Choosing your baby’s first cup

Britton First Cup 200 ml green with open drinking spout

A first cup should be comfortable to hold and easy to clean. Its shape and drinking mechanism matter more than choosing the largest size.

Three options in the Britton range

Britton First Cup, 200 ml holds 200 ml and is described as free-flow. Britton soft-spout cup, 150 ml holds 150 ml and has a soft silicone spout. Britton straw cup, 270 ml holds 270 ml and has a covered silicone straw. Choose with your child's current skills in mind; these are different ways of drinking, not compulsory steps that every child must follow.

Start with a little practice

Offer a small amount and help your child hold the cup. There is no need to fill it to the top. For learning to sip, NHS guidance favors an open cup or a free-flow cup without a valve from around six months. Check the actual mechanism; a product called a first cup is not automatically valve-free.

Make cleaning part of the choice

Look at how the lid, straw or spout comes apart. Choose a design you can wash thoroughly after use. Britton replacement straws, 2 pieces and Britton replacement spouts, 2 pieces are replacement products for compatible cups; confirm the exact fit before buying.

Read the age label correctly

A 4m+ product label is not advice to start solids or offer extra water at four months. Follow feeding guidance appropriate for your child. Supervise drinking and replace damaged parts.