Whats the Best Sippy Cup For a 6 Month Old Breastfed Baby?

A mother who is breastfeeding her baby might be wondering what is the best sippy cup for a 6 month old breastfed baby? This can be a difficult decision because you will not know how your baby will react to the change. One of the most important aspects of adding a sippy cup is finding a good cup for your child. There are many different types and brands available, but some do not work well with breastfed babies while others are made better than others. I have put together this list of the best sippies for nursing moms! 

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When Should Your Breastfed Baby Start Using Sippy Cups? 

It’s important to wean your baby from a baby bottle between 12-18 months of age. This is to prevent tooth decay and protect adult teeth in the future. A sippy cup is a type of cup with a soft spout and usually, easy-grip handles for tiny hands to hold when they aren’t ready to drink from an open cup yet.

A sippy cup is a trainer cup to a regular cup. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that your breastfed baby will be able to take a sippy cup between 6-9 months of age. If they are able to independently sit in their high chair for an extended period of time, then they are ready for a sippy cup. 

Can You Give a Baby Breast Milk in a Sippy Cup?

You can definitely give your baby breast milk in a sippy cup. In fact, it’s a great way to introduce a cup when your baby is refusing a bottle. You can start by giving your baby a small amount in a sippy cup each day and gradually increase from there.

How to introduce a sippy cup to a breastfed baby

When introducing a sippy cup to your breastfed baby, it’s important to take it slow and follow these simple steps:

Introduce the cup

You can start out by bringing the cup out for your baby to play with and get familiar with it. If your baby is older than 6 months of age, you can start by adding some water to it. 

Teach your baby how to take a sip

Show your baby how to take a sip from the cup. Add some water into the cup a take a few small sips to show your baby how to use it.

Be patient

Babies can be very attached to the breast or bottle and this is all new territory for them. Make the transition gradual and be patient while your baby gets used to the new cup.

Celebrate the milestone!

This is a big deal for your baby! Celebrate every small win with your baby. Even if it’s just engaging with the cup. Each positive engagement leads to more similar behavior.

What to Look for When Buying a Sippy Cup

Here are some helpful tips on what to look for when buying a sippy cup for your breastfed baby:

Spout or Straw

Would your baby prefer a spout or a straw? If you think they would like a spout, would they want a soft spout or a hard one? You can always buy both and transition from a soft to a had spout if they are having a hard time accepting anything but the breast.

Handles

Sippy cups come with or without handles. I love the cups with handles so it is easier for my baby to hold. You can also find some with detachable handles to see which one your baby prefers.

Material

Sippy cups are made with many types of materials. You can choose from plastic, glass, silicone, steel, and aluminum. If you are worried about chemicals and want BPA-free material, then I would suggest buying one made from silicone or steel. That way it is safe for your baby but you also won’t have to worry about it breaking.

Leakproof

Getting a leakproof cup can be awesome for preventing spills and messes. Be aware that leakproof cups are also harder for your baby to get any liquid through the cup. This might discourage them from wanting to use the cup if it is frustrating for them.

Best Sippy Cups for a Breastfed Baby

 

Munchkin Miracle 360

This is a really great sippy cup that I have used for all three of my babies. They sell them with and without handles. Your baby or toddler can sip on it anywhere on the 360-degree cup. It works by putting pressure on the edge to open it up to let the liquid out. Once they detach, it automatically seals again to prevent seals.

This is recommended by the American Dental Association for keeping proper alignment for future adult teeth. It holds up to 7 ounces of liquid. It is made with BPA-free plastic and can be washed on your top-rack dishwasher. I love that you can just throw it into your diaper bag and not have to worry about it spilling.

Just be sure to remove the top silicone piece when you are washing the sippy cup to prevent mold from growing in between the cup and the lid. It is great once your baby gets the hang of it but there might be a learning curve for them to understand how it works. After lots of years of using this sippy cup, I have noticed that it can spill a little if your toddler or baby throws it hard on the ground.

Pros:

• Great for keeping a proper bite
• Easy to clean
• Comes with and without handles

Cons:

• There can be a learning curve for your baby to figure out how to use it

Buy it on Amazon here

Nuk Learner Sippy Cup

This sippy cup is great for babies and toddlers that are hesitant about transitioning to a cup or a bottle. It has a soft silicone spout that is 45% wider than others. The top has an anti-colic valve to prevent them from swallowing air bubbles. It comes with handles for little hands to hold. The cup itself is made with BPA-free plastic and holds just under 5 ounces of liquid.

