Added bonuses: it comes with a security ribbon so it can be clipped to your pushchair when out and about; it’s dishwasher-safe without the LED base; and it’s BPA-free, medical-grade plastic.

When we're out of the house or when he goes to nursery we use the Tum Tum straw cup and when he eats from his highchair at home we use the EZPZ open cup.Takes a little while (and a lot of spills) to get used to but definitely worth it’ - highly recommended by Mumsnet user, HereComesFrog. We stuck with the Tommee Tippee sippy type (had unbranded version too) for going out where it mattered if spilt’ - recommended by Mumsnet user, TangerineLimes.

Free-flow or open cups are what’s most recommended by dentists so go for one of those in the first instance - this is because sipping is better for babies' teeth than sucking.

The light-sensitive LED unit glows gently in the dark so little ones will no longer have to grasp around in the dark for their nighttime drink and the design means no mess if knocked over. It’s recommended from six months old, though we think a six-month-old might struggle to hang onto it reliably (no handles) but it’s a good and long-lasting starting point.

Some children simply prefer to drink through a straw, so it might be your best route to eventual open-cup drinking. It’s a really easy ‘valve’ just touch it to the mouth and it flows (so no leaks but you don’t have to suck hard either)’ - recommended by Mumsnet user, TepidCat. The Tum Tum Tippy Up Sippy Cup has a nifty weighted straw that follows the liquid as the cup is tipped up, so that the user is never sucking at fresh air.The cup is suitable for warm and cold drinks, has double handles for little ones to grab and hold and features a measure on the interior. We have a tommee tippee one with a spout and one with a weighted straw and we use the ezpz cup at home. Its 360-degree drinking edge allows your child to sip from any side, helping develop their muscles ready for open cups. And because it’s made using Bacshield antibacterial silver ion technology, the spout won’t become a home for germs to hide in, even if it does get the odd bite mark.

As your baby moves on from breastmilk or formula to solids and water, they'll need a sippy cup to help them learn how to drink independently. With its soft, silicone, free-flow spout, this cup from NUK is a great choice for breastfed babies as it mimics the shape and feel of a breast while teaching them to sip from a cup. While this cup isn’t completely free-flow, it does teach children to sip from the edge of a cup rather than chomp on a spout, which means they won’t have any liquid swilling around their teeth. Kids can drink from any angle so it resembles a normal cup, but it still has a lid (often, this seals shut after use) to prevent spills. Nor does it contain any sort of valve, meaning that the little one doesn’t have to suck hard to release the liquid.The Classic Sippy comes with a spill-proof sippy cap and dust cover for little ones, but it’s also compatible with Klean Kanteen's bamboo, sports and loop mouth pieces so it can grow with your child.