Best Sippy Cup to Transition from Bottle: The Ultimate Guide

What's Covered

1. Munchkin 2 Piece Gentle Transition Trainer Cup

Munchkin 2 Piece Gentle Transition Trainer Cup,
It has the softest and most flexible spout. It is very easy for baby to hold; the liquid does not come out too quickly, and the liquid doesn't spill out when turned on its side.

Bottom Line

Excellent BPA-free transition cup for babies with colic and excessive gassiness. Easy to grasp and gentle (but durable) enough for children as young as 4 months. Its great price and simple design make this one a great option for most little ones!

Pros

The flexible, gentle, and soft spots are made of silicone and perfect for little ones. Its removable handles are easy to hold and transition with your child as they grow. It has an anti-colic valve, a secure-fitting lid, and is BPA-free.

Cons

  • Handle pops off easily and, while it is effective at preventing leakage, the liquid does not flow freely due to the additional leakage prevention measures. It only holds 4 ounces, which may require frequent refills once the child is older.
  • Wallet Saver

2. Dr. Brown’s Soft-Spout Transition Cup

Dr. Brown's Soft-Spout Transition Cup
A great train cup. The handles are detachable. This is a great way to train a baby to hold their own bottle

Bottom Line

As one of the most well-known bottle brands, Dr. Brown’s has also designed (one of) the best sippy cup to transition from a bottle for children 6 months and older. BPA-free, spill-proof, and easy to use—both parents and baby will love this cup!

Pros

Easy to hold handles—perfect for little hands! One-piece design that is easy to clean—and dishwasher safe—and gentle enough for infants to become accustomed to. It comes with a lid and holds up to 6 ounces of liquid. Most affordable selection on our list.

Cons

The lid cover is not removable and gets in the way of drinking for some infants. The overall design is less durable than expected.

3. OXO Tot 6 Ounce Transitions Straw Cup with Removable Handles

OXO Tot 6 Ounce Transitions Straw Cup with Removable Handles
It doesn't leak. The straw on the cup reaches the bottom of the cup

Bottom Line

A little pricier, but its leakproof and durable design ensures it is long-lasting and easy to use for children who are ready for a straw design.

Pros

The leakproof straw valve is both comfortable and easy to use. Removable cap seals closed when not in use, and the removable handles make this a great cup for little ones who will soon be able to use a cup without handles. Easy to take apart and clean.

Cons

The leakproof design makes it difficult to get liquid out as well. Straw is less durable in comparison to the rest of the cup. The child must be old enough for a straw cup.

4. Tommee Tippee First Sips Soft Transition Cup

Tommee Tippee First Sips Soft Transition Cup, Gentle on Gums, Spill-Proof, Dishwasher Safe
The spout is made of the same material as the nipple, making it less confusing when introducing a new shape/flow.

Bottom Line

Great for children 4 months and older thanks to its easy to use, comfortable, and BPA-free design and construction. Great for bottle-fed and breastfed babies thanks to the nipple and spout options designed to appease both.

Pros

Dishwasher safe and easy to clean, these cups can be sterilized as well. Made with BPA-free plastic, the cup’s spout and nipple options are both gentle, comfortable, and flexible enough for the baby to use. The handles can be removable and are designed for little hands to easily hold onto them.

Cons

Difficult to put back together and seal when taken apart. Few color selections are available. Not as easy to clean as other sippy cup designs featured in our list of reviews.

5. Philips AVENT My First Transition Cup

Philips AVENT My First Transition Cup
These transition bottles work completely and wonderfully with all of Avent's other Anti-colic line - all of the parts were swappable between any 4/5 ounce or larger bottle.

Bottom Line

This is one of the best sippy cups to transition from bottle options for babies 4 months and older. It different nipple/spout selections, which makes transitioning easier for both bottle-fed and breastfed babies. Overall, very affordable and versatile.

Pros

It can be used with children as young as 4 months old. Both the spout and the nipple offer the fast flow feature, so your child won’t have to chew or bite on the spout or nipple to get their drink out. Removable handles will help your baby learn to hold the cup on their own. This cup works with other Avent parts and cups, so you can match. It is made of BPA-free material and is easy to clean and safe to wash in the dishwasher.

