A travel sippy cup and snack cup for my toddler were two of my most important toddler travel items! As a fellow mom, I’m certain you can relate to how important these items are! Toddlers and older babies run on snacks! Having a leakproof sippy cup in your bag makes it so easy to pull out whenever your toddler needs it!
I know firsthand that having travel sippy cups that don’t leak is essential when it comes to travel with babies and toddlers. The sippy cup for travel I pack is going to be used everywhere, including in the stroller, in the car seat and on the airplane. It’s also very likely going to be tossed in my diaper bag or toddler’s carry-on. So it’s worth it to get a well made travel sippy cup that’s easy to clean and not going to leak!
Moving to a sippy cup is actually a good step! With less bottle parts to clean and sterilize, packing a travel sippy cup for your toddler is a step in the direction of needing less toddler travel essentials! The American Academy Of Pediatrics recommends introducing the sippy cup when they are around 6 months old to ensure they are ready to give up the bottle entirely at the recommended age of 12-24 months.
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Best Sippy Cups for Travel
With so many sippy cups available on the market, it’s often a tough decision for parents to make when it comes to picking the right sippy cup for their child.
I tried several different sippy cups for toddlers before I came across our favorite (spoiler: it’s the Playtex Sipsters).
So if you are in the market for a good sippy cup for travel, you’ve come to the right place! I’ve compiled a list of the best travel sippy cups to help you find the perfect one!
1. Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Cup
This sippy cup is a budget-friendly option with a distinctive spoutless design for babies 6 months or older to get used to drinking from an open cup without spilling. The construction of this trainer sippy cup eliminates the need for any type of straw or a spout. Not unlike a regular cup, babies can drink from anywhere around the rim. This is an ideal first year sippy cup right through the toddlers years as well.
The cup automatically seals the 360-degree drinking edge when the baby stops drinking, thus eliminating spills.
This easy-to-hold cup comes with ergonomically designed handles and no extra valves. BPA-free and top-rack dishwasher safe, the cup has a removable silicone ring that should be periodically inspected for mold and cleaned thoroughly.
This is easily on of the best no leak sippy cup options, as you just can't argue with over +50k ratings!
2. NUK Disney Large Learner Sippy Cup
The easy-to-hold NUK Large Learner Cup will make the transition to sippy cup simple for your little one. Made of 100% silicone, the soft spout is gentle on your baby's gums. The translucent body features Disney favorites like Mickey and Minnie, as well as the Disney princesses, making it a crowd-pleaser.
This easy-on-the-wallet, no-leak sippy cup also comes with an air vent that prevents kids from swallowing air. Besides being spill-proof, this 4-ounce silicone cup also promotes independence with its removable handles so your toddler can hold and carry it all on their own.
3. Playtex Sipsters Stage 3 Sippy Cup for Travel
This is the one we used the same one for YEARS! We never had an issue with it leaking. We don't recommend the straw version, but this Sipsters instead.
Intended for toddlers 12 months or older, this cup from Playtex is a favorite among parents owing to its simple design and short, hard spout. The brand ensures a no-leak, spill-proof, and crack-free product.
The 9-ounce sippers are beloved by kids for the cute character prints. When it comes to functionality, the cup comes with double-wall insulation that keeps the contents cool and fresh for longer without any sweating on the outer surface.
Available in packs of 2, these affordable and BPA-free plastic sippy cups are lightweight and top-rack dishwasher safe. Playtex offers 4 stages of sippy cups with straw and spout tops according to your baby’s age and development to help make transitioning to sippy cup as smooth as possible.
We tried several different Playtex sippy cups, including those with a straw, this was the winner by far for us!
It's hard to argue with the +50k reviews of the Miracle Cup above, but we can say that after using several sippy cups this one was the best.
4. Philips AVENT My Easy Sippy Cup with Soft Spout
The My Easy Sippy Cup has a built-in valve to ensure spill-free drinking, making it the ideal cup for toddlers. Its unique rippled design makes the cup easy to grasp with little hands and enables independent sipping.
You can see the amount of liquid left inside the cup due to it being transparent, which is great for knowing when your kid needs a refill. The soft silicone spout is gentle on your baby's gums and ensures a smooth switch when introducing a sippy cup.
The snap-on cap for the spout assures hygiene and zero spills when on the go. With just three detachable dishwasher-safe parts, this leak-proof sippy cup is easy to disassemble and clean too.
5. The First Years Take & Toss Spill Proof Travel Sippy Cups
This rainbow-colored beginner sippy cup and hard spout lid pack by the First Years Store are an excellent 2 & 3 year old sippy cup to travel with. Since they are like a cup, your toddler needs to be able to hold on to it without any handles.
The interchangeable, snap-on lids are completely leak-proof and the no-valve design makes it extremely easy to clean them. We always brought these for stays in vacation rentals and used them for milk, since they were so easy to clean. This allowed us to keep our better non leak sippy cup for water.
Their lightweight design and stackability make them easy to carry when on the go and the fact that they're made of BPA-free plastic means they are dishwasher safe too.
