When it comes to cups for little kids, and which to use when - there are many options to choose from - and many questions we mums, dad and caregivers have! There are so many different bottles or cups that are useful at different stage and on different occasions for your child. There are also varied opinions about when the right time is to start training cups. But there’s one thing we know for sure: your choices on which training cups to use needn’t be a mission either! Because when bub is ready to roll and drink like a big kid – there’s no turning back! 

So, when your little cherub has moved on from the bottle, sippy, or spout cup, and is starting to look at you, the apple of their eye – to choose the next step of finding the right kind of training cup, (and wondering how to mimic your movements!) well, perhaps this is a sign that bubs is growing, developing, and transitioning into a toddler. Whether it’s from a beginner’s cup or a more in-between stage of advancing their drinking skills, whether it’s from handles for younger ones or without for older - we’ve got you covered! 

 

And... we are here to answer your questions. The first way to approach these life-changing milestones? Is to offer a couple of cups to practice drinking with, and simply see which one seals the deal. Namely, both our new 360 cup and our transition cup. In this blog, we’ll take you through the difference between both cups, what they do, and answer your plethora of questions about each product, and why we love them!  

 

 

360 cup or Training cup - your top 13 questions answered!

To start with, it’s important to note both our 360 cup and training cups not only encourage drinking but support the different actions to develop bub’s greater skills. Plus, they carry the added benefit of being spill or leak proof to avoid major mess in those early days of learning! No doubt a good option when bub is at home in the highchair longing to mimic you sitting at the table, or for on the go for convenience – when visiting a restaurant or Auntie’s place for a swish meal: when you are trying to keep things clean and dry for a moment!   

 

1. will drinking from two different cups confuse bubs? 

The answer is no. Both our 360 cup and training cup not only encourage drinking; but assist the different actions to support their development. Plus, the added benefit of being spill or leak proof to avoid major mess in those early days of learning! No doubt good options when bubs is at home in the highchair for an extended time eying the older kids around the table, or on-the-go on a fancy outing - when you are trying to keep things spick and span!  

 

2.  will the 360 cup be too hard for my bub to drink from, because of its leak proof silicone seal? 

The answer is no. Our new award-winning 360 cup has a 360-degree drinking rim that introduces kids to drinking from anywhere around the cup with one difference, it’s lip activated! The water will only flow when bub presses his or her lips to it. This helps to control the flow and to slowly learn the action of lifting, tilting, and sipping.   

 

 

3. will the 360 cup leak while out and about?  

Again, no. Our winning 360 cup is made with convenience in mind. We’ve created it as the perfect and practical travelling companion - particularly because of its 2 easy to use function modes: twisting handles down for drinking mode and less spills; and twisting handles up for less leaks in travel mode, while in the car or on a plane. Your child can independently drink (quite literally) with a twist! 

 

4. will the 360 cup help my baby’s drinking independence? 

Definitely! Our product designers made sure that bub is not only be provided with a lip-activated leak proof lid, but also make the silicone lid clear, so bub can recognise the liquid as well, fuelling learning and awareness of how drinking works. The clear lid lets kids see from the outside in, to support tilting and drinking and hand-eye coordination. The clear cup lets parents also monitor daily hydration. 

It also allows children to feel closer to their siblings and parents by drinking from a cup that mimics the drinking rim that goes all around. It makes a child feel like they belong, fuelling their understanding that they are part of a family unit.  

 

5. how does the 360 cup work? 

The 360 cup, unlike a straw or spout cup, allows a child to drink anywhere along the 360-degree rim of the cup. The silicone ring on our 360 cup works to prevent spills from coming out of the cup, but still allowing water to flow when activated by bub pressing the seal against their lips. 

In the drinking mode, all you must do is place the 360 cup in the mouth of your bub, and the pressure of their bottom lip, allows the water to pour out.  

To use the 360 cup, you can either have it in your drinking mode, or you can twist it up to lock into travel mode.  

 

6. how do you fill the 360 cup? 

If you want to refill it, simply twist the handles down into your drinking mode, unscrew the lid, fill it with some water, screw the lid back on, and when you're looking to go back out, close the cup, and it will be leak-free. 

 

 

7. can you serve warm milk in the 360 cup? 