Cons

It only holds 4 ounces, which may mean more refills for older children. Leaks in certain positions and the handles are not as secure as they should be.

How we conduct our review

We purchase the sippy cup to transition from bottle products and test it with our product team. We will also consult the market users and evaluate the user’s preferences. No free sample will be accepted from vendors or re-seller – Guaranteed.

46 Models Considered

5 Models Tested

79 Hours Researched

4 Experts Consulted

251 Consumers Consulted

How to Stop Leakage

Appropriate assembly

Many of these sippy cups can be taken apart completely—which means they may have several pieces you may need to put back together when you are done cleaning them thoroughly. The most important thing you can do is to take your time putting them back together. Some of the cups on our list require you to put the lid back in a certain way for optimal leakproof capabilities. If you take your time assembling each piece correctly, you will find they will prevent leakage much more effectively than if you just rushed through the process.

Frequent cleaning

Although this is something that you will be doing anyway, it is important to remember that frequent cleaning also plays a role in how effectively a sippy cup prevents leakage. Over time, liquid, bacteria, etc. will build up in many of the interchangeable parts of the sippy cup—including in specific sealant component areas. This build-up can cause leakage and cause the cup to be ineffective at keeping liquid in. Make sure to wash the sippy cup thoroughly and often to get maximum leak-resistance.

Assist your child

Many parents may already be accustomed to their child holding their bottle themselves, so when it comes time for a sippy cup you may feel your child is ready. Although many transitional come with handles—or removable handles—it still comes with a learning curve for your young child. These sippy cups are leak-resistant however, they are not able be completely leakproof in all positions. So, the parent needs to help the child hold their sippy cup while sitting up and in the proper position. Remember, sippy cups are not bottles, so we cannot expect them to function as such.

Nipple Vs Spout

If you decide to get a transitional sippy cup with a nipple design, you will find these will leak more than those that have a spout. Nipples are designed to have a faster flow rate than a spout and the spout is designed to function with suction. Overall, spouts will prevent leaks much more effectively than sippy cups that utilize a nipple.

Buying Guide for Best Sippy Cup to Transition from Bottle

Transitioning into a sippy cup is inevitable as our babies grow and become more independent with their feeding and drinking skills—and finding the best sippy cup to transition from bottle-feeding can be difficult to do. After all, there are countless options to choose from—so, how do you know which one to pick from?
From removable handle selections to one-piece models, our buying guide will help you find the best sippy cup to transition from bottle-feeding to your baby. Regardless of what your child needs, you can rest assure there is an option that will for them on our list.
Our buying guide featured below will outline the different factors we took into consideration when choosing our list of the top 5 selections we chose for our list above. Continue reading below to learn more and find the perfect sippy cup for your little one.

Types of Transition Sippy Cups

Nipple-based Sippy Cups

Bottle-fed babies will be used to using a bottle with a nipple, which is why this type of sippy cup will be a great option for little ones who are reluctant to stop using their bottles. If you find you have an exclusively breastfed baby, you will find this may be a hit or miss for your little one. These are also a great option for parents looking for a cup that is also compatible with parts from other cups and bottles from the same brand.

Spout-based Sippy Cups

Aside from nipple-based sippy cups, spout-based cups are the most common type of transitional sippy cups you will have to choose from. Many children will easily transition to this type of cup right away since the spouts are also typically made of silicone. Spout-based cups may not have as free as a flow as a nipple, but most children get accustomed to them rather quickly after a few uses.

Adaptable Sippy Cups

These are by far the best type of sippy cups for parents who are unsure of which type of sippy cup will work best for their child. These come with both a nipple and a spout option that you can use interchangeably. Many babies will start with the nipple and eventually use the spout—it just depends on your child. Either way, this is a great option for those of you who are hesitant to choose between one or the other.

Straw-based Sippy Cups

Most parents will not start with these, but they are also a great option for babies transitioning from the bottle to a cup. If you are unsure, try having your child drink from a straw at home—some babies (surprisingly) go straight to a straw-based sippy cup. These are typically a great option for breastfed babies who are 6 months of age or older. However, it just depends on your child. Straw cups are much gentler on your child’s teeth and mouths, and they won’t have to bite down to suction out their drinks—like they may have to with a nipple- or straw-based sippy cup.

