7 Best Slow Flow Sippy Cups of 2023
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- As your baby grows, there are many exciting times of transition. One day they’re a sweet, swaddled newborn and the next they’re rolling around in their crib. And it’s almost in the blink of an eye that your little one goes from tummy time to crawling all over the house.
- Another one of these exciting transitions is when your baby starts using a sippy cup instead of a bottle. This change usually brings a sense of relief for parents tired of bottle feeding.
- When your baby transitions from the bottle to a sippy cup, it’s a sign of your child’s growing independence.
It also means you can relax a little while your child takes the charge of drinking. Many sippy cups come with easy-grip handles and special spouts to make them easy to use and spillproof. They’re a helpful tool for all parents.
Choosing a high-quality trainer cup will save you from headaches down the road. You’ll want one that is effective in preventing leaks and that also doesn’t flow too quickly for your baby. You’ll also want to choose one that’s easy to clean.
With so many choices from straw cups, to transition cups, to cups with hard spouts, or cups with soft spouts, the search for the perfect cup isn’t easy.
Need some guidance? We’re here to help! Our list of the best slow-flow sippy cups of 2023 has all the details you need to decide.
Top Choice: Chicco Semi-Soft Spout Spill-Free Baby Trainer Sippy Cup
- SEMI SOFT SPOUT SIPPY CUP is gentle on gums but built tough for teeth. Trainer sippy spout with a subtle groove helps properly position the lower lip for easy drinking
- NO SPILL SIPPY CUP with sip activated flow for spill free drinking
- INTERCHANGEABLE lids, spouts and cups, all BPA, Latex and PVC Free
- EASY-TO-HOLD 7 oz. sippy cup with ergonomic indents for proper hand placement and non-slip removable handles
Our top pick is the Chicco Semi-Soft Spout Spill-Free Baby Trainer Sippy Cup. This is why we think it’s the perfect cup:
Spills: This cup does an excellent job of not only preventing messy spills, but messy leaks as well. Parents of sippy-cup-throwing toddlers will be pleased with how well it holds up.
Design. This cup is made to fit your little one’s hands and the handles are easy to grip.
Fun Colors. We love the choice of colors these cups come in. Whether you have a little boy or girl, you’re sure to find a cup that suits them.
Price. For the quality of the product, we think the price is great. Especially since they come in a pack of two.
Easy to Clean: The removable handles and pop-out valve make this an easy sippy cup to clean. All parts can be thrown in the dishwasher as well.
For these reasons, the Chicco Trainer Sippy Cup is our top pick for the best sippy cup with slow-flow features. We think you’ll be pleased with its performance.
Best Transition Cup: Tommee Tippee First Sips Soft Transition Cup
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Do you have a little one already using Tommee Tippee bottles? Or are you looking for something that will easily transition your baby from bottle to cup? The Tommee Tippee First Sips Soft Transition Cup is both a bottle and a trainer cup.
When your child begins using this slow flow cup, you have two options. The first choice is the silicone spout nipple that resembles a bottle nipple. The second option is a soft sippy spout for when your child is ready to transition.
The nipple spout flows at a slower rate than the regular spout. So it’s better to wait and transition your baby to the second spout when they are ready for a faster flow. Both spouts are made with soft silicone and are gentle enough for your baby’s gums.
These Tommee Tippee cups are made with BPA-free, hard plastic and are available in colors suitable for boys or girls. They are also dishwasher safe on the top rack, making it an easy sippy cup to clean. The handles are also made of plastic and can be removed.
One thing to know is that these bottles are not leakproof. They do keep leaks to a minimum, but you won’t find the same leak protection in these slow-flow sippy cups as you will with others. However, if your little one is still very attached to the bottle, this remains the best trainer cup for babies transitioning from a bottle.
