not help your baby learn to sip as they require your baby to suck at them to get any liquid, which is why most experts, including the American Dental Association, advise parents to avoid them. This doesn’t mean that you have to resign yourself to cleaning up spills because there are well-designed sippy cups that use features such as flattened straw shapes to prevent backflow. 


3. Weighted Bottom

Cups with weighted bottoms are a lot more stable and are less likely to tip over and spill liquids. Some of the high-quality sippy cups include this design along with others like the flattened straw for extra protection so that you don’t have to worry about your baby making a mess. 


4. Ease of Cleaning

Although sippy cups have become extremely popular with parents, you’ll frequently hear people gripe about cleaning them. It’s a valid grievance as sippy cups often have small crevices and grooves that are hard to get at and inviting for mold and bacteria. Look for cups that are easy to clean – you’ll find that reviews are extremely helpful in this regard. Of course, the simplest choice is to look for dishwasher-safe sippy cups.


5. Does Not Contain Phthalates, BPA or BPAAs

Phthalates and bisphenols such as BPA were commonly used in plastic products, including sippy cups, to make them soft and durable. However, the use of such chemicals has been linked to a variety of health problems including behavioral and developmental disorders, endocrine disorders, and cancer. Although BPA use was prohibited by the FDA, BPA alternatives or BPAAs may pose similar risks, making it important to look for products that do not contain any of these chemicals.


6. Right Volume

This may not be easy to gauge, but you should consider how much your baby likes to drink and choose a sippy cup accordingly. While most sippy cups will be small so that your baby can hold them easily, you don’t want something with a very low capacity or you’ll have to keep refilling it all the time.


7. High Durability

Any sippy cup that you choose should be made from high-quality material with good durability. Keep in mind that it has to withstand drops and throws for a year or more, so you don’t want it to develop cracks or shatter. Aside from the material used, the design should also have fewer small parts that are likely to break off.


8. Safe Material

Look for a sippy cup that is made from high-grade plastic with recycling codes 2, 4, or 5 as these are considered safe. The codes are usually visible on the bottom of cups and bottles. If you’d prefer plastic alternatives that are durable and suitable for babies, look for cups made from tempered glass, stainless steel, or medical-grade silicone.



Sippy cups can be incredibly helpful and convenient, but it’s important to remember that they are meant to be used temporarily. Once your child learns to sip easily, it’s time to transition to a regular open cup as the sippy cup has served its purpose.

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