REASONS TO BUY
Soft silicone spout
Nice handles
Totally leak-proof
REASONS TO AVOID
Made of plastic
Difficult to drink from
NUK Learner Review
Interesting handle design that is easy to clean but hard to drink from
The NUK Lerner is 100% leak-proof but harder to drink from.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
By Wendy Schmitz ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ June 1, 2018
Contributions From: Juliet Spurrier, MD
RELATED: The Best Sippy Cups
Our Verdict
The NUK Lerner Cup is an interesting leak-free cup with handles for little ones to grasp. The parts are easy to assemble and clean, and the soft spout helps prevent injuries related to hard spout sippys. Unfortunately, many testers found the spout challenging to drink from, which may make it a better choice for breastfed babies who are used to a more powerful sucking process. Although this difficult valve could be the reason it performed so well in our tests for leaks with a perfect score and not a drop missing during testing. The NUK is also plastic which isn't our favorite given the potential for plastic to leach chemicals into their contents. However, the reasonable price point and soft spout could make it a good match for parents who need an on-the-go option that is inexpensive and leak-free. See how it measures up versus competitors in our article on sippy cups.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
NUK Learner | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Sippy Cup with 360 Drinking Edge |  Best for Sippy Cup for Baby First-timers |  Best Bang for Your Sippy Cup Buck | Best Sippy Cup for Versatility | |
| Price | $14.00 List $7.25 each at Amazon | $17.00 List $12.69 at Amazon | $7.00 List $6.90 each at Amazon | $11.00 List | $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%) | |||||
| Specifications | 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.
The NUK has a soft spout, easy to grip handles and a design little ones are drawn to.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
This straightforward sippy is a good transition cup that little testers seem to like.
We like the cool bumpy handles on the NUK and little ones found them easy to hold.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
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.
The Nuk Learner Cup is easy to clean and assemble and can be used without the handles if you need to fit it in a cup holder.
Credit: Micah James
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.
The valve on the NUK prevents leaks but it is so powerful it can also be difficult to get liquid out of when drinking.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
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.
The NUK is plastic which is not our favorite choice for babies or the environment.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
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.
The NUK could be a good transition cup for breastfed babies with strong sucking abilities.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
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.
Worried about this valve?
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.
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.
Meet Your Review Team
Wendy Schmitz
Senior Review Editor
Wendy is a mother of two who has been a leading member of BabyGearLab's Review team since 2014. She brings a combination of skills and talent to the team that translates into well written, thought-provoking, easy to understand reviews that provide the parents with the information necessary to make a well-informed decision regarding products for their children, as well as, entertain and encourage readers to read more articles on the site. Wendy has a BA in Biology and brings a scientific and practical-minded approach to evaluating baby products.
Senior Review Editor
Wendy is a mother of two who has been a leading member of BabyGearLab's Review team since 2014. She brings a combination of skills and talent to the team that translates into well written, thought-provoking, easy to understand reviews that provide the parents with the information necessary to make a well-informed decision regarding products for their children, as well as, entertain and encourage readers to read more articles on the site. Wendy has a BA in Biology and brings a scientific and practical-minded approach to evaluating baby products.
Juliet Spurrier, MD
Mom-in-Chief
Dr. Juliet Baciocco Spurrier is a board-certified pediatrician, Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), mother of two, and founder of the Baby section of GearLab. Juliet earned her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Anthropology and Italian Literature from the University of California at Berkeley and her Medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington DC. She completed her pediatric residency at the Doernbecher Children's Hospital at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR, and subsequently practiced pediatrics in both the Pacific Northwest and... read more
Mom-in-Chief
Dr. Juliet Baciocco Spurrier is a board-certified pediatrician, Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), mother of two, and founder of the Baby section of GearLab. Juliet earned her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Anthropology and Italian Literature from the University of California at Berkeley and her Medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington DC. She completed her pediatric residency at the Doernbecher Children's Hospital at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR, and subsequently practiced pediatrics in both the Pacific Northwest and... read more
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