ParentlistStacking Cups
Nesting cups for stacking, pouring, bath play and sand.
- Priority
- Nice to have
- Ages
- 6 months-3 years
- Category
- Play & Development
When you need it
Stacking cups start being fun around 6 months, when babies can sit and bang cups together. Over the next couple of years they're used for nesting, building towers, pouring in the bath and scooping at the beach. Plenty of kids still play with them at 3, often in new ways.
What to look for
Pick cups that nest neatly, so they store small and quietly teach size order. BPA-free plastic or silicone washes easily, and cups with holes in the bottom double as bath sieves. Numbers, shapes or colors add learning later. Check for smooth rims and make sure the set dries quickly so water doesn't sit inside.
Stacking Cups: common questions
- Do I need a stacking cups?
- They're one of the best-value toys for this age because they work in so many places. That said, measuring cups, food containers and bowls from your kitchen can do almost the same thing. A dedicated set is handy to leave in the beach bag or by the tub.
- When does a baby need a stacking cups?
- From around 6 months, once baby sits and grabs, through about age 3.
Ages
- Best Toys for a 6 Month Old
- Best Toys for a 9 Month Old
- Best Toys for 1 Year Olds (Montessori & Screen-Free)
- Best Toys for an 18 Month Old
- Best Toys for 2 Year Olds
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