Wondering what the best open cup for your baby is? After introducing one at our baby’s 6-month pediatrician appointment, here’s what worked for us, what we’d buy again, and the cups we’re excited to test next.
Quick Take: If you’re just starting with an open cup, we’d happily buy the SAMiGO Silicone Baby Open Cups again. It’s simple, affordable, the perfect size for beginners, and made practicing much less intimidating.
Open Cups Weren’t Even on My Radar
Before becoming a parent, I assumed babies eventually graduated from bottles to sippy cups.
That was about the extent of my knowledge.
Then, at our baby’s 6-month pediatrician appointment, I asked what I thought was a simple question:
“When should we start using a sippy cup?”
To my surprise, our pediatrician recommended something different.
Instead of focusing on traditional spouted sippy cups, they encouraged us to introduce both a straw cup and an open cup alongside solids.
I’ll be honest…
I thought there was absolutely no way our baby could drink from an open cup.
It sounded messy.
It sounded frustrating.
It sounded like something we’d eventually get around to.
But we decided to give it a try.
And while it definitely was messy, it also became one of those skills that improved much faster than I expected.
If you’re wondering whether open cups are worth introducing, here’s everything we’ve learned so far.
Why Introduce an Open Cup?
One thing I didn’t understand at first is that open cups aren’t meant to replace bottles overnight.
They’re simply another developmental skill your baby can begin practicing while they’re learning to eat solids.
Many pediatricians, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), occupational therapists (OTs), and feeding specialists recommend introducing an open cup around 6 months of age.
The goal isn’t to have your baby drink an entire serving of water.
The goal is simply practice.
A few tiny sips are a success.
Our Favorite Open Cup
🥇 SAMiGO Silicone Open Cup
Best for: Babies just learning to drink from an open cup
This is the cup we’ve used since we first started practicing.
When it arrived, I actually laughed because it’s tiny.
Seriously.
It’s about the size of a shot glass.
Now I completely understand why.
A smaller cup naturally limits how much water you pour, which also limits how much ends up everywhere else.
What We Love
- Perfect size for beginners
- Soft silicone construction
- Easy for little hands to hold
- Stable base
- Dishwasher safe
- Durable and virtually impossible to break
One thing I especially appreciate is that the small size helps keep expectations realistic.
We usually only put a tiny splash of water inside.
That’s all babies need when they’re first learning.
What to Know
This cup is not spill-proof.
But honestly, it isn’t supposed to be.
Open cup practice is about learning control.
There will be spills.
There will be water on the tray.
There will probably be water on the bib, too.
That’s all part of the process.
Would I buy it again?
Absolutely.
SAMiGO Silicone Baby Open Cups
- Shot glass size
- Soft silicone
- Stable base
- Dishwasher safe
Pros: Perfect beginner size limits spills naturally, soft and durable, easy for little hands. Cons: Not spill-proof (but that's the point). Best for: Babies just starting open cup practice at 6 months.
How We Practice With an Open Cup
One thing that helped lower my expectations was realizing this wasn’t supposed to look perfect.
Instead of filling the cup, we usually add just a small splash of water.
Practice sessions only last a minute or two during meals.
Some days our baby takes a couple great sips.
Other days almost none of the water makes it into their mouth.
Both count as practice.
One of the biggest mindset shifts for me was remembering that this isn’t really about hydration.
It’s about learning a completely new skill.
Open Cup vs. Straw Cup
Another question I had was whether I needed to choose one or the other.
According to our pediatrician, the answer was no.
We introduced both around the same time.
Here’s how they’ve naturally fit into our routine.
Straw Cups
We use straw cups for:
- Everyday water
- Daycare
- Travel
- Car rides
- Most meals
Open Cups
We use open cups for:
- Practicing drinking skills
- Small amounts of water during meals
- Building confidence
- Supervised practice
They really serve different purposes, and I’m glad we introduced both.
Open Cups We’re Excited to Try
One thing that’s important to me is only recommending products we’ve actually used.
If something is on this list, it means we’ve either purchased it and haven’t fully tested it yet or it’s on our wishlist because it consistently comes recommended by feeding experts and parents.
As we spend more time with these cups, I’ll continue updating this article.
Olababy Open Training Cup
We already own the Olababy Silicone Training Cup with Straw Lid , but so far we’ve only used it with the straw attachment.
