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
Credit: Abriah Wofford
RELATED: Best Sippy Cups
The Skinny
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.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
NUK Learner | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  | |||
| Price | $8.00 List Check Price at Amazon | $15.00 List $5.03 each at Amazon | $7.40 List $7.00 each at Amazon | $8.00 List $9.30 at Amazon | $5.00 List $5.00 each at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Soft silicone spout, nice handles, totally leak-proof | Insulated, lightweight, kid-friendly graphics | Lightweight, handles, cup-like experience | Lightweight, dual handles, spout cover, leak-free | Budget-friendly, decently leak-proof, stackable, fits most cup holders |
| Cons | Made of plastic, difficult to drink from | Plastic, the valve needs special cleaning, hard spout | Plastic, some leaking when tossed, includes no cover | Plastic, smaller | Plastic, offers no frills or extras, hard spout |
| Bottom Line | Interesting handle design that is easy to clean but hard to drink from | A budget-friendly, lightweight, and insulated plastic sippy cup with a hard spout | A lightweight plastic sippy cup that features handles for little hands and offers a cup-life experience | Not a bad choice if your little one is transitioning from a bottle to a cup as the size and shape is similar | What you see is what you get with this minimal, non-insulated, plastic sippy cup, but it does offer decent leak-proof abilities and a budget-friendly price |
| Rating Categories | NUK Learner | Tommee Tippee Insul... | Munchkin Miracle 36... | MAM Starter Cup | Re-Play No Spill |
| Leakage (35%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (25%) | |||||
| Ease of Cleaning (20%) | |||||
| Eco-Health (20%) | |||||
| Specs | NUK Learner | Tommee Tippee Insul... | Munchkin Miracle 36... | MAM Starter Cup | Re-Play No Spill |
| Manufacturer Age Recommendation | 6 months+ | 12 months+ | 6 months+ | 4 months+ | Not specified |
| Available Capacities (ounces) | 5 & 10 oz | 12 oz | 7 oz | 5 oz | 10 oz |
| Volume Markings | No | No | No | No | No |
| Includes Cover? | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Drinking Mechanism | Soft Spout | Hard Spout | Soft Silicone Edge | Soft Spout | Hard Spout |
| Insulated? Manufacturer Specification | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Top-Rack Dishwasher Safe | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Body Materials | Tritan Plastic | Polypropylene Plastic | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic |
| Origin of Manufacture | USA & Germany | China | China | China | USA |
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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
Performance Comparison
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.
—
Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz
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