Best open cups, straw cups and sippy cups for babies and toddlers

Along with weaning comes another fun but daunting task: introducing your baby to drinking from a cup. Whether they're breastfed, bottle fed or a bit of both, your baby will be used to the familiar feel of a nipple or teat, but they’ll eventually need to move away from that sucking action.

Giving them small amounts of water with meals in the early stages of weaning can help them get used to drinking from a cup, making it easier to move to one full-time as they get older and drop milk feeds.

We've tested every cup in this list with babies and toddlers between the ages of 6 months and 2 years, to find the cups that children and parents really rate. For older children on the go, take a look at our best kids water bottles.

• Jump to our list of the best cups and beakers for babies and toddlers
• Jump to how the best cups and beakers for toddler compare
• Jump to what to consider when buying a cup or beaker
• Jump to when should I introduce a cup or beaker?
• Jump to what should I give my baby to drink from a cup?

Best cups and beakers at a glance

• Best budget cup: Tommee Tippee Essential Free Flow First Cup, £2.99 at Boots
• Best cup for reducing spills: Doidy Training Cup, £5.99 at Amazon
• Best free-flow straw cup: Tum Tum Tippy Up Free Flow Sippy Cup, from £9.99 at Amazon
• Best baby cup for convenience: Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Cup, £6.30 at Boots
• Best baby's first cup: MAM Starter Cup & Glow Handles, £6.99 at Boots
• Best straw cup for travel: Munchkin Tip & Sip Cup, £7.99 at Amazon
• Best baby cup for sustainability: Bamboo Bamboo Baby Sippy Cup, £9.99 at Amazon
• Best transitioning cup: MAM Trainer 2-in-1 Cup, £10 at Boots
• Best cup for simplicity: PandaEar Open Cup, £7.95 for 2 at Amazon

Key specs: How the best cups and beakers for babies and toddler compare

Best cups and beakers for babies and toddlers for 2026

Tommee Tippee Essential Free Flow First Cup, £2.99

Best for: Budget cup

Why we chose it: This classic, affordable free-flow cup is easy to use, easy to clean and widely available, making it a practical first cup for everyday use.

We tried SO many different cups and the best one for us for water is the free flow Tommee Tippee cup. Easy to drink from and nice size for small hands. Also the action is more like a regular cup than straws or sucking.

What we like

• Great value
• Free-flow design encourages sipping rather than sucking
• Simple 2-piece design
• Easy for small hands to hold
• Dishwasher-safe
• Readily available in supermarkets and online

What to keep in mind

• Doesn't hold a lot of liquid
• Not leak-proof with the spout up
• Can be messy in the early stages

This is a great budget choice for parents who want a simple, no-fuss first cup. It’s easy for small hands to hold, straightforward to clean and encourages babies to practise proper sipping, although it can be messy while they’re learning.

Available from: Boots, ASDA and Tesco

Doidy Training Cup, £5.99

Best for: Reducing spills

Why we chose it: The slanted open-cup design helps babies see the liquid and drink with less tipping, making it a useful training cup for early weaning.

My son is able to hold it himself and bring to his mouth without aid, he's also able to successfully drink from it with some assistance. It's easy to clean, durable and has taken its fair share of whacks and drops from my little one!

What we like

• Great value
• Helps teach a correct sipping movement
• Slanted design reduces the need to tip as much
• Easy to clean by hand or in the dishwasher
• Available in lots of colours

What to keep in mind

• Still causes some spillage
• Needs some supervision and practice

This is a good option for parents who want to introduce an open cup but keep spills a little more controlled. The slanted shape helps babies see the water and drink with less tipping, making it a useful training step.

Available from: Amazon, Ebebek and Bickiepegs

Tum Tum Tippy Up Free Flow Sippy Cup, from £9.99

Best for: Free-flow straw cup

Why we chose it: This valve-free weighted straw cup is easier on oral development than many straw cups, while still offering a practical leakproof design when the lid is closed.

The fact it is leakproof is very helpful, especially as both my 10 month old and toddler have tried shaking it with no success! I love that the lid is permanently attached to the straw as it can't be lost, and that it can be used as a cup too. On top of functionality, it looks lovely – the designs are so cute and colourful.

What we like

• No valve
• Weighted straw lets children drink from different angles
• Cute designs
• Lid is attached to the straw
• Leakproof with the lid down
• Can also be used as a cup

What to keep in mind

• More difficult to clean than a simple open cup
• Pricey compared with some starter cups
• You’ll need a narrow brush to clean the straw properly

This is a strong choice for parents who want the convenience of a straw cup without a valve. It’s cute, practical and leakproof with the lid on, though the weighted straw does take a little more effort to clean.