 

Pros:

• Soft silicone feel
• Easy to hold handles
• Spill-proof
• Anti-colic valve

Cons:

• The nipple is not interchangeable with other NUK bottles.

Buy it on Amazon Here

Munchkin Latch Transition Cup

You can use this sippy cup for as young as 4 months old. It has removable handles which is great to see what works best for your baby. It has a soft silicone spout that helps with a baby that is having a hard time transitioning from the breast.

I love that it’s so flexible that your baby can pull the nipple to the side of the cup. It has an added anti-colic valve at the bottom of the cup to prevent air bubbles from being swallowed. You can also change out the spout with Munchkin nipples so you can use it for years and make an easier transition. I love that you can also pump directly into it with the adapters! The only thing to be aware of is there are a few pieces to clean.

Pros:

• Can be used as soon as your baby is 4 months old
• Has anti-colic-valve
• Super soft and flexible spout
• Versatile 

Cons:

• Lots of pieces to clean

Buy it on Amazon Here

RE-PLAY No Spill Sippy Cup

I have also used these with my kids. They are made from recycled milk jugs and come in a variety of colors. I liked that they are easy to clean. The material has a little bit of grip to it but not a ton and doesn’t come with handles.

I would recommend trying this one out if your baby can handle holding a cup without handles pretty well. They say it is spill-proof but I don’t think it is completely spill-proof. It can leak a little bit so be careful when you are throwing it into your diaper bag. There’s a little collection valve that is what makes it spillproof.

Just make sure to take that piece out when you are cleaning it to prevent any mold. Other than that I have really liked these cups. They are a really simple design for a traditional sippy cup and a great option if you want something affordable and is also a more environmentally friendly option.

Pros:

• Durable
• Environmentally friendly
• Dishwasher safe
• Affordable

Cons:

• Not completely leakproof

Buy it on Amazon Here

Haakaa Silicone Sip-N-Snack Cup

Such a cool sippy cup and snack cup combo! I love that its low risk so if your baby doesn’t love the spout, you can still use it as a snack cup. It’s fully made of silicone and is drop-proof so you don’t have to worry about the top falling off when they drop it. There are handles on the sides so it’s easy to hold. It’s only two pieces for easy cleaning. It holds up to 9 ounces and is dishwasher safe.

 

Pros:

• Versatile
• Drop-proof
• Soft silicone top
• Easy to clean

Cons:

• It’s not completely leakproof

Buy it on Amazon Here

Munchkin Any Angle Click Lock Trainer Cup

I’ve used this one with my kids and love it. There is a weight at the bottom of the straw so if your baby likes to tilt their head back while they drink from a straw, they will still get the liquid out. The top closes over the straw to prevent leaks and to keep it clean. It comes with handles on the side so it’s easier for toddlers to hold.

Another great reason to get this cup is if your child has a hard time holding their head up. The straw is pretty small so I didn’t love putting anything but water in it since it was a little hard to clean after. You can use it as soon as 6 months of age. It holds up to 7 ounces and is dishwasher safe. 

Pros:

• Easy to drink at any angle
• Leak proof
• Built-in lid

Cons:

• Tiny straw is hard to clean

Buy it on Amazon Here

Pura Kiki Stainless Steel Bottle

This is a great versatile cup that comes with a spout and a straw. It’s made with a stainless steel bottle and a silicone spout so it is entirely plastic-free! I love that you can use it for years for each stage. It’s a low-risk buy since it has multiple options for your baby’s preference. It holds a whopping 11 ounces as well!

 

Pros:

• Plastic-free
• Interchangeable accessories (nipple, spout, & straw)
• Dishwasher safe

Cons:

• Straw can be hard to get liquids out

Buy it on Amazon Here

Socub Silicone Training Cup

This is a great little cup for little hands! It is made fully of silicone for easy grip with little hands. It comes with a straw and holds 4 ounces of liquid. It’s three simple pieces so it’s easy to clean and is dishwasher safe.

