Lollacup Review
Lollacup Features
When we began introducing sippy cups to our daughter with the end goal of transitioning her off the bottle, I searched all over to find which we some of the most highly rated transitional products on the market. Due to the benefits for speech development and dental health, I knew I wanted to get our daughter to use a straw cup (versus sippy cup) as early as possible. For this reason, majority of my research rested on cups with a straw and/or more "adult cup" type mouths, rather than those with sippy spouts.
When my mom bought us Claire's first Lollacup, it quickly stood out before the rest. My husband and I were aware of the product because our avid following of the show Shark Tank, but due to the higher price point I had hesitated to purchase this product for our family. I was so grateful we first got to try it as a gift however, because it had us hooked from that point forward!
The Lollacup's 10-ounce cup design was appealing for our daughter's developing hands and mouth due to its removable and yet ergonomic handles and weighted, valve-free straw design. She has consistently favored being able to hold onto the handles and get the last drop out of her Lollacup (due to the straw being both valve-free and weighted). She is so conditioned by these features that she often becomes frustrated now when alternative cups don't give her that same ease and efficiency while drinking!
The easy-to-open and close lid has allowed us to bring the Lollacup with us everywhere without concern for any leaking or spills. As our daughter has become more independent, she always appreciate being able to open and close the lid (to access the straw) on her own accord, as many alternative cups require parental assistance to do so. The cup itself does not claim to be spill-proof, but we have had much fewer issues (in frequency and magnitude) with the Lollacup spilling (when the lid is left open/straw is out) than less-expensive alternatives that have been left in similar positions.
The Lollacup is easy to clean by hand or in the dishwasher. It comes with a brush to clean the straw, but also is simple enough to wash without it since the straw breaks down into two pieces. Dissasembly and reassembly of the Lollacup is much simpler than many of the alternative cups we own and/or have tried.
Lollacup Target Market
Parents of young children who find value investing in fewer, more high-quality children's cups.
The Main Benefit of the Lollacup
My husband and I annually give each other at least one item at Christmas that we loved from the past year's worth of Shark Tank episodes. With him being a business owner and me being a, well, wannabe one, we are suckers for that show! So many of the products that we see featured and try out for ourselves are ones we have actually loved for our family. The Lollacup is no exception!
Out of all the sippy/straw children's cups we own, the Lollacup is by far our favorite as well as our daughter's. It made our daughter's initial transition from bottle to straw cup at 9 months as seamless as I could imagine. It continues to be the most used straw kid's cup we own.
Practical Details for the Lollacup
Price: $16
Where to buy: Amazon or on the Lollaland website
Warranty: New and unused items that have not been opened may be exchanged or returned for a refund within 21 days of the date shipped.
Pros and Cons to the Lollacup
Pros:
- Weighted, valve-free straw design
- Ergonomic handles; removable as desired/necessary
- Durable design; does not begin to leak more over time
- Easy to clean; dishwasher safe
- Made in the USA
Cons:
- Does not fit traditional cup-holders on strollers or in backpacks and lunch totes when handles are attached
- Not 100% spill-proof
- More expensive product than mainstream straw cups
Alternative Options to the Lollacup
Some of the alternatives in the same retail space of straw cups aimed at children 9-18 months old include the following options. Although some have similar features to the Lollacup, none of the options offer all of the features that the Lollacup does.
ZoLi BOT Straw Sippy Cup ($12): This appears to be the closest competitor to the Lollacup. It has a weighted, valve-free straw as well as a lid on a hinge that a young child could independently open/close. This product also acts as a good transitional cup for infants under one; however, many reviews state it is difficult to clean and not a durable product.
OXO Tot Twist Lid Straw Cup ($8): This cup has non-slip grips along the sides (instead of a handle) as well as a twist lid to expose/hide the straw (valve-free but not weighted). The straw and cup appear easy to clean; however many reviews indicate the valve-free nature of this product also subject it to notable leaking.
Nuby No-Spill Cup with Flexi Straw ($10): This cup has a valve-straw that is designed for infants over 12 months old, assuming additional transitional will be used beforehand to assist infants with weaning from a bottle to cup. This cup has a straw that is not concealed by a cover, which makes it easy for a child to access but also does not provide protection from contamination and germs when not being used to drink from. This product claims to be spill-proof, but I can say from personal experience that this cup leaks A LOT out of the air hole on the top.
Munchkin Click Lock Flip Straw Cup ($3): This cup is leak-proof due to its valve, but the straw is concealed in a flip lock , which makes this cup more more difficult for younger children to drink from independently and with straw inexperience. This stage of cup is also intended for children 12 months and older, making additional transitional cups necessary for weaning infant from a bottle to cup. Although the straw is concealed within a lock-flip design to limit contamination and leaking, this makes cleaning and assembly more cumbersome.
The First Years Take & Toss Spill-Proof Straw Cups ($3 for 4): These are valve-free but fast-flow (very similar to a standard straw+cup combo). While very economical for older-aged kids, these cups are the most simplistic in design and assume the child has proficiency with both holding a non-spill proof cup (without a handle) and drinking from a fast-flow straw.
My Final Opinion of the Lollacup
If you are open to investing in a more expensive straw-cup, I would argue this one is worth trying. Despite mixed reviews on Amazon, our family has consistently favored the Lollacup for its ease of use to both our daughter (in opening, drinking from, and holding) and ourselves (in assembly, cleaning, and limited spills). I believe the Lollacup's overall design (including it's valve-free straw) was part of the reason my daughter's transition from the bottle to a cup was rather stress-free and seamless. Her continuous use of this cup after infancy has also defended the Lollacup's long-term value, compared to many alternative cups that are phased out with ongoing oral-motor development.
We own two Lollacups and have found them to be durable and desirable options. Although I can't justify owning many more than two Lollacup's due to the price-point they sell for, I appreciate being able to rotate the two cups so we almost always have one clean and available for use.
Disclaimer
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