If you want to heat your milk, simply remove the lid, and place in the microwave. And when you are ready to clean it, the 360 cup is conveniently cleanable inside of the top rack of your dishwasher, or if you wish to sterilise, it's steriliser safe.   

 

8. how do you disassemble the 360 cup? 

To disassemble your 360 cup, firstly, place the handles in drinking mode, unscrew the lid, unscrew the handles back up, and continue to twist until they come off. For the seal, simply grab the seal from the rim, and pull down.  

 

9. how do you reassemble the 360 cup? 

To reassemble the cup, first start with the lid and the seal, making sure that the arrows on the lid and the seal both point upwards. Start with the seal on the bottom and push up all the way around the bottom of the seal, until the seal is fully up, and then simply push around the seal to make sure that it fits snug around the top of the rim.  

For the handles, make sure that the grooves on the inside of the handles line up with the bumps on the outside of the cup. It doesn’t matter which combination. Then simply twist anti-clockwise until the handles come down, take the lid, put it on the top, screw it on, and if you want to go, twist them up, lock-and-go, and your cup is in travel-mode. 

Support bub to make the leak free transition from bottle to cup, with our 360 cup. It's independent drinking with a twist! 

 

training cup: trade up to an open cup! 

Does baby want to drink like a big kid, and move on from lip-activated drinking? Why not introduce our training cup: the ideal way for kids to learn to drink from a cup. The training cup mimics the flow of a big kid’s cup, by funnelling liquids into the rim for easy free-flow drinking. The cup also features a unique water window in the lid so kids can learn to see the liquid as they’re drinking and judge how much to tilt their cup.  

All the while, this cup minimises spills as baby uses the unique window to judge how much to lift, tilt and drink. It’s the ideal stepping-stone to a regular, open cup for water, milk, you name it! And it’s less-mess for folks too, particularly when dining out or visiting friends. 

A training cup is a good interim option - it mimics an open cup but funnels liquids into a rim so baby can learn to tilt and sip, but without the super-messy spills. 

Keen to know the difference between both cups? here’s some more of your questions answered! 

 

  

10. is there a big liquid capacity difference between the 360 cup and training cup?  

Yes, but a minimal one. There is a 10ml difference. The training cup holds 240ml of liquid, versus the 360 cup, which holds 250ml of liquid.  

 

11. what’s the main difference between the 360 cup and training cup? 

Basically, it’s the flow of the cups that stand them apart. The 360 cup is a lip-activated rim, for younger babies, and the training cup has a free-flow rim for more developed drinkers.  

 

12. can the training lid be used on other bases, and in different modes? 

The answer is yes! The training lid can go on both the sippy and spout cup bases, and therefore used in different modes. 

 

13. are both cups dishwasher safe? 

Yes, yes, and yes! Both cups are made from materials safe for littlies and free of nasties like products BPA, Phthalates and PVC. It will it hold cool and warm liquids and can be cleaned in a dishwasher (top rack only), and for the littlies a steriliser – for added convenience. As with both cups, separate all parts for thorough cleaning, and allow to dry before reassembling. 

The 360 can also be used with cool and warm drinks, up to a max 40C°. We encourage warming in 30 second intervals and testing first to ensure temp is okay. The 360 however is not recommended with carbonated or hot drinks. For the 360, you can microwave the cup, however not with the lid attached. It is steriliser safe with a maximum temperature of 100C°for the PP cup, lid, and handles; and 180C°for the silicone rim. 

 

 

Like all transitions, making the move from the bottle to the cup might be a little tough. But keep that cup half-full - you and your little one will get there! Simply choose the cup that suits for your little learner’s age and stage; assist them by modelling the action first by slowly gripping, lifting, tilting, and placing the rim to your lips – with exaggerated gulps and lots of ‘mmmm yummy refreshing water’ to encourage bub to give it a try too. Soon enough, clever bubs will have conquered yet another life skill. Remember: drinking from a cup needs to be learned.  

Ultimately, the best cup is the one your child will drink from happily and with ease so it might take a few different types before your find the one that is just right. You can also look out for transition packs that offer several suitable options in one, for every age and stage.   

And remember: any suitably sized, soft-rimmed open cup will do the job! Other bits like handles, weighted bottoms and more are optional extras! 

Just a note to say, this content should be considered as one mama’s humble opinion only. Parents and caregivers should always seek advice from your own doctor, health nurse or other health professional that relates specifically to your children and your circumstances.