At nine months old, your baby is ready to practice drinking from a cup without tipping a bottle, but the spout, capacity, and cleaning routine still matter. The right cup fits small hands, reduces messy spills, and feels comfortable around developing gums. These seven Nuby options cover early bottle transitions, soft-spout training, insulated travel, and larger cups for toddlers learning straw sipping.
The Lineup, Simplified
Nuby Thirsty Kids Cup 10 oz Blue
Nuby Clik-It Cup 10 oz 3-Pack
Nuby Thirsty Kids Cup 12 oz
Nuby Flexstraw Insulated Cup 12 oz
Nuby First Training Cup 2 oz
Nuby Clik-It Grip N’ Sip Handles 10 oz 3-Pack
Nuby No-Spill Flex Straw Toddler Cups 10 oz 3-Pack
A Closer Look At Each Pick
A nine-month-old needs a straightforward soft spout rather than an insulated travel bottle, making this model more relevant for later toddler stages. The flip-top lid keeps the spout covered between drinks, while the 10-ounce stainless steel body gives you a practical amount of water for car rides and playground afternoons.
Its proportions are designed for little hands, and the covered spout may feel easier to manage during a busy outing. Insulated means the drink stays cold for longer, which helps on warm days, although you give up the softer transition offered by the younger Nuby Clik-It cup.
Practical Advantages
- You get up to 10 ounces for water, milk, or juice.
- The 304 stainless steel body helps keep drinks cold for up to 10 hours.
- A soft silicone spout feels gentle around developing gums.
- The flip-top cover shields the spout between sips.
- The narrow shape gives small hands a comfortable grip.
Things To Consider
- Its 18-month age label places it beyond the usual nine-month training stage.
Feature Snapshot
Made For
You will appreciate this cup most with an older toddler heading on warm-weather outings and needing a sturdy drink container.
A Better Fit Elsewhere
The Nuby Clik-It Cup 10 oz 3-Pack suits a nine-month-old better because its soft-spout design starts at six months.
A cup labeled for six months and older lands neatly within your nine-month-old’s stage. The soft silicone spout gives your baby something gentle to pull on, while the built-in valve stays closed during ordinary handling and opens as your baby sucks.
Three cups in blue, pink, and purple give you useful options for separate locations or cleanup rotations. Compared with the insulated Thirsty Kids cup, this design trades temperature retention for a softer age range and a more traditional training experience.
The Case For It
- You get an age label suited to babies starting at six months.
- The touch-responsive valve helps limit leaks during use.
- A contoured base gives developing hands a secure hold.
- Top-rack dishwasher cleaning simplifies daily upkeep.
Worth Noting
- The 10-ounce capacity may be substantial during your baby’s earliest sips.
- Three cups take more cabinet space than a single training cup.
Key Specs
Right Fit For
This cup works well for a nine-month-old beginning to transition from a bottle to independent sipping.
Where Another Pick Shines
The Nuby First Training Cup 2 oz may suit a baby who initially handles only a very small amount during practice.
The textured band around this cup’s base gives you a clear grip advantage once your child is pulling, carrying, and setting down a cup with growing independence. The carrying loop also makes the 12-ounce cup easier to keep close during walks and regular errands.
A soft silicone spout supports natural sipping without the bulk of a straw setup. Unlike the similarly sized Nuby Flexstraw Insulated Cup, this version prioritizes a covered flip-top and textured grip rather than temperature retention or straw drinking.
What Pays Off
- You get a generous 12-ounce capacity for everyday drinks.
- The textured base improves grip for busy little hands.
- A carrying loop keeps the cup within reach.
Trade Offs
- The 18-month label makes it a later-stage choice for your nine-month-old.
- Its 12-ounce size may feel bulky for early practice.
- Unlike the insulated options, it does not feature temperature retention.
Quick Facts
Who Will Love This
You will find this cup useful for a toddler who carries a cup independently and needs a comfortable textured grip.
Another Choice May Suit
The Nuby Clik-It Cup 10 oz 3-Pack makes more sense for a nine-month-old beginning soft-spout training.
A straw can make drinking feel more like using a grown-up cup, and this model gives your toddler a soft route into that skill. A silicone valve vents air around the straw, which reduces the suction effort needed to take a sip.
The 304 stainless steel body helps your child’s drink remain cool during travel, while the 12-ounce capacity covers a substantial serving. It shares the same later age range and capacity as the Nuby Thirsty Kids Cup 12 oz, but its drinking method changes the entire feel.
Positive Points
- You get a 304 stainless steel body for cooler drinks.
- The flexible straw suits children learning to sip through a tube.
- The venting valve makes drinking less effortful.
- Its removable parts support thorough cleaning.
Small Caveats
- The 18-month label makes it unsuitable for most nine-month-old beginners.
- Straw drinking usually takes more coordination than pulling from a soft spout.
Feature Card
Built With In Mind
This cup suits a toddler practicing straw sipping during warm-weather car rides or family outings.
Consider Something Else When
The Nuby No-Spill Flex Straw Toddler Cups 10 oz 3-Pack offer a lower age range and multiple cups for a child starting straw practice earlier.
Sometimes the first step in cup training is simply getting your baby to hold something that isn’t a bottle. This compact 2-ounce cup offers a small volume, an easy-grip shape, and a non-slip base suited to those early attempts at handling a cup.
Its 100% silicone construction and angled walls provide a soft surface around developing gums. Compared with the 10-ounce Clik-It cup, it places less emphasis on spill control and more on manageable sizing for newly developing hand control.
Noteworthy Benefits
- You get a compact 2-ounce cup that is easier for small hands to manage.
- The non-slip shape supports steadier handling during practice.
