What Age Is a Sippy Cup For? Maker Age Labels by Cup Type
The age on a cup's label is set by its maker, and it varies widely. Across the 89 cups we track that print an age, the youngest age on the label runs from 4 months to 8 years, with a median of 8 months. When to start a cup is a question for your pediatrician.
By the Cribpicks team · Published November 5, 2026 · 5 min read
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Key facts
- We track 120 kids' cups; 89 print a starting age on the maker's listing.
- 39 are labeled for babies 6 months or younger; 12 are labeled for age 3 and up.
- Open and trainer cups have the youngest median label (6 months); insulated kids' cups the oldest (21 months).
- 31 cups we track don't print an age at all.
Product numbers come from each maker's published specs, from our data as last updated November 11, 2026.
Cup labels carry ages like 6m+, 12m+ and 3 years and up. Two cups that look alike can carry very different numbers.
We lined up the 89 cups we track that print an age, by cup type.
What the age on the box is
It’s the age the maker puts on its listing for that cup, like “6m+,” “12+ months” or “Not for children under 3 years.” We compare the youngest age on each label. When to offer a cup is a question for your pediatrician; the AAP’s HealthyChildren.org has a page on moving from bottle to cup.
Sippy, straw or insulated: the labels side by side
| Sippy and spout33 we track | Straw32 we track | Insulated34 we track | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Print an age | 26 of 33 | 26 of 32 | 26 of 34 |
| Labels start at | 4 months to 12 months | 4 months to 2 years | 6 months to 8 years |
| Median label | 6 months | 6 months | 21 months |
| Labeled 6 months or younger | 14 of 26 | 15 of 26 | 3 of 26 |
| Labeled 3 years and up | 0 of 26 | 0 of 26 | 11 of 26 |
| Sizes we track | 4 to 10 oz | 4 to 11 oz | 8 to 20 oz |
| Youngest labels | Munchkin Gentle Transition Cup, 4 oz (4+ months) Nuby No-Spill Soft Spout Grip N' Sip Trainer Cup (4m+) | Lalo Little Cup (3-in-1 training cup with straw) (4m+) Bc Babycare Seesip Silicone Straw Cup with Handles, 7 oz (6M+) | 8oz Stainless Steel Sippy Cup - Green - Cloud Island (6m+) Lulyboo Stainless Steel Sippy Cup (6m+) |
Labels move around inside each type, too. That’s why the picker below lists cups one by one.
Which cups are labeled for this age?
Pick an age and a cup type. We list the cups whose maker’s label starts at or below that age, oldest label first.
Ages are the youngest age on each maker’s label, not a judgment about your child. Cups without a printed age aren’t included. Check the maker’s label and instructions.
Five cup types, five label ranges
Open and trainer cups
14 we track- Labels start from 4 months to 5 years
- 7 of 14 print an age
- Sizes 2 to 14 oz
Sippy and spout cups
33 we track- Labels start from 4 months to 12 months
- 26 of 33 print an age
- Sizes 4 to 10 oz
Insulated kids' cups
34 we track- Labels start from 6 months to 8 years
- 26 of 34 print an age
- Sizes 8 to 20 oz
How many cups start at each age?
Cups we track, by the starting age printed on the maker’s label.
- 4 months and up6 cups
- 6 months and up33 cups
- 8 months and up7 cups
- 9 months and up8 cups
- 12 months and up15 cups
- 18 months and up5 cups
- 2 years and up3 cups
- 3 years and up10 cups
- 5 years and up1 cup
- 8 years and up1 cup
Same cup, two labels
5 cup lines we track come in more than one size with different age labels:
- NUK First Choice Learner Cup, 5 oz (6m+) → NUK First Choice Learner Cup, 10 oz (9m+)
- NUK First Choice Learner Straw Cup, 5 oz (6m+) → NUK First Choice Learner Straw Cup, 10 oz (8m+)
- The First Years Take & Toss Sippy Cups, 7 Oz, 6 Pack (6m+) → The First Years Take & Toss Sippy Cups, 10 Oz, 4 Pack (9m+)
- Munchkin Miracle 360° Sippy Cup, 10 oz (12+ months) → Munchkin Miracle 360° Sippy Cup, 14 oz (18+ months)
- b.box 12oz insulated water bottle for kids (12m+) → b.box 17oz insulated drink bottle (3y+)
| Cup type | Cups tracked | With an age label | Youngest label | Median label | Oldest label | Sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open and trainer cups | 14 | 7 | 4 months | 6 months | 5 years | 2 to 14 oz |
| Straw cups | 32 | 26 | 4 months | 6 months | 2 years | 4 to 11 oz |
| Sippy and spout cups | 33 | 26 | 4 months | 6 months | 12 months | 4 to 10 oz |
| 360 cups | 7 | 4 | 6 months | 9 months | 18 months | 7 to 14 oz |
| Insulated kids' cups | 34 | 26 | 6 months | 21 months | 8 years | 8 to 20 oz |
From each maker’s published listing. “Median label” is the middle starting age among cups of that type that print one.
Before you buy
- The maker’s age label, checked against your child’s age
- Cup type: spout, straw, 360, open or insulated
- Capacity, and whether the line comes in another size
- Spill wording, in the maker’s exact words
- Which parts come apart for cleaning, per the manual
- Whether the maker sells replacement lids, valves and straws
More on cups: types of sippy cups. Setting up mealtime? See how many bibs you need and baby food freezer tray sizes.
Questions parents ask
Answers come from makers' published specs and official sources linked below.
What age is a sippy cup for?
It depends on the cup. Makers print their own starting age, and the cups we track range from a few months to several years. Use the picker in this guide to see which are labeled for your child's age.
What does 6m+ on a cup mean?
It's the age the maker prints on that cup's label: 6 months and up. Check the maker's label and instructions, and ask your pediatrician about your child.
Why does the same cup come with different ages?
Some cup lines we track come in more than one size, and the sizes carry different age labels. This guide lists those lines side by side.
Are straw cups or 360 cups labeled younger?
Compare the median labels in the table by cup type in this guide. Labels vary a lot within each type, so check the specific cup.
When should my baby start using a cup?
Ask your pediatrician. This guide compares what makers print on their cups, not when your child should start.
Do insulated kids' cups have age labels?
Some do; the table by cup type counts them. Their median label is the oldest of the cup types we track, and some labels say they aren't for children under 3. Check each product page.
Still wondering? Write to us at hello@cribpicks.com and we'll look it up.
Sources
- CPSC recalls search
- AAP HealthyChildren.org: From Bottle to Cup: Helping Your Child Make a Healthy Transition
Policies and specs change. We list the date we last checked each one; confirm with the airline or maker before you travel or buy. Read our editorial policy.