Age Range: 4+ months | Material: Silicone | Capacity: 4 ounces
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Softest Spout: Munchkin Gentle Transition Trainer Cup
- Soft silicone spout is gentle on baby’s gums
- Shades may vary, you may receive bright green or light green
- Ultra flexible spout moves with baby
- Removable handles are soft and easy to hold
Do you have a little one who is teething? You might be considered that a hard cup could hurt their gums. This next cup will take away those worries!
The Munchkin Gentle Transition Trainer Cup is designed with a very flexible and soft silicone spout. The unique design of the spout moves back and forth as your child drinks from it. This flexibility will prevent the cup from hitting your baby’s sensitive gums.
This slow-flow sippy cup also has removable handles that attach to the bottom. The cup itself is made with BPA-free materials and is dishwasher safe on the top rack. You can also use a sterilizer to clean it as well.
For parents worried about spills around the house, you’ll be pleased to know this sippy cup is spillproof. We found that this performs well if turned over on its side and left lying around.
One other helpful feature is that the Munchkin slow flow sippy cups are interchangeable with the Latch bottle system by Munchkin. So you can attach a bottle nipple to the cup instead.
When cleaning the spout and rim, you’ll want to be sure to get in every crevice. Some parents found mold growing in the rim of the cup. A thorough wash with a small scrubbing brush, or even a toothbrush, should eliminate this.
Age Range: 4+ months | Material: Silicone | Capacity: 4 ounces
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Most Ergonomic: MAM Starter Cup
- SPILL-FREE EXTRA-SOFT SPOUT – Our MAM sippy cups for toddlers feature a spill-free extra-soft spout to help babies learn the transition from sucking to drinking
- ERGONOMIC SHAPE FOR BABY’S LITTLE HANDS – The extra-light MAM baby sippy cups ergonomic shape easily fits your baby’s little hands Designed for babies that are 4-plus months old
- NON-SLIP HANDLES – The non-slip handles make baby cup easy for babies to hold, helping the transition to independent drinking
- INCLUDES A PROTECTIVE DUST CAP – This sippy cup drinking cup includes a dust cap that is spill-proof and protects liquids inside the MAM starter cup from dust and dirt
If you haven’t heard of ergonomics before, it’s the science behind studying how people interact with things. Ergonomics helps us design products that work safely and efficiently with our bodies. This ergonomically designed sippy cup is the best designed cup for little hands.
The MAM Starter Cup has handles and a bottle that were designed with your child’s grip in mind. MAM took into account the size and ability of your baby’s hands and created a trainer cup that would be easy for them to hold.
The handles are made of plastic and attached under the lid. This small feature prevents the handles from falling off if the cup is dropped. The size of the handles is also smaller than most, making them ideal for tiny fingers.
The bottle is free of BPA, BPS, PVC, and lead. MAM is committed to your baby’s safety and each product undergoes rigorous testing.
Parents will also appreciate the spill-proof spout and snap-on cap for easy transport. Though these slow-flow sippy cups aren’t 100% leakproof, they still perform well in preventing messes.
The short handles and easy-to-grip cup make this one of the best slow-flow sippy cups with an ergonomic design.
Age Range: 4+ months | Material: Silicone, Polypropylene (PP) | Capacity: 5 ounces
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Best to Grow With: NUK Learner Cup
- Helps make the transition from bottle to cup easier
- Easy grip, anti-slip handles are easy for baby to hold and removable as baby grows
- Spill-proof, soft spout is designed to be gentle on gums while teaching baby to drink from a spout. Liquids flow easily when sipped
- Air vent helps reduce swallowed air
Most slow-flow sippy cups come in small sizes to accommodate the needs of younger babies. But suppose your little one quickly starts to drink more than 4, 6, or even 8 ounces. This is when the NUK Learner Cup will come in handy.
If you’re looking for a sippy cup that can hold more liquid than most, you’ll be pleased with this one. This leaner cup comes in two sizes, 5 and 10 ounces.
The 5-ounce cup is designed for babies around 6 months old and flows slowly. The soft silicone is gentle on your baby’s sensitive gums. It also has an air vent in the spout to reduce the amount of air bubbles swallowed.
