Straw cup or open cup first?
Parents ask us this more than anything else. The honest answer: both, and the order matters less than starting early.
Tiny silicone open cups, 2 oz, 2-pack
Two 2 oz cups that make open-cup drinking feel possible · $9.99 · 4.7★
When to start
Around six months, together with the first solids, is a good time to offer a few sips of water from a cup. Milk still comes from the breast or bottle; the cup is practice.
What a straw cup is good at
A straw cup travels. The lid stays on, the valve keeps the flow steady and a toddler can drink in the stroller or the car seat. Ours has handles and a window, so you can see how much is left.
What an open cup teaches
An open cup is the skill your child will use forever: tipping, sipping, stopping. A tiny 2 oz cup keeps each attempt small, and the weighted base stops most tumbles.
Moving from one to the other
Take the lid off our straw cup and it is an open cup with the same handles. Many families use the straw cup on the go and the tiny cups at the table, side by side.
At a glance
| Straw cup | Tiny open cup | |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 6 oz | 2 oz |
| Best for | On the go, longer drinks | Table practice |
| Spills | Rare — lid and valve | Expected, but small |
| Age | 6 to 18 months | 6 to 12 months |
Pieces we reach for
Silicone straw cup with handles, 6 oz
A straw cup with a window, two handles and a lid that stays on · $9.99 · 4.0★
Tiny cup and dual-ended spoons set, 4 pieces
A tiny cup and three spoons that work from either end · $9.99 · 4.7★