NUK Learner Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product
NUK Learner | |||||
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Awards | Best Trainer (360) Cup | Best for First-Timers | Best Bang for Your Sippy Cup Buck | Best for Versatility | |
Price | $14.00 List Check Price at Amazon | $17.00 List $13.62 at Amazon | Check Price at Amazon | Check Price at Amazon | $9.00 List $8.75 each at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | Soft spouted leak-proof sippy with easy grip handles and a hard to drink from spout | A stainless steel sippy that is simple to assemble, leak-proof, and provides a cup-like experience that prepares little ones to use actual cups | A great, budget-friendly, leak-proof starter sippy you can toss in your bag, but it is almost entirely plastic | A budget-friendly, lightweight, and insulated plastic sippy cup with a hard spout | A set of versatile, cute drinking tumblers that double as food storage containers with a stainless steel body and silicone straw that works well for smoothies |
Rating Categories | NUK Learner | Munchkin Miracle 36... | Munchkin Gentle Tra... | Tommee Tippee Insul... | Elk and Friends Sta... |
Leakage (35%) | |||||
Ease of Use (25%) | |||||
Ease of Cleaning (20%) | |||||
Eco-Health (20%) | |||||
Specs | NUK Learner | Munchkin Miracle 36... | Munchkin Gentle Tra... | Tommee Tippee Insul... | Elk and Friends Sta... |
Manufacturer Age Recommendation | 6 months+ | 6 months+ | 4 months + | 12 months+ | Not specified |
Available Capacities (ounces) | 5 & 10 oz | 10 oz | 4 oz | 12 oz | 10 oz |
Body Materials | Tritan Plastic | Stainless Steel | Plastic | Polypropylene Plastic | Stainless Steel |
Spout Type | Soft Spout | Soft Silicone Edge | Soft Silicone Spout | Hard Spout | Soft Silicone Straw |
Insulated | No | Yes 15 hours |
No | Yes | No |
Volume Markings | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Includes Cover | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes, a secondary lid |
Top-Rack Dishwasher Safe | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Origin | USA & Germany | China | China | China | China |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The NUK family includes the Gerber brand as well. NUK has been in business for over 50 years, creating innovative products for healthy and safe development. NUK makes every effort to meet and exceed safety standards and the standards of real-world moms.
Performance Comparison
This straightforward sippy is a good transition cup that little testers seem to like.
Likes
This cup is leak-proof in both the upside down and sideways leak tests making it a good option for on-the-go adventures. Being leak-proof is a primary concern for this type of cup, so this is a big plus. We like the smaller size, shape, and nubbly grips the NUK sports that make it easy for even the youngest sippers to hold and use.
This cup is also easy to clean, take apart, and assemble and it doesn't require special tools to clean beyond the standard bottle brush. The NUK's spout/valve could be cleaned with a straw brush but it isn't 100% necessary. The silicone spout is soft and nicely shaped. We like that it is silicone, not plastic and that the shape is nicer for transitioning.
Dislikes
The NUK's spout/valve is harder to use than most of the competition. Even adults could barely get the liquid to come out. For a transition cup intended for babies, this seems counter-intuitive, but for breastfed babies who regularly use more sucking action than bottle-fed babies, it could be no big deal. However, the valve difficulty means it does not meet the American Dental Associations “no valve” preference. Given that the main concern about valves is the amount of sucking a child needs to do, we feel that the excessive sucking required for this sippy is further from the ADA ideal than we would like.
This cup is BPA-free plastic which is not an inert material like stainless steel. However, being BPA-free does not necessarily translate to being 100% healthy.
Conclusion
There are lots of things to like about this cup, including the thoughtful handle design, silicone spout, leak-proof valve, and easy cleaning. On the flip side the cup is difficult to drink from and it is plastic. However, if the plastic doesn't worry you and you avoid letting any liquid sit in the cup for long periods, you may find the lower price and tough valve operation meet your on-the-go needs with style.
Purchasing this cup through a retailer like Amazon means you can test it for yourself and return it if it is too hard to drink from. Save the packaging and test your cup right away to avoid return hassles.