Munchkin the Cupsicle Insulated Straw Cup Review

The Munchkin Cupsicles came home with me because Costco carried a 4-pack with two extra valves for twelve dollars. How can any mom resist such a deal? I didn't expect to be thrilled by them, because so far all the straw cups I've tried have been mediocre to disappointing. The worst thing about most straw cups is that they are a pain to clean and drip steadily when they lay on their side. That isn't something I want to risk happening inside my beloved handbags.

The Cupsicles surprised me by not yeilding a single drip when they lay horizontally or are turned upside down. My curious toddler has spent plenty of time trying to get liquid out of the cups by tipping or shaking them, and so far she is thoroughly bored by the results. The only way to get water out of them is by sucking through the straw. I think these require more suction than most straw cups, because her cheeks pull in like a fish while she's drinking. Oddly enough, she doesn't mind the extra effort. The straw portion is a little wider than other brands', so it is easier to wash by hand when it is too grimy to entrust to the dishwasher.

Munchkin markets these cups as being ideal insulators for cold drinks. They are lined with Ice Cold Crystals, and can be kept in the freezer before filling with a beverage. My daughter didn't want to hold a cup straight from the freezer because it was too cold, and as it warms, the sides get really wet. Since my child isn't crazy about the feature and it doesn't actually seem to keep liquids cold much longer than other insulated cups, I would just as soon not bother with freezing it and getting the inside of my purse all wet. 

Even though the Cupsicle doesn't blow the competition away as an insulator, it functions well enough simply as a straw cup that the gimmicks aren't necessary. I'm all about anything that takes less time to clean and doesn't endanger the fabric of my handbag, so that makes Munchkin Cupsicles the best straw cups I have found.