Best Sippy Cup to Transition from Bottle: The Ultimate Guide 1

DID YOU KNOW?

Transitioning into a sippy cup is inevitable as our babies grow and become more independent with their feeding and drinking skills

What to Look for In A Transitional Sippy Cup

Your child’s feeding preference

Finding the best sippy cup to transition from the bottle for your child is a difficult feat and highly depends on your child’s personal preferences. Some babies easily adapt when it comes to feeding preferences while others take a lot of trial and error. The first thing to consider when looking for the perfect sippy cup is your child’s personal feeding preferences. Are they exclusively breastfed? Have they always used one specific bottle? Are they both breastfed and bottle-fed?

These are important questions to ask yourself because many sippy cups favor a certain feeding style. For example, some feeding cups have a nipple, others only have a spout, and many can use both a nipple and a spout. Before you buy, take a close look at the user reviews for the sippy cups, many parents discuss how it worked for their child and what their child’s feeding preference was.

Handles

Most parents will want a transitional sippy cup to have handles because these cups are not as easy to hold onto for tiny hands as bottles are—and some babies may not be ready to hold a sippy cup without handles.

Many transitional sippy cups come with removable handles so your child can grow from handle use to no handle use. However, keep in mind that some sippy cups with removable handles may not be as secure to hold on to as those who have a single-piece design where the handles cannot be detached.

If you don’t mind purchasing a sippy cup without handles, later on, the single-piece design may be a more secure and baby-friendly option for you. However, if you think your child won’t need a handle for too long, then the removable handle design may be a better choice—it just depends on your child.

Those of you who do not believe your child is ready for a sippy cup without a handle anytime soon may do better with a one-piece design because they are more secure and easier for infants to get accustomed to. You can always transition to a cup without handles later on.

Capacity

Reading through our reviews, you may have noticed that most of the sippy cups have a varying capacity—typically between 4-6 ounces. The 4-ounce selections are a perfect option for those of you starting with little ones as young as 4-months old since they will struggle to hold onto anything much heavier.

However, if your little one is a little older, you may do fine with the 6-ounce sippy cup capacity options. It is important to note, as your child gets older you will find 4 ounces is just not enough (unless you don’t mind getting your little one refills whenever necessary). Eventually, you will have to upgrade anyway, whether you get the 4-ounce or the 6-ounce will depend on how soon you want to upgrade, how much your child drinks, and their age.

Interchangeability and adaptability

Interchangeability focuses on how well the sippy cup will grow with your child. Here you will look at the age range the sippy cup is designed for as well as features such as removable handles, spout/nipple/straw compatibility, and how easy it is to use overall. Some parents don’t mind upgrading cups every month or two, but some of you may be looking for a model you can use long-term.

If you are the latter, make sure to get something that will grow with your child’s increasing independence. For example, a single-piece, nipple-based, 4-ounce sippy cup is not something your child will be using at 10 months if you are starting them out at 4-months old with a sippy cup. Make sure to plan if you want something you can use long-term.

Ease of Use

The ease of use of the sippy cup will specifically depend on what your child is ready for when you decide to get them their first transitional cup. While the cups on our list are designed for your little ones, they won’t all be the perfect option (which is why we have a list for you to choose from).

If your child is on the younger side (4 months) make sure to get a cup with ergonomically designed soft handles that are easy for little hands to grip onto securely and comfortably. Look for spouts and nipples made of silicone that are gentle on the mouth and that won’t hurt your child if the cup slips and hits them as they learn to use the cup.

Lastly, durability is incredibly important here as children are not known for being extra gentle or cautious with their belongings. Take a close look at our reviews to see which options are the most durable when compared to other selections.

Flow rate

When it comes to the flow rate of transitional cups, they are all different. Those with more leak-resistant capabilities have a much slower rate than those who do not prevent leakage as effectively. An important to consider here is your child’s bite.

If you get a sippy cup with a slower flow rate, your child may have to bite down to get the liquid out. This is not ideal for children without enough teeth or for parents who are concerned with their child’s future teeth growth—make sure to consult a dentist for advice if you notice your child has to bite down on their cup to get their drink out for more than a few sessions.