Available from: Amazon

Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Cup, from £6.30

Best for: Convenience

Why we chose it: This popular 360 cup helps babies practise sipping with far less mess, making it a convenient option for home, childcare and days out.

The plastic is very lightweight yet robust (surviving multiple inevitable floor drops). The anti-spill top is very effective, making it suitable for young babies at the beginning of their ‘cup’ journey as it controls their flow and also prevents them soaking themselves, parent/carers and anyone else in the firing line! Our little one does still need a small amount of guidance to tilt the cup and use both hands but we are at the very beginning of weaning and I can see he will pick this up very quickly.

What we like

• Great for teaching babies to sip without lots of mess
• Effective anti-spill design
• Sturdy but lightweight
• Easy to clean
• Only 3 parts
• All parts are dishwasher-safe

What to keep in mind

• Not as good for teeth/development as an open cup
• Best used alongside open or free-flow cups rather than as your child’s only cup

This is a handy option for parents who want fewer spills while their baby learns to sip. It’s sturdy, lightweight and easy to clean, but works best alongside open or free-flow cups rather than as your child’s only cup.

Available from: Munchkin (2 pack), Amazon (2 pack) and Boots

MAM Starter Cup & Glow Handles, £6.99

Best for: Baby's first cup

Why we chose it: This lightweight starter cup combines a soft spill-free spout with easy-grip glow-in-the-dark handles, making it an appealing first cup for babies.

This cup has a nice ergonomic design and my baby loved it. It’s quite pricey but it’s a fantastic first cup, and I think the addition of the glow in the dark handles is a great touch.

What we like

• Glow-in-the-dark handles
• Spill-free design
• Durable
• Lightweight
• Easy to dismantle and reassemble after washing
• Good baby appeal

What to keep in mind

• Doesn't hold a lot of liquid
• Soft spouts are best used as a transition rather than long-term

This is a good first cup for babies who need a gentle transition from bottle or breast. The soft spout, lightweight design and glow-in-the-dark handles make it appealing and easy to use, although the small capacity means frequent refills.

Available from: Boots, Amazon, John Lewis

Munchkin Tip & Sip Cup, £7.99

Best for: Travel

Why we chose it: This compact straw cup impressed our tester with its no-spill design, baby-friendly straw and easy-clean parts, making it a practical choice for days out.

Overall, this straw cup is one of the best we've tried and as a mum of 4, I have tried my fair share of sippy cups and this one might be my favourite yet.

What we like

• Soft straw
• No-spill design
• Lightweight and compact
• Fits well in changing bags, cup holders and handbags
• Works with water and milk
• Easy to disassemble and clean
• Top-rack dishwasher-safe parts
• Cute cat and dog designs available

What to keep in mind

• Includes a valve, so it’s best used alongside open or free-flow cups
• Straw drinking can take a little practice depending on your baby’s age
• Primarily designed as a convenience or travel cup rather than a first training cup

This is a good choice for parents who want a compact, no-spill straw cup for days out. It’s easy for babies to drink from, simple to clean and travel-friendly, with a cute design that appealed to our tester’s children.

Available from: Amazon

Bamboo Bamboo Baby Sippy Cup, £9.99

Best for: Sustainability

Why we chose it: This open bamboo cup is a stylish, lower-plastic option for families who want a more sustainable weaning cup.

I love that it's biodegradable and good for the planet. I love that it's naturally anti-bacterial and anti-microbial. The design is lovely, simple yet stylish. It's handleless and open design which is good for not constantly buying new cups as they grow.

What we like

• Sustainable design
• Looks great
• Open cup is good for sipping practice
• Silicone rim gives a softer feel for gums and teeth
• Handleless design can grow with your child

What to keep in mind

• Not dishwasher-safe
• Requires special care
• Needs regular oiling
• Pricey compared with simpler plastic cups
• Not spill-free

This is a lovely option for families looking for a more sustainable open cup. It looks stylish and supports proper sipping, but it needs more care than plastic or silicone cups and isn’t dishwasher-safe.

Available from: Amazon and Bamboo Bamboo

MAM Trainer 2-in-1 Cup, £10

Best for: Transitioning

Why we chose it: This soft-spout trainer cup can help babies move from bottle to cup more gradually, especially if they already use MAM bottles.

It's sturdy and well-made – it survived being dropped several times, and the teat didn’t spill. It's easy to clean as it can be broken down into separate parts.