6. Boon SNUG Spout Sippy Lids
Boon takes its promise to make the lives of parents easier very seriously and delivers in this case with the innovative design of this universal sippy cup lid. Made from high-quality silicone, the lids stretch over and fit cups with diameters ranging between 2.5 and 3.75 inches, making almost any cup the best no-spill sippy cup with ease!
Available in packs of 3 and in fun colors, these spill-proof lids are inexpensive, easy to store, and very travel-friendly. Plus, since silicone is resistant to heat, they are also fine to boil and sterilize or stack in the top rack of your dishwasher for some thorough cleaning.
7. NUK Sesame Street Hard Spout Cup
NUK Store guarantees a 100% leak-proof, spill-proof, and break-proof design with its adorable Sesame Street sippy cup. The slightly curved body makes it easy to hold and promotes independent drinking for kids. The hard spout lid makes it durable, long-lasting, and perfect for your little ones that like to bite and chew on anything they can get their hands on.
A raised spout and unique, flow-controlled valve promise mess-free drinking by making it easy to tip and sip for little ones. Made out of safe BPA-free materials, this non-spill sippy cup is economical and dishwasher safe.
8. RE-PLAY No Spill Sippy Cups for Baby or Toddler
Made from recycled milk jugs, this eco-friendly set-of-4 sippy cups is BPA, PVC, and melamine free. While it is the most expensive item on our list, these cups have a sturdy enough build quality to guarantee both durability and longevity, making it well worth the price.
Owing to their thick, textured plastic material, the no-spill cups are safe in the dishwasher, refrigerator, and microwave.
They're made from heavy-duty, recycled plastic that increases their durability and prevents their colors from fading. Use your sippy cups when you need and put them away in your cabinet when done.
Their stackable design makes them extremely easy to store in your suitcase or your diaper bag while traveling.
9. Munchkin Click Lock Bite Proof Sippy Cup
While messes are inevitable with toddlers, the Munchkin store makes an effort to eliminate spills with its sippy cups. This sippy cup features a locking lid that clicks shut in place to create a leak-proof seal. While some users have complained that this makes it slightly difficult for kids to use the cup on their own, one can't deny that it does ensure a 100% leak-free product.
The contoured body of the this best toddler sippy cup options makes it easy to hold for little ones and the reinforced spout is advertised to be bite-proof, firm but not hard, and gentle on the gums.
This pack of 2 sippy cups is made from BPA-free plastic and is dishwasher safe but cannot be boiled or sterilized.
10. Fun Grips Hard Spout Sippy Cup by NUK
The hourglass shape of the Fun Grips sippy cup prevents it from tipping over and creating a mess. The body has groves that provide a good grip for toddlers to hold. Its unique flow control valve and Seal Zone technology ensure ease of drinking as well as a 100% leak-proof and spill-proof experience. This also makes it ideal for toddlers to use in a toddler travel bed without worrying about accidents.
Made from dishwasher safe and BPA-free plastic, this rugged, hard-spout sippy cup is also durable and bite-proof making it one of the best toddler sippy cups for travel out there. It also has a dedicated area for a label to personalize the cup and prevent it from getting lost at daycare or during your travels.
11. Munchkin Miracle 360 Color Changing Sippy Cup
Another spoutless construction by the Munchkin Store, this attractive 9-ounce sippy cup is a total crowd-pleaser. It is available in several bright "changing" color pairs that change when storing cool beverages below 57°F/14°C.
Its 360-degree tilt and sip mechanism encourages independent drinking and brings kids one step closer to drinking from a regular cup.
Recommended to prevent little ones from chewing spouts and straws, it is made from high-quality BPA-free plastic, is easy to clean, and also top-rack dishwasher safe.
12. First Essentials by NUK Hard Spout Sippy Cup for Travel
This pack-of-2 rim cups from NUK First Essentials will keep your toddler's drink cool for up to 6 hours with its unique Arctic Wrap insulation which makes it ideal for long outdoor adventures, like hiking with toddlers.
Made of 100% BPA-free silicone that's safe for the dishwasher, it also boasts a specially designed flat rim that ensures that it stays bite-resistant. The 9-ounce sippy cup guarantees no leaks and a non-spill build which makes it even better suited for traveling.
13. Tommee Tippee Insulated Sportee Water Bottle for Toddlers
Targeted toward slightly older toddlers, this toddler water bottle features an ergonomically designed body that is contoured along with a top handle for easy holding and carrying. Its insulated base and double insulated walls minimize condensation and keep the drink cooler for a prolonged period of time.
Its one-piece, durable, long-lasting spout is gentle on the gums, yet tough enough to endure tiny teeth. All this, and it's still easy on the pocket!
This pack of 2 bottles is free from BPA, PVC, and other harmful chemicals. With a two-piece, detachable non-spill valve, it's easy to clean as well and is dishwasher and sterilizer safe.