 

 

Pros:

• Easy for little hands to hold
• Easy to clean
• Little one feels big having a cup just like mom and dad

Cons:

• Some have received the cup without a vent hole in the lid and added one themselves

Buy it on Amazon Here

Tommee Tippee First Sips Soft Transitional Cup

You can use this one as soon as your baby is 4 months old. It comes with a soft silicone nipple and a spout or you can buy it with a straw depending on your baby’s preference. The handles are also removable so it is a pretty versatile cup. It is easy to clean and is dishwasher safe. It holds up to 5 ounces of liquid.

 

Pros:

• Versatile
• Easy to clean
• Soft silicone spout

Cons:

• Not leak proof

Buy it on Amazon Here

Aiheart Silicone Training cup

This is a very cute silicone cup with handles and a straw. Babies can start using it as early as 6 months. You can also use it as an open cup once your baby is ready. It comes in a 2 pack with multiple color options and holds up to 5 ounces of liquid.

 

 

Pros:

• Cute design
• Leak proof
• Has handles

Cons:

• Not dishwasher safe

Buy it on Amazon Here

Philips Avent Sippy Cup

This sippy cup comes with a fast flow nipple and a soft silicone spout. The nipple comes with a venting system to prevent colic. There are handles and can be used as early as 4 months of age. This is a top-rated cup on amazon with thousands of 5 stars reviews. It holds up to 5 ounces of liquid and is dishwasher safe.

 

Pros:

• Comes with nipple and spout
• Has handles
• Dishwasher safe

Cons:

• Not completely leakproof

Buy it on Amazon Here

Cupkin Stackable Stainless Steel Kids Cup

This is an insulated tumbler with a silicone straw. It comes in a two-pack and holds up to 8.5 or 12 ounces of liquid depending on what size you choose. It comes in a ton of different colors to choose from. I love that it is third-party tested and is chemical and toxin-free. It is very durable and comes with a lifetime guarantee.

 

Pros:

• Durable
• Lifetime guarantee
• Toxin-free
• Dishwasher safe

Cons:

• Some have had the paint chip from the dishwasher

Buy it on Amazon Here

MAM Trainer Cup

So many moms rave about this cup! It’s awesome that it comes with a nipple and a spout to help with the transition. The most common thing said about this cup is that this is THE cup if your baby is stubborn about accepting bottles. It has a soft nipple and spout so it feels more like mom. The only thing to keep in mind is they aren’t as durable as others since they are so soft so they might need to be replaced more often than others. I love that it comes with handles so your baby can easily feed themselves. Hello, independence! All the nipples are interchangeable with MAM so if your baby loves a specific top, you can switch that on first before you try out the new spout. You can use this bottle as soon as they are 4 months old and it holds up to 8 ounces.

Pros:

• Accepted by the pickiest babies
• Comes with a soft nipple and spout
• Comes with handles
• Easy to clean

Cons:

• Nipple and spout aren’t as durable as others

Buy it on Amazon Here

Catii Silicone Training Cup

This is an open cup made with silicone. If your toddler is anything like mine, she loves to drink out of open cups just like her mama. I am so proud of her independence but having handles is key for a cup her age.

I love that it’s made of all silicone so it’s durable and protects their teeth. It holds up to 5 ounces of liquid. Some moms said that they wish it were bigger to hold more but I find 5 ounces to be a perfect amount for an open cup.

Pros:

• Durable
• Has handles
• Soft for baby’s mouth

Cons:

• Only holds 5 ounces of liquid

Buy it on Amazon Here

EZPZ Tiny Cup

This is such a well-designed cup. I love that it was designed by a pediatric feeding specialist. A great feature is that it has a weighted bottom and grippy bumps to help avoid it being spilled.

It’s made out of silicone to help your baby grip the cup but to also protect their teeth. Even the inside is shaped in a way so that the liquid flows evenly for your baby. It’s very tiny and only holds 2 ounces but they do carry a larger size that holds 4 ounces which is a great option depending on how old your baby is.

Pros:

• Grip and weighted bottom
• Easy to clean
• Designed by a pediatric feeding specialist

Cons:

• Holds only 2-4 ounces depending on what size you choose

Buy it on Amazon Here

Final thoughts

There are so many great options out there now and I hope one of these cups helps you and your baby find the right one for you. Try a few out and see what works best. Just remember to be patient and celebrate all the small wins with your baby because this is such a big milestone for them!