Finding the perfect smoothie cup is part of what it takes to have the perfect smoothie experience. No spills, temperature control, grippy and not too cold on the hands. So you don’t have to go searching high and low, I have put together a list of my top picks for best smoothie cups for toddlers with lots of great reviews. Enjoy!
When my kids were toddlers, they were very in love with smoothies. I could purée spinach and cauliflower and all kinds of frozen veggies and they would slurp it down, no problem. I think many toddlers are fans of smoothies, and parents find them to be a great way to get fruits, veggies, fiber and other nutrients into their little ones while their palate is still developing. Introducing different flavors and healthy food options is important at a young age. Check out this list of some of my favorite children’s books for healthy eating. They are sure to entice your little to try the yummy sounding foods you hear about in these stories.
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Is a Straw cup or a Sippy Cup Better for Toddlers?
According to many speech pathologists and experts I have read from, the superior choice for toddlers oral health and development is straw cups. Sippy cups can can train the tongue positioning to be more forward than they should be and result in a similar situation that thumb-sucking produces, affecting teeth, proper swallowing and speech development. See this article from Asha Publications about the problems with sippy cups and what to choose instead..
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Qualities of the best smoothie cups for toddlers
- One of the first qualities I look for in a smoothie cup is a nice, thick straw. In my opinion, the best smoothies are thick and creamy smoothies, so a thick, high-flow straw is a must. All of my picks here will have a wide straw.
- Another thing that is important in a good smoothie cup, especially for toddler and young children is to have an insulated cup that keeps the cold in, and also keeps the hands from being icy cold while holding the cup.
- Having the right size cup is also important, so that it fits well in small hands and holds the proper serving size for a toddler.
- Lastly, I would say another important quality would be spill and leak resistant. You want to be able to grab a smoothie and go, ride in the car, take it around the house or whatever and not worry about smoothie being spilled or leaked. Sticky smoothie on car seats, couches or the floor is about the last thing, as a mama, I want to deal with. With a straw cup, you will sacrifice total leak proof-ness usually, but it’s worth it for a better long-term experience for kiddos mouths.
Best All Around Smoothie Cup for Toddlers
I’m going to give you the best right off the bat and not make you scroll through my other picks. I think this toddler smoothie cup checks off all my qualities! The Owala Kids Insulated Tumbler is my top pick for the best smoothie cups for toddlers list! It was even approved first-hand from a sweet friend of mine who love this cup for her little.
Pros – chunky straw, non toxic stainless steel, insulated for keeping a smoothie cold and hands comfortable, easy to clean, leak and spill proof, good for travel, good size for small hands and comes in super cute colors!
Cons – the only con I can come up with is that it’s not cheap. But definitely not the most expensive you could find either.
Cheapest Smoothie Cup for Toddler
Option 1
If you are looking for the absolute cheapest toddler smoothie cup on Amazon, I think I’ve found it. If you want to pay around a dollar or less per cup, not have spills and not worry if you lose a cup, this is a good deal for you. These First Years Take and Toss straw cups have a surprising almost 27,000 reviews coming in at 4.5 stars overall. They are not a perfect home-run, but we do often have to sacrifice a few qualities to spend so much less overall.
Pros – This cup must be doing something right. Most reviews really appreciate that these do not leak or spill, and that they are a great value. You can toss them away or lose them without worrying about the cost to replace. Good size for toddlers hands.
Con – Not insulated, made of plastic (if you prefer more non-toxic material), not very aesthetically pleasing, not super sturdy or long-lasting, narrow/average straw.
Option 2
If you want to step up to the next tier, try out this First Year Straw Cup set that has a few more features working for it.
Pros – These cups are a better quality in construction and much sturdier. They have a nice chunky straw, are insulated to keep a smoothie nice and cold and protect little hands. They also have 4.5 star reviews and are fairly good on the leaking front. I saw a few reviews that said they occasionally leak a little and some said they had no leaking.
Cons – Plastic again, possible small leaking.
Cutest Smoothie Cup for Toddlers
Option 1
Ok, so this cup has more good qualities than just being cute, but cute is it’s number one best trait. The Elk and Friends Glass Mason Jar Smoothie Cup wins my award for cutest, chicest toddlers smoothie cup. They also have a stainless steel version, too.
Pros – CUTE! Non toxic glass, silicone grippy sleeve, thick straw, spill proof.
Cons – Glass seems a little risky if you have a thrower, not insulated.
Option 2
As pictured in the image above, we own this Kleen Kanteen Twist Straw cup in a strawberry design. Amazon doesn’t seem to carry it, but it is available at Walmart.
Pros – Insulated, stainless steel, adorable, high-flow straw, spill resistant.
Cons – Not on Amazon, pricier, not leak proof if turned upside down.
Best Smoothie Cup for Traveling
I think we would all agree the most important feature for a travel smoothie cup for toddlers would be absolute, Fort Knox level leak and spill proof capabilities. From what I can gather by reading many reviews, this Zak Insulated Stainless Steel cup *if assembled properly* does NOT leak. At all. (My number one pick, the Owala is also leak-proof and a great travel option.)
Pros – No leaking or spilling whatsoever. Insulated, and stainless steel. Super cute!
Cons – The straw has a sealed type top to it for no spilling, so might be a little more work to suck a smoothie through. Not as cheap as some others.
Honorable Mentions
Option 1
I really like this Reduce Tumbler with handle. It has a nice large handle to grip onto. It’s supposed to keep drinks cold for hours and hours.
Pros – Stainless steel, insulated, good size with handle, nice colors, thick straw.
Cons – Maybe a little large for younger toddlers grips, may not be totally leak proof.
Option 2
The very popular Stanley Straw cup has a smaller version at 14 oz. It’s the perfect size for kids cold drinks and smoothies and I have bought one for each of my kids. My kids are older, so total leak proof-ness isn’t on the top of my list anymore, like when they were toddlers, but it does resist spilling. This cup would be good for older toddlers who don’t throw their cup and it would grow well with them as they get older.
Need a Smoothie Recipe to Try?
What could be more fun for a little kid than a bright pink smoothie?! Try out this Pink Dragon Fruit Smoothie recipe that is full of tasty fiber and vitamins.
I hope you find the perfect toddler smoothie cup that works great for your kiddo and that this information has been helpful for you! Thanks so much for being here!
Love,