The 10-ounce option of this cup is designed for babies just a bit older, at around 8 months. It includes the same gentle spout. This size is helpful to have when it’s time to transition your baby to the next size.
All parts of this cup are BPA-free and dishwasher safe. The removable handles and spout are easy to clean. This will make it easy to keep the spout germ free.
One drawback is that this cup doesn’t come with a snap-on cap to cover the spout. This might be an issue if you’re packing this cup in a diaper bag.
Age Range: 6+ months | Material: Plastic | Capacity: 5 ounces
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Most Fun: Potato Sippy Cup
- PPSU material: This product is made of PPSU. The color of PPSU is light yellow and has the characteristics of BPA free, strong molecular stability and high temperature resistance. Compared with the bottle made of PP, the PPSU baby bottle is more sturdy, will not be broken after several falls, and can withstand repeated high temperature sterilization for a long time.
- 2 types of nipples: Spout type is suitable for babies aged 6-12 months. The spout is soft, and the water outlet method is similar to that of a pacifier, which can help the baby transition to the straw cup. Straw type is suitable for babies over 12 months, specially designed for babies in the oral stage, babies can drink water while biting the straw.
- Drink at ease: The bottle cap adopts 4 layers of anti-seepage design, even if the bottle is inverted, it will not leak. With a gravity ball at the end of the straw, baby can easily drink water while lying down. Fold the lid to 180 degrees to fix the lid position (you can hear a clack), never ever worry about the lid sliding down and hitting the baby’s nose.
- Clear & Cute: There are two scale indications（oz&ml） on the bottle, you can clearly see how much water your baby has drunk. There are also 5 different animal patterns on the bottle cap, which can be changed with the turning of the handle. A cute way for baby to learn to feel the world.
Where do we start with this out-of-box cup? If you’re looking for an option where practicality meets fun, meet your new favorite cup!
The Potato Sippy Cups are a household favorite in many homes for good reason. To start, this cup is designed with PPSU material. This particular plastic is not only BPA-free, but it’s also more durable than standard BPA-free plastic.
The spout of the cup is attached to a straw that has a weighted ball at the end. This allows the straw to bend and adjust in any position. Your baby will even be able to drink when lying down.
When your child gets older, this transitions to a straw cup with a separate attachment. The straw nipple has a faster flow and is better for ages 12 months and up. Both spout attachments are leakproof, which is not the case with most transition cups.
One thing we love about these slow-flow sippy cups are the fun animal patterns around the outside of the lid. Your child can rotate the handle to reveal new animal patterns whenever they please. This makes drink time more fun and engaging.
The attached snap-on cap is perfect for taking this cup on the go. You can also position and lock it back so that it doesn’t fall forward on your child’s nose. Many straw cups lack this ability.
The fun animal designs and rotating handles make the Potato Sippy Cups some of the most fun slow-flow sippy cups on the market!
Age Range: 6+ months | Material: Polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) | Capacity: 6 ounces
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Best for Breastfed Babies: Philips AVENT Natural Trainer Sippy Cup
- Facilitates the transition between baby bottle and sippy cup for babies 6 plus months
- Training sippy cup comes with Natural Response baby bottle nipple flow 5 and soft silicone spout
- Trainer handles with soft grips make it easy for little hands to hold the sippy cup
- Few parts make assembly and cleaning a breeze; Soft spout sippy cup is dishwasher safe
If you have a breastfed baby, chances are good that they are used to the way your breast naturally releases your milk. Some moms find that it’s difficult to transition young babies to bottles or other cups when they’ve been exclusively breastfed. This is why the Philips Avent Natural Trainer Sippy Cup is designed with breastfeeding in mind.
When you breastfeed your baby, the milk naturally releases as your baby sucks and it stops flowing when they stop to breathe. Some bottles and slow-flow sippy cups will keep flowing even when the baby isn’t sucking. This trainer cup only releases milk when your baby is sucking.
