A truly spill-proof cup for kids
If you're a parent, you know that the spill-proof sippy cup is fantastic--in theory. In reality, you've probably spent many a night scrubbing stains out of your couch.
A while back, I received a sample cup from Contigo, and this truly spill-proof travel mug quickly became a favorite in my house. Recently, the company asked me if I'd be interested in trying out its new line of kids' cups. You mean there might be a way to keep apple juice off my couch? Sign. Me. Up.
Like their grownup counterparts, the kids' cups are 100 percent BPA free, and the patented Autoseal lid is 100 percent leak- and spill-proof. The best part, in my opinion? The lid is a single piece. There's no valve that gets full of mold, no extra pieces to lose, nothing to install incorrectly. Fill the cup, screw on the lid, and you're good to go. I make chocolate milk for my kids--white milk, chocolate syrup, close and shake. This is the only cup that I can shake without spilling liquid.
To drink, kids have to press a large button on the lid to open the valve. As soon as they let go, the valve shuts, and not a single drop of liquid spills out. In practical terms, this means that kids need a certain amount of dexterity to use the cup, which is designed for kids ages 4-12. Both my 4-year-old and my low-muscle-tone 6-year-old could use the cup with no problem. If you have a child with mild OT issues, this cup could even be a nice therapeutic tool. My 1-year-old, of course, can't drink from it--but he also can't spill from it, no matter how hard he bangs it on the floor.
Prices vary online; Contigo had them on sale for $13 for a set of two.