NUK Learner Review
Pros: Soft silicone spout, nice handles, totally leak-proof
Cons: Made of plastic, difficult to drink from
Manufacturer: NUK
The Skinny
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
NUK Learner | |||||
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| Awards |  |  | |||
| Price | $8.00 List $7.00 each at Amazon | $15.00 List $4.31 each at Amazon | $7.40 List $6.88 each at Amazon | $8.00 List $7.59 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 |
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.
— Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz
Honest, objective reviews. Led by a Pediatrician.
BabyGearLab was founded by a Pediatrician Mom with a mission to provide a reliable, independent, source of information to new parents. Our experts have tested thousands of baby and kids products to share key performance, health, and safety findings. We spend tens of thousands of dollars crash testing car seats to inform our ratings. And, we combine our review work with gobs of expert parenting advice. To assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing by people who care.
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