Nowadays some sippy cups come dentist recommended, but if you are concerned a straw or spout-less model maybe your best option. However, these two will require you to wait longer to start your child off on a sippy cup.

BPA-free

Plastic is a durable and effective material for sippy cups given the consumer (babies can be less than careful with their belongings). This is why it is important to get bottles that are free of harmful BPA to prevent long-term effects that could arise from using a sippy cup with BPA. All the selections on our list are BPA-free, but just remember to look for BPA-free selections for all products for your child.

This is especially important for those of you who will be putting warm or hot liquids into your cup. Before you buy, definitely double-check to ensure that all of the components are BPA-free.

Trial and error may be necessary

Last but not least, when buying your child’s first transitional sippy cup it is important to remember that trial and error may be necessary when looking for the perfect model. Those of you with little ones who never took a bottle—or who had to try bottle after bottle before finding the one that hits “the sweet spot”—will understand this process.

Some of you may have little ones who love the first sippy cup you choose based on the criteria above. However, if your child rejects it, don’t give up. All of the selections we have above are affordable and among the best options currently available—so it won’t hurt your pocket to purchase more than one model if you have to.

Ease of Cleaning

Whether you want to just stick your sippy cup in the dishwasher, hand wash each piece, or stick it in your sterilizer, you will need to make sure the sippy you get is compatible with your preferred cleaning method.

Some of the selections on our list have several removable parts while others are very minimalist. If you want the most hassle-free options, look for those that have the least amount of parts to deal with. Each time you clean, make sure you take the cup apart completely to ensure each piece is thoroughly cleaned.

If you want to stick your sippy cups in the dishwasher or sterilizer, make sure to get a cup that is marked as dishwasher safe and/or sterilizer safe. Not all cups can handle a dishwasher and even fewer can handle a sterilizer so it is best to double-check before you make your purchase.

Color and design

Although your little ones may not care about the color or design options of their sippy cups just yet, some parents may want to stick to a theme or color. Many sippy cups come in gender-neutral and gender-specific selections to choose from while others are available in lots of different themes and character selections to choose from.

If you want to make sure you get a color or one you (or your child) prefer, your options may be a little limited since there are some sippy cups on our list that offer few selections to choose from when it comes to color and design.

That being said, we suggest you first find a sippy cup that will fit your needs regarding all other necessary criteria and then choose a cup based on color or design. You will find that between all the selections we have, there are options to fit even the pickiest buyer!

best sippy cup to transition from bottle

TESTING SIPPY CUP

After researching many modules of sippy cups over 48 hours, we chose the best five options, reviewed them in detail, and compare all the metrics in our lab.

How Much Does Transitional Sippy Cups Cost?

Inexpensive

There are sippy cups available that are under $5 for one or more sippy cups! Dr. Brown’s sippy cup on our list is the only one in this price range, however, that does not take away from its quality or effectiveness. However, it is important to note that purchasing sippy cups at the low range—or packs of sippy cups at this low cost—may often mean sacrificing quality and effectiveness.

Mid-range

Most sippy cups will cost between $5 and $10 for a single sippy cup. Most of the transitional sippy cups featured on our list are within this price range. If you want more than 2 or 3 they can get a little pricey, however, if you don’t mind washing out the same one after each use—and if you are confident you won’t lose it—one may be enough. We advise at least two sippy cups once you find the perfect one for your child.

Expensive

Expensive sippy costs will cost $11 or more for a single sippy cup! None of the selections on our list fall under this price range as we couldn’t find one that justified the cost—but we wanted to ensure our readers were aware that some could get pricey, so make sure you are sure it will work for your child before you move forward with your purchase.

Premium

Yes, there are ultra-pricey sippy cups that can cost $20. These are far less common and none made our list of reviews. If you decide to go with one of these, make sure your child is ready for their specific design and that they are worth the investment.

Best Sippy Cup to Transition from Bottle: The Ultimate Guide 2

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Author

Diana Lucas

Diana Lucas

Hi, Diana here. Welcome to my blog and hope you like my sharing. I am a mother of 2 boys, 3 years old and a 1 year old. I dedicate my career in child development research and I focus on parenting tips, positive parenting, educational toys for my babies. Your time here means a lot to me! Diana A. Lucas

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