My Top Picks for Travel Sippy Cups
I know that as a busy new parent you don’t always have time to read! So here are my top picks for the best sippy cups for travel:
Best Travel Sippy Cup Overall:
Playtex Sipsters Stage 3 – This sippy cup delivers on no-leak plus it’s easy to clean, making it excellent to travel with. My toddler has been using this cup for years without any issues!
Best Training Sippy Cup:
Miracle 360 Trainer Cup – This cup is ideal for training babies and toddlers to use a regular cup! With handles and ease of use, it’s perfect for your little one to drink out of on-the-go.
Best Sippy Cup Alternatives:
Snug Spout Sippy Lids – These ingenious cup lids make any cup a sippy cup! Easy to pack and clean, they are perfect for travel.
First Years Take & Toss Sippy Cup – I love these for there ease to pack and clean, plus they are like a regular sippy cup. I’d choose these over the sippy lids, especially if you risk having only glass cups to use the lids on.
Types of Sippy Cups
There are a variety of sippy cups for toddlers and babies on the market. Most have handles, a spout or straw, and a lid to help your little one master the skill of holding and sipping without spilling. Here are the main types:
Spout Sippy Cup
The spout sippy cup is a good choice for younger babies as its shape resembles the breast and the bottle the most. Available in firm and flexible variants, these no-spill sippy cups come with 2-3 holes to allow the adequate flow of liquids.
Soft spouts on sippy cups are made from silicone and are gentle on babies’ sensitive gums, but also invariably encourage chewing.
Hard spouts, on the other hand, are rugged and encourage the transition from sucking to tilting and sipping. They can withstand chomping and chewing and are better for travel as well.
Straw Sippy Cup
This type of cup comes with a detachable straw instead of a spout which makes it convenient for some kids who would rather not spend time tilting and sipping. However, even the best straw sippy cups bring with them the issue of being leaky which can result in a mess when traveling.
Straws are also difficult to clean and require extra tools like brushes which are usually pretty easy to lose.
Especially for flying, I recommend avoiding travel sippy cups and toddler water bottles with straws, as the air pressure changes in the cabin of the airplane can cause the liquid to rise and spill. You’ll notice I haven’t actually included any straw sippy cup options on this list, since I don’t love this type of sippy cup for travel (from my first-hand experience).
360 Degree Sippy Cup
The spoutless cup is perfect for older toddlers who are almost ready to switch to a standard cup but just need a little bit more practice.
Spoutless or 360-degree cups feature proprietary technology that allows liquids to flow freely when the cup is tipped upwards but seals tightly when it is right side up to prevent spills. This is the best transition sippy cup for little ones to move towards open-top cups easily and safely.
Sippy Cup Lid
The revolutionary spill proof design of the silicone sippy lid converts any cup into a sippy cup. Lightweight and flexible, these lids are travel-friendly, easy to store and make the perfect addition to your backpack diaper bag.
What to Look For in a Travel Sippy Cup
No Leak Sippy Cup
One of the biggest advantages of a sippy cup is that it helps prevent spills and messes as your tot learns to drink from a cup, so a leaking cup defeats the purpose, doesn’t it? Most of the sippy cups for toddlers on the market claim to be either leak-proof or leak-resistant.
The best travel sippy cup is one that follows through on these claims! I recommend testing it before you toss it into your toddler’s travel backpack.
A travel sippy cup can also be your best friend by helping you to minimize messes, whether you’re out hiking or camping with your toddler. In fact, you’ll find sippy cups on both our lists of best camping gear for babies and also essential toddler camping gear.
Ease of cleaning and Dishwasher Safe
Straws, spouts, and other contraptions and crevices in a cup are notorious for accumulating sediment, gunk, and mold deposits. These can end up becoming breeding grounds for germs.
To prevent this, cups need to be detachable for easier cleaning with a bottle brush. Some models can even be cleaned using microwave bottle sterilizer bags, so don’t get rid of yours if you still have some.
Ease of Use and Durability
Whether it means quick assembly for parents or convenience for toddlers, the best travel sippy cup should be easy to use. Go for cups made of grippy materials and firm handles that are ideal for tiny hands to pick up and hold. It might take a few tries to find the right one for your baby, but it’ll be worth it.
From plastics to metals to silicones, there are a variety of materials used to make the best sippy cups. While stainless steel cups may be expensive, they are eco-friendly as well as long-lasting.
Plastic sippy cups are economical and widely available, but care must be taken to ensure that they are BPA-free. Prone to damage from chewing, soft plastic and silicone sippy cups tend to have a shorter life span.
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This post was written & edited by:
Celine Brewer is the owner of Baby Can Travel. Not only does she have years of experience traveling with babies & toddlers, but she's helped millions of new parents travel with their babies and toddlers for over a decade. In addition to writing on her baby travel blog, she has shared her expertise on traveling with a baby or toddler by contributing to articles about traveling with a baby with the Washington Post, USA Today, the Lonely Planet magazine and Pregnancy & Newborn magazine.
Celine also writes about family travel on the site FamilyCanTravel.com, which she co-owns with her husband. Being from the Canadian Rockies, she shares her passion about her home and travel to Banff National Park and area on their site TravelBanffCanada.com.