The 5 Best Sippy Cups for Toddlers

If you're reading this article you may be thinking, "Hey, a sippy cup is a sippy cup. Right?" Wrong. As a mom of three kids under the age of 10, I can tell you: picking the right sippy cup for your child is a surprisingly important choice. The wrong sippy cup can lead to disaster or be just plain annoying, with leaks on your furniture, lids falling off and lost valves. If you've ever tried to locate a mysterious spill of milk gone sour in a van, you know what I mean. As a mom, you learn early on to avoid anything with several parts to keep track of or plastic straws, which are practically impossible to get clean. Here are the five best sippy cups on the market, and why they're better than all the rest.

The First Years Take and Toss No Spill Cups - $3.49/5-pack

Pros: inexpensive, highly spill resistant, no valves to keep track of, easy to clean

Cons: will spill some juice or milk if left sideways or upside down, can warp in dishwasher

I love these cups, and rarely need to "toss" them. They're inexpensive enough that, if they're lost, it's not a big deal. But they're also sturdy enough to last through countless washes and can be re-used time and time again.

Nuby BPA-Free Gripper Cup - $5.49/2-pack

Pros: great first sippy cup because of the "nipple" style, easy for little hands to hold, valve-free

Cons: a little more expensive, the specially-designed "nipple" is hard to clean

This cup is great for transitioning from bottles to sippy cups, because the nipple has a feel and texture that will feel familiar to bottle-feeders. There is no valve separate from the nipple to keep track of, but beware: you will have to wash the nipple carefully with a bottle brush. It is designed with slits in the tip, and milk or juice can get stuck in there easily. On the upside, it is almost impossible to spill!

The First Years BPA-Free Insulated Cups - $7.88/2-pack

Pros: completely valve-free, insulated, different character choices

Cons: they will leak some if left sideways, outside design begins to fade after several washes

The style on these cups is definitely innovative; they are spill resistant because of a plastic valve built into the top of the lid with a slit in it. When the child sucks on it, juice comes out. When they're not sucking on it the slit, in theory, stays closed. These are my favorite sippy cups for all of my children. They will leak if the lid is not on right or if the slit becomes stretched out, but not as much as a sippy cup whose valve has been lost!

The First Years Mealmates BPA-Free Soft Spout Cup - $4.98/2-pack

Pros: inexpensive, valve-free, insulated, soft-spouted for easy bottle to cup transition

Cons: will leak, especially if held upside down

This cup has the advantages of being cheap, insulated and valve-free: three big pros. Unfortunately, like most sippy cups, it is really spill-resistant - not spill proof. Determined toddlers can find a way to spill juice from nearly any cup. Take your child's temperament into account on this one.

Tommee Tippee Explora Truly Spill Proof Water Bottle - $4.99/each

Pros: unique easy-to-clean design, as close to spill-proof as they come

Cons: best for older toddlers, since it is a 12-ounce cup

This innovative cup comes from a popular British company, and is really difficult to spill liquid from. With a "sports bottle" design, it's best for on-the-go drinking and for older toddlers. It's a great transition cup from toddler to big kid, too!