Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. A simple flip top lid bends the straw over when not in use (e.g. for carrying around in a bag), keeping the straw hygienically clean but also preventing any of the drink from escaping.

Here are a few of the very first starter cups that we've designed here at TUM TUM, ideal for this age and/or stage.

5. Best eco-friendly sippy cup: Klean Kanteen Kid Classic Sippy

Capacity: 400ml | Recommended age: 3 years+ | Material: Plastic (50% recycled material) What we love You may think that you wouldn’t use a cup at this early stage, as you’re either breastfeeding or bottle feeding. But allow us to tell you about Babycup First Cup.

We struggled to get our daughter to move to a cup initially and we tried many different types. She loved straws however, so that became a main focus for the cup design. The Tum Tum weighted sippy cup is really good. DD is one year old and can drink from it great. She usually drinks two cups of water a day whereas before she was barely drinking any’ - tried and tested by Mumsnet user, TeacakeTotty. Our VerdictI couldn’t be bothered with getting the baby used to a bottle and to need to wean them off it for a year. We used a NUK soft spout cup, so somewhere between a bottle teat and a regular supply cup” - recommended by Mumsnet user, Callamia. Our Verdict The TUM TUM super stable grippy open cup is perfect for hot drinks as well as cold, it’s ideal for a cosy hot chocolate and it’s fun to see the little character swimming in the porthole. Litecup, 330ml It can feel quite overwhelming to introduce a new way of drinking to your baby, especially at a time when you're also contending with the mess weaning brings along. Here's some advice from baby experts the NCT: Straw: Sippy cups that come with a straw attached or included, rather than a spout, help to get your child used to drinking from a straw and a cup, for when they eventually get there. With a straw, your child won’t have to tip or lift their cup - nice and easy. We added a lid to our tippy up cup which would flip open and closed to pinch the straw and store it hygienically away, whilst making the cup totally leakproof and two simple handles for easy grasping. Finally, we dialed up the cute-ometer!. Or we like to think so! Our tippy up cup is available in 4 designs. Tommee Tippy First Cup, 190ml

There are many kinds of sippy cups - whether you’re going for soft spouts, hard spouts, straws or free-flowing, open cups - with tons of great features. You might want to consider leak-proof for travel; spill-proof for, well, always; cups with handles for tiny hands to easily hold; eco-options; even glow-in-the-dark numbers for nighttimes. Otherwise, look for cups that are easy to use (as this is all about giving them independence so think handles, easy-grip and easy drinking design); leak-free and spill-free (especially important for outings); easy to clean; robust; and with no harmful chemicals (such as BPA-free). How to help your baby learn to drink from a cup Our super stable grippy cup is not only very stable on the table it also has a non-slip grippy exterior and a ‘glass like’ but indestructible Tritan interior.

Which type of sippy cup do dentists recommend?

Make sure you clean all parts of your baby’s cup thoroughly. Use a small brush to get into any awkwardly shaped spouts or valves as they can become a breeding ground for bacteria. Some cups come with spare straws/brush kits. Take your time with the transition from bottle to drinking cup As their drinking abilities improve, they will start to be able to drink more without gagging, so they can move onto more advanced levels of cup. Fill the cup with hot soapy water. Close the lid and shake it. When you open it, the water will squirt out of the straw, giving it a ‘pressure clean’. We have lots of Klean Kanteens here. They can be pricey, but have really lasted and certainly do the job. Love the wide openings for ice cubes etc.” - recommended by Mumsnet user, IndecentFeminist Our Verdict