Points To Keep In Mind
- The 2-ounce capacity may require several drinks during a practice session.
- Unlike the Clik-It model, its listed features do not include a spill valve.
- Your baby’s readiness to move from a bottle matters more than cup capacity alone.
Made For
This cup works best for a baby beginning to grasp and balance a small cup during bottle-transition practice.
Not Your Match When
The Nuby Clik-It Cup 10 oz 3-Pack offers a more complete spill-control setup for regular drinking practice.
Handles give your baby another way to hold the cup while the contoured base supplies a more conventional grip point. The soft silicone spout and touch-responsive valve support a gentle transition from bottle feeding, with the lid adding audible feedback when it is locked into place.
Its four-month age label makes this one of the earlier-stage options in the lineup, so it comfortably covers your nine-month-old. Compared with the Nuby Clik-It Cup 10 oz 3-Pack, it adds handles and an earlier stated age range while retaining the same broad cup format.
Positive Takeaways
- You get two gripping options through the handles and contoured base.
- The four-month age label includes nine-month-old babies.
- The valve opens during sipping to help limit unwanted leaks.
- Three color choices make cups easy to separate around the home.
Honest Caveats
- The 10-ounce size may initially feel large for a baby practicing tiny sips.
- Handles add more structure to store compared with a plain handled cup.
Technical Highlights
Who Should Grab It
You may appreciate the handles most with a baby who is learning to hold and lower a cup independently.
Look Elsewhere When
The Nuby First Training Cup 2 oz offers a smaller volume for a baby still developing basic grip control.
The flexible straw gives toddlers another drinking option that resembles an adult cup while remaining gentle around the mouth. A pressure-sensitive valve opens as your child sucks, and the contoured base provides a more secure hold than a straight-sided bottle.
Three 10-ounce cups make sense for keeping separate cups in the car, kitchen, or outdoor bag. However, the 12-month age label places this model beyond the nine-month stage, so you will need to wait for straw readiness before making it the primary cup.
Benefits That Matter
- You get a soft straw suited to developing teeth and gums.
- The easy-grip base supports independent handling.
- Three cups give you convenient placement around the home.
Practical Considerations
- The 12-month age label excludes a nine-month-old from regular use.
At A Glance
The Right Fit
This set suits a toddler who has the coordination to drink through a flexible straw during travel.
Swap It Out When
The Nuby Clik-It Cup 10 oz 3-Pack is a stronger match for a nine-month-old still learning with a conventional soft spout.
What Matters Before Cup Training Begins
Match the Drinking Method
A soft spout usually gives babies under one year a more familiar starting point than a straw. Your nine-month-old needs enough oral control to pull from the spout, swallow without excessive dribbling, and show interest in handling a cup. You can begin with the smaller Nuby First Training Cup 2 oz and move toward a 10-ounce model once practice sessions become more consistent.
Balance Capacity Against Control
A larger cup does not automatically make hydration easier. A 10-ounce cup may be useful once your baby can handle a full serving, yet its weight and volume can make early practice less manageable. The 2-ounce option supports grasping without asking your baby to control as much liquid, while 12-ounce cups work better for toddlers with established cup skills.
Check Cleaning and Daily Handling
Dishwasher-safe cups suit households that value quick cleanup, whereas a disassemblable design may be more convenient for reaching narrow straw and valve components. Check where the cup will live during travel, whether its base suits your child’s grip, and whether the lid or straw remains easy to assemble after washing.
Two Details That Shape the Decision
Common Shopping Slip Ups
The biggest mistake is focusing on a colorful design while overlooking the stated age range. A cup intended for toddlers may still be difficult for a nine-month-old to drink from, particularly through a straw. You also risk choosing too much capacity too soon, so consider your baby’s grip and sip control alongside the serving size.
What Separates Premium From Basic
Insulated stainless steel bodies, soft silicone drinking surfaces, and multi-part lids serve different needs rather than guaranteeing a better transition. You gain value from insulation during long outings, from a valve during floor-level play, and from multiple cups when several caregivers share the routine. Pay for the feature your daily situation will actually use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Nuby cup is most suitable for a 9-month-old?
The Nuby Clik-It Cup 10 oz 3-Pack is a strong match because its stated age range begins at six months and includes nine months. The Nuby Clik-It Grip N’ Sip Handles 10 oz 3-Pack also covers this stage and adds handles.
Should a 9-month-old use a soft spout or straw?
A soft spout is generally the more familiar starting point for a nine-month-old. A straw cup requires more coordination, and the Nuby No-Spill Flex Straw Toddler Cups 10 oz 3-Pack is labeled for ages 12 months and older.
Is a 10-ounce cup too large for a baby?
A 10-ounce cup may be large during the earliest practice sessions, particularly for a baby developing grip and swallow control. The Nuby First Training Cup 2 oz offers a smaller starting volume for brief attempts at handling a cup.
Which cup is best for outings?
The Nuby Flexstraw Insulated Cup 12 oz offers temperature retention and a 304 stainless steel body for travel. Your child needs enough straw-sipping coordination to use it comfortably.
Are these sippy cups easy to clean?
The Nuby Clik-It Cup 10 oz 3-Pack and Nuby Thirsty Kids Cup 12 oz are top-rack dishwasher safe. You may need to disassemble straw and valve components separately for a more thorough clean.
Final Verdict
For a nine-month-old, the Nuby Clik-It Cup 10 oz 3-Pack offers the most direct combination of soft-spout drinking, an appropriate age range, and manageable leak control. The handled three-pack becomes useful when your baby needs more ways to hold the cup, while the 2-ounce training cup makes sense for a gentler introduction. Match the cup to your child’s current drinking coordination rather than age alone, and let that readiness guide the change.
