Stainless Steel & Glass Sippy Cups: 5 Of The Best Non-Plastic Options

Last Updated on July 16, 2021 by Sarah

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If you’re looking for the best stainless steel and glass sippy cups for toddlers, this post will definitely help.

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My Favourite Non Plastic Sippy Cup: Pura Stainless Steel Sippy Cup

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When by daughter was a baby, I chose to breastfeed, but for those times when it just wasn’t practical, I preferred to use a glass baby bottle over a plastic one.

So when my Little Lady reached around 6 months, I chose to use a non plastic sippy cup as well. (I used this one.)

Although BPA has now thankfully been banned in EU babies’ bottles and sippy cups, since 2010, and in US bottles and sippy cups since 2012, I still prefer stainless steel or glass sippy cups over plastic ones.

Firstly, because research suggests BPA free plastic alternatives may not be any safer.

And secondly because many plastic contains phthalates. Phthalates are a group of chemicals that are used in a huge array of everyday products, from vinyl flooring to personal care products. Although they’re generally found in softer plastics, there’s little guarantee they’re not also lurking in plastic baby bottles (unless the label says so). Phthalates have been linked to a number of health issues, including asthma, althered reproductive development and male fertility issues.

Then, of course, there’s the whole environmental issue around plastic.

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Benefits of stainless steel & glass sippy cups

So choosing a non plastic, stainless steel or glass sippy cup helps avoid these problems. Plus, stainless steel and glass have the added benefit of:

1. not leaching chemicals when heated (which plastic can)
2. making drinks taste better, as liquids don’t take on any ‘plasticy’ taste
3. being non porous, which means they don’t absorb food and germs in the way plastic can.

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Best Non-Plastic & Glass Sippy Cups

Here are my 5 favourite non plastic sippy cups, which includes both stainless steel sippy cups and the best glass  sippy cup options.

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1 – Pura Stainless Steel Sippy Cup

What I love about the Pura Sippy Cup is the fact it’s 100% plastic free. The bottle is stainless steel and the sleeve and sipper spout, food grade silicone. Each cup also features internal volume marks, which you can easily view on the inside of the bottle for easy measuring. This is a great all round non plastic sippy cup that gets consistently positive feedback from parents and it’s my personal favourite.

There’s also a vacuum insulated version, which gives you the added option of keeping drinks warm for a few hours.

Any Cons?

There were some reports a while back that the insulated version of the sippy cup bottle contained lead in a small dot at the bottom of the product. However, it’s my understanding that this dot was sealed and also that newer versions don’t feature the dot. If unsure, check with the manufacturer direct or stick to the non-insulated version.

View The Pura Stainlesss Steel Sippy Bottle

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2 – Green Sprouts Glass Sip & Straw Cup

There aren’t actually that many glass sippy cups out there, but the Green Sprouts Glass Sip and Straw Cup is one of the most popular.

Made of toughened  borosilicate glass, liquids inside the bottle only come in contact with glass and silicone. The glass cup does have a plastic surround and handles, but it’s polypropylene, which is widely considered safe. You’ve got 2 drinking options, traditional and tilted and there’s a non-slip, shock-absorbing base, which helps avoid breakages. The spout is made of silicone.

Any Cons?

There was some concern a while back that paint on the glass insert was found to contain traces of lead. However, it doesn’t come into contact with the liquid and it’s housed inside the outer plastic casing, so your child will not come into contact with it. The levels are also incredibly low.

There have also been a couple of reviews where the customer states the glass bottle has broken.

View The Green Sprouts Glass Sip & Straw Cup

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3 – Klean Kanteen Kids Bottle With Sippy Cap

The Klean Kanteen stainless steel sippy cup is actually what we used and it’s a great little bottle. It’s easy for small hands to hold and made of durable, food grade stainless steel. Although the cap is made of plastic (BPA free), the silicone spout is made of silicone and comes with a protective cover.

The sippy cup bottle is also compatible with the Klean Kanteen Sport Cap, which means you can still use the bottle as your child gets older.

Any Cons?

The cap is plastic, although it’s polypropylene (widely considered safe). Can be a little tricky to clean inside the nooks and crannies of the cap.

View The Klean Kanteen Kids Bottle

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4 – Lifefactory 4 oz Glass Bottle With Sippy Lid

Lifefactory are a best selling manufacturer of glass water bottles and their glass sippy cup is another good non plastic option to consider. You do have to buy the sippy lids on their own, but they fit easily on a 4 or 9 ounce Lifefactory glass bottle (sold separately).

Lifefactory have been around for ages and they make high quality, thermal shock resistant borosilicate glass bottles that are durable and easy for little hands to hold via the silicone sleeve. The cap is made of polypropylene with a silicone valve.