Since our baby naturally preferred drinking from a straw, we never really explored using it as a dedicated open cup.
It’s high on my list to revisit because we’ve had such a positive experience with Olababy products overall.
Why I’m Excited to Try It
- Converts between a straw cup and an open cup
- Soft food-grade silicone
- Comfortable shape for little hands
- Could be a great all-in-one option for families wanting fewer cups
Once we’ve spent more time using it as an open cup, I’ll come back and update this review.
Olababy Silicone Training Cup with Straw Lid
- Straw and open cup in one
- Soft food-grade silicone
- Weighted stable bottom
- 6+ months
Pros: Versatile - works as both straw and open cup, soft and lightweight. Cons: Haven't fully tested the open cup mode yet. Best for: Families who want one cup that does both.
ezpz Tiny Cup
If you’ve spent any time looking at baby-led weaning resources or following feeding therapists online, you’ve probably seen the ezpz Tiny Cup .
It seems to be one of the most commonly recommended beginner open cups.
Why It’s On My List
- Specifically designed for babies
- Soft silicone
- Small capacity
- Frequently recommended by pediatric feeding therapists
ezpz Tiny Cup
- Designed by a pediatric feeding specialist
- 100% silicone
- 4 months+
- Small capacity
Pros: Feeding specialist-designed, widely recommended by OTs and SLPs, soft silicone. Cons: Haven't tested yet. Best for: Parents who want a cup backed by feeding therapy expertise.
Elk and Friends Glass Cups
These seem like more of a toddler transition cup than a first open cup.
What interests me is that they grow with your child.
Why They’re On My Wishlist
- Glass cup with a protective silicone sleeve
- Straw and open cup options
- Designed for older babies and toddlers
Elk and Friends Kids Glass Cups
- Glass with silicone sleeve
- 8oz
- Straw and open cup options
- Dishwasher safe
Pros: Grows with baby into toddlerhood, glass is durable and easy to clean. Cons: More of a next-stage cup, haven't tested yet. Best for: Older babies and toddlers ready to transition.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should babies start using an open cup?
We introduced one after our baby’s 6-month pediatrician appointment, alongside solids and a straw cup. Every child develops differently, so it’s always best to ask your pediatrician what they recommend for your family.
How much water should I put in an open cup?
Very little.
Seriously.
A tiny splash is enough.
You’re practicing the skill - not trying to get your baby to drink a full serving of water.
Are open cups messy?
Yes.
They absolutely are.
But they also become less messy surprisingly quickly as babies learn how to control the cup.
Should I choose an open cup or a straw cup?
Personally, I wouldn’t choose one over the other.
Our pediatrician recommended introducing both, and they’ve each served a different purpose in our daily routine.
Do I need a special open cup?
Not necessarily.
A very small cup with a stable base is usually the easiest place to start.
Silicone tends to be forgiving if it gets dropped.
What We’d Buy Again
If I were starting over tomorrow, this is exactly what I’d purchase again.
🥇 SAMiGO Silicone Baby Open Cups
It’s simple.
It’s affordable.
It’s durable.
And most importantly, it gave us an easy way to start practicing without feeling overwhelmed.
Our Testing Philosophy
One thing you’ll notice throughout Nesting Book is that we only give full recommendations for products we’ve actually used.
If a product appears in a “wishlist” or “excited to try” section, that means exactly that - we haven’t fully tested it yet.
Once we have real-world experience using it over time, we’ll update this article with our honest thoughts.
We think parents deserve recommendations based on actual experience, not just product descriptions or online reviews.
Final Thoughts
I’ll admit it, I underestimated open cups.
I assumed they’d be one more thing to clean up after, and while there is a little extra cleanup involved, they’ve also become one of those small milestones that’s genuinely fun to watch.
Some meals end with a few successful sips.
Some meals end with water on the tray, the bib, and the floor.
Both are part of learning.
If you’re just getting started, don’t worry about perfection.
Start with a tiny amount of water, keep your expectations low, and celebrate the little wins. Before you know it, you’ll look back and realize how much progress your baby has made.
Open Cups We Love and Want to Try
SAMiGO Silicone Baby Open Cups
The cup we use and would buy again
Olababy Silicone Training Cup with Straw Lid
Dual straw and open cup we want to try open-only
ezpz Tiny Cup
Feeding specialist-designed beginner cup
Elk and Friends Kids Glass Cups
Glass cup that grows into toddlerhood