Philips Avent has also designed this trainer cup with two feeding options for either bottle-feeding or cup use. The first option is the soft silicone nipple with a built-in valve that helps release air bubbles and reduce colic. The second option is a gentle spout for when your baby is ready to transition to a trainer cup.
These slow-flow sippy cups were also designed with easy cleaning in mind. All parts are dishwasher safe and the easy-grip handles are detachable. You’ll also be pleased to know that all materials are BPA-free as well.
The attention to detail in the design of the flow and suction of these sippy cups make these the best slow flow sippy cups for breastfed babies.
Age Range: 6+ months | Material: Silicone | Capacity: 5 ounces
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Best Bite Resistant: Chicco Semi-Soft Spout Spill-Free Baby Trainer Sippy Cup
- SEMI SOFT SPOUT SIPPY CUP is gentle on gums but built tough for teeth. Trainer sippy spout with a subtle groove helps properly position the lower lip for easy drinking
- NO SPILL SIPPY CUP with sip activated flow for spill free drinking
- INTERCHANGEABLE lids, spouts and cups, all BPA, Latex and PVC Free
- EASY-TO-HOLD 7 oz. sippy cup with ergonomic indents for proper hand placement and non-slip removable handles
If you have a little one with a mouth full of teeth, you’re probably worried about them biting through most nipples or spouts. This is when a hard spout is a good idea. Hard spouts often hold up better to the wear and tear from tiny teeth.
The Chicco Semi-Soft Spout Spill-Free Baby Trainer Cup is made with a spout that’s firmer than the silicone versions most cups have. This semi-firm material is still gentle enough for their gums, but tough enough to keep them from biting through. The spout also includes a small indent to help your baby correctly position their lip for drinking.
All parts of this slow-flow sippy cup are removable and safe for the dishwasher. This makes it easy to keep the spout germ free. You’ll only need to remove the built-in valve and handles to wash.
Many parents found that this cup leaked less than others they tried. Though it’s only advertised as spill-proof, it seems that Chicco has done an excellent job in keeping the spout tight. These sippy cups also come with snap-on caps you can use when the cup isn’t in use.
Age Range: 6+ months | Material: Silicone | Capacity: 7 ounces
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Recommended Accessories:
Sippy cups are often the first transition item at feeding time. When your child begins using a trainer cup, other transitions are likely right around the corner.
Here are some other helpful accessories we like for feeding time:
FAQ’s
What should I look for in a slow-flow sippy cup?
When you’re looking for the best slow-flow sippy cup, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
First, consider the age of your child. If they’re still very young, you might want to look for a cup with a silicone spout that’s gentle on gums. If your child is a bit older and has teeth, you might want to look for a cup with a harder spout that’s bite resistant.
You should also consider the design of the cup. Look for cups that are easy for small hands to grip. Finding a cup with handles that are easy to remove will also make cleaning the cup much easier.
Finally, consider the price of the cup. You can find sippy cups for a few dollars or less. However, these cups might not be as durable or spill-proof as more expensive options.
What is the best cup for older kids with special needs?
Sippy cups are generally meant to be used by babies and toddlers, but sometimes older kids with special needs may have difficulty with the fine motor or oral motor skills necessary to use a big kid cup. Most slow-flow cups will work fine for kids with special needs, however a soft spout may cause a choking hazard if your child is prone to chewing.
- Designed for students with special needs
- Students will learn to sip and swallow with the help of Mr. Juice Bear
- Includes 3 bite resistant straws
- Sold by School Specialty the recognized leader in educational toys and solutions
The honey bear straw cup works great for kids who need a little help getting the suction on a straw started, but are then able to drink on their own once the liquid is in their mouth. A caregiver just needs to squeeze the body of the bear to get the juice moving up the straw. We’ve also made our own honey bear straw cup using a recycled honey container! Another plus for the honey bear cup is the strong medical grade tubing used for the straw. They are very hard to chew through and also soft and flexible. You can order packs of replacement straws, but each straw will last a long time.
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