Any Cons:

Although the bottles are a longstanding popular choice with consumers, the sippy cup lids don’t seem to stand up quite so well.  There’s a high incidence of customers reporting that the caps have a tendency to break or crack within a short time. Although it does appear this may be a result of over tightening of the caps.

View The Lifefactory 4oz Glass Bottle and Sippy Cap

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5 – Munchkin Miracle 360 Stainless Steel Cup

The Munchkin Miracle 360 stainless steel sippy cup is popular choice with parents and gets consistently great reviews (in fact some of the best).

It’s a little different from the other sippy cups in its design, as there’s no spout/valve as such – rather a 360 degree spill proof rim, which is lip activated and creates a leak proof seal when your child has finished drinking.

It’s insulated too, keeping drinks cool for up to 15 hours (although it’s not suitable for hot drinks).  As the product is valve free, no sucking is required, which is often a preferred choice by many dentists.

With no extra spouts or valves it’s also pretty easy to clean.

Any Cons?

According to Munchkin Customer Services, as well as stainless steel and silicone, the cup also contains olefin block copolymer and polypropylene.  Polypropylene is considered one of the safest plastics. However olefin block copolymer is a bit more complex. According to Soft Landing, polyolefin is bit of an umbrella term, which can encompass a variety of materials. These may be safe, but without knowing what they are, it’s impossible to say for sure.

View The Munchkin Miracle 360 Stainless Steel Cup

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Are There Any Good Alternatives To A Sippy Cup?

If you decide not to use a sippy cup or your child doesn’t like them, a good non-plastic alternative is a stainless steel cup. They’re great to use at home, they don’t break, plus they can easily double up as camping or picnic cups.

I really like these Stainless Steel Cups for Kids and Toddlers with optional silicone sleeves.

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Sippy Cup Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re thinking about buying a sippy cup for your baby or toddler, here are some commonly asked questions you might also find useful.

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When Should I Introduce A Sippy Cup?

It very much depends on your child and only you can really tell, so encourage your child to use a sippy cup whenever you feel he or she may be ready. Some babies start using a sippy cup as early as 6 months, whilst others may not be intererested until around their first birthday.

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Should I Buy A Hard Or Soft Spout Sippy Cup?

Many sippy cups, especially the plastic ones, have hard spouts. These are usually very durable and sometimes  come with a flip top lid to help avoid leakage.

Soft spout sippy cups generally have a silicone nipple shaped like a sippy spout. They may make for an easier transition from either the breast or a bottle, as the change in the sucking sensation is less apparent.

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What Should I Do If My Child Refuses a Sippy Cup

All children are unique and some simply don’t take to using sippy cups. There’s no law to say you have to use one, so if your toddler thinks they are ready to use a regular cup, let them try one out. My daughter was always one step ahead and soon outgrew her sippy cup, as she soon spotted I didn’t use one!

Or it could be your child just needs a little encouragement or a lesson in how to use it – Babycenter offer some good suggestions for helping your child transition to a sippy cup.

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How Do I Clean A Sippy Cup?

It may sound obvious, but keeping a sippy cup, glass or otherwise, is really important.

So clean the cup thoroughly between uses (including the lid) with warm, soapy water. Liquid can easily get trapped in nooks and crannies of a sippy cup, which can led to bacteria build up, or even mold, so you might find a bottle brush is a useful way to get into the harder to reach areas. Also remember to dry the bottle thoroughly.

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Do Sippy Cups Cause Tooth Decay?

Whilst sippy cups can be a helpful way for your child to transition from nursing, or bottle-feeding, to a regular cup, be aware that toddlers can sometimes develop a habit of keeping the sippy cup in their mouth for a long period of time. Or even fall asleep with it at bedtime.

This can cause the sugars from drinks, other than water, to pool in your baby or toddler’s mouth, where it coats the teeth, potentially leading to tooth decay.

So avoid giving your child a sippy cup of milk or juice in bed and encourage them not to walk around with the cup constantly in their mouth.  Babycenter suggest limiting juice and milk to meal times and refilling a sippy cup with water whenever your child is thirsty.

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Non Plastic Stainless Steel and Glass Sippy Cups: A Final Word

Sippy cups can be a great way to help your child transition from bottle or breastfeeding to an everyday cup. They can also help with fine motor skill development and hand to eye coordination.

If you choose to use a sippy cup, opting for a stainless steel or glass sippy cup can be a healthier and safer alternative to the more common plastic cups.

My favourite choices are the Pura Sippy Cup and the Klean Kanteen Bottle With Sippy Cup.

If you want a sippy cup that doesn’t require your child to suck, the Munchkin Miracle 360 Cup gets consistently great reviews from customers, but it does contain more plastic parts than other cups.

If you enjoyed this post, you might like my Complete Guide to Non-Toxic Toys and or my Ultimate Guide to Non-Toxic Bath Toys.

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