Babes and Kids

With my older son Chandler we used the "trial and error" method when it came to Sippy Cups. I don't even want to calculate how much I've spent on cups for him. We used the Avent Bottles with Chandler after a recommendation from a friend and loved them. I never tried another bottle as Chandler seemed to take right to that one. Naturally, the first sippy cups I decided to buy for Chandler was the Avent Magic Cup - the kind with the handles.

Pros: It was easy to hold on to due to the handles. It also has a silicone spout which is nice for teething. It's a see through cup which makes it easy to view how much liquid is left in the cup. The handles are separate, so you can take them off as your baby gets older.

Cons: The spillproof valve is a plastic ring as shown in the picture to the right.    It is harder than most sippy cups to drink out of, requiring more suck. Yes, I tried it myself after Chandler got frustrated trying to suck out of it. The plastic valve is also hard to get out of the cup if you have wet hands making more work than what it is worth. When you have it apart there are 6 parts to clean, which I think is way too many. (The top lid, spout, valve, handles, outer lid that screws on, and the cup.)
The cup also leaks if you don't screw the top on right. Somewhat like the avent bottles, if you screw it on too tight, it leaks. If it's too loose, it leaks. If you don't get frustrated and find that balance, it doesn't leak at all. (Good luck getting there!) If you notice in the two cup picture, they come with plastic lids. I found these very awkward and hard to put directly on. It is a short wide lid which makes it easy to fumble with.

Price: These run around $7.00-$10.00 for a 2 pack.

Where to Buy: You can get these at most retailers including: ToysRUs and Target

We used the cup without the valve for a while before one melted in the dishwasher. I wasn't too sad to see it go.

RATING: Not So Great