What we like

• Suitable from 4 months
• Useful transition from bottle to cup
• Comes with 2 teats/spouts
• Removable handles
• Sturdy and well-made
• Can be broken down into separate parts for cleaning

What to keep in mind

• Soft spout is not the best for teeth long-term
• Lots of parts to wash
• Pricey compared with simpler cups

This is a practical transition cup for babies moving from bottles to cups, especially if they already use MAM bottles. It’s sturdy and familiar-feeling, but the soft spout is best used as a short-term step.

Available from: Boots

PandaEar Open Cup, £7.95 for 2

Best for: Simplicity

Why we chose it: These simple open cups are small-hand friendly, easy to wash and reasonably priced, making them a good no-fuss option for open-cup practice.

Love the PandaEar open cup, very small hand friendly with grips, nice size and silicone so easy to wash. Also really reasonably priced! My little one went straight to open cup thanks to these.

What we like

• Grips help small hands hold the cup
• Open cup is good for sipping practice
• Weighted bottom helps reduce accidental knocks
• Made from 100% silicone
• Dishwasher-safe
• Reasonably priced for 2 cups

What to keep in mind

• Messy in the early stages
• Slightly heavy
• No lid or spill-free function

This is a simple, affordable option for parents who want to start open-cup practice. The grippy silicone design helps little hands hold on, although it can still be messy while babies are learning.

Available from: Amazon

What types of cup are there?

There are a huge variety of baby cups on offer, from trainer cups through to open cups, sippy cups, straw cups, weighted cups and spill-proof 360 cups. Each one suits a different age or situation. Here are some key things to look out for.

What to look for when buying a cup or beaker for a baby or toddler

Age suitability – Most cups will have a recommended age range which may help guide your decision, but remember a simple open cup is fine from 6 months and many of the special features and functions of other cups are not necessary, they’re just useful.
Spout material – Trainer cups often come with a soft spout similar to a bottle teat but with a larger hole. These are handy in the very early stages as they'll feel familiar to babies. However, you'll want to move to a hard spout, a straw cup or, ideally, an open cup as soon as you and your baby feel comfortable.
Valve vs free-flow – Free-flow means the liquid flows out of the cup or spout without needing to be sucked, and this is preferable. However, many cups designed for weaning babies and those under 1 have a valve to control the flow of liquid. They're easier for your baby to use and less messy, but they won't teach your child to drink "correctly". If you'd like to use a valve at the start, perhaps look for one that can be removed later, turning a sippy cup into a free-flow one to extend its life span.
Spill-free designs – "360" or spill-free cups look like a regular open cup but have a special lid with a rubber stopper in that prevents spills. These are brilliant for ease of use and they're popular with parents, but the lid is essentially a valve: your child will learn to sip but it's still not quite the same as an open cup. Again, it's best to consider these as an occasional or training option.
Straws – A lot of modern toddler cups have straws, and many dentists and speech therapists now recommend these alongside open cups if you need something more convenient, usually from around 9 months. Look for one with a short, fairly solid straw.
Handles – Many trainer cups and starter cups have handles, and a lot of babies will find these easier to grab and use at first, but do bear in mind it is another piece to wash and sterilise. There's no real developmental issue here: drinking vessels come in all styles for all ages, but it's a good idea to make sure your child has some cups without handles too, just like most adults will use a mixture of mugs and glasses.

When should I introduce a cup?

The NHS and the British Dental Health Foundation recommend that you begin to introduce a cup at around 6 months – when your baby can sit up unaided – with the aim of weaning them off bottles, if you are using them, by around age 1.
An open or free-flow cup is recommended. This is because soft rubber teats and spouts encourage children to suck for longer periods of time, which means milk or other liquids can stay in contact with their teeth for a long time, potentially causing tooth decay. An open cup also helps encourage a sipping action, rather than a sucking one, which teaches children to control the liquid better and helps with the development of their orofacial muscles, which are also used for speech.

What should I give my baby to drink from a cup?

Babies over 6 months only need milk and water. When you begin the weaning process your baby will still be having lots of milk feeds, and it's fine to serve both pumped breast milk or formula in a cup for these. Juices, squash, fizzy drinks, smoothies, flavoured waters and so on are not recommended by the NHS. You may notice that there are some juices and drinks marketed towards babies, but water is a much better option.
Once they are 6 months old, it's absolutely fine to give your baby water straight from the tap. Before 6 months, breastfed babies shouldn't need water at all, and formula-fed babies should only be given sips on very hot days or if they are constipated. Any water served before 6 months should be boiled and cooled before serving.
Hygiene is as important with cups as it is with bottles so, if you serve milk from a cup, all pieces should then be sterilised until your baby turns 1.

Read more...

• 10 of the best suction bowls and plates for weaning
• The best weaning and feeding products for babies
• Best water bottles for kids