The first time I traveled on an airplane with my kids was when they were 2 and 4 years old. We took a 4+ hour flight to and from Disney World.
In preparation, I spent a good amount of time planning out their individual plane bags. To maximize the use of our carry-on items I wanted each of them to have their own entertainment, snacks, and drinks in their backpacks.
One of the tricky parts was in picking a water bottle. I needed something that was spill-proof, easy for the kids to use, not too big or heavy, and easy for me to keep clean. I also didn’t want to spend a fortune on gear since a Disney trip is already plenty expensive on its own.
The Munchkin Flip and Go Straw Cup literally checks off every one of my requirements. We have taken them on 2 vacations now, used them for various activities around town, and I still love them over a year later.
The size
The Munchkin Flip and Go fit anywhere that we needed to put it – in the kids’ little plane backpacks, in our stroller caddy, in our park bags at Disney World.
They are small enough to be tucked in to cup holders and bags, but still held enough water to keep my kids satiated until we could refill them. And they aren’t so heavy that feel like a burden to carry around, even for the kids.
They definitely aren’t going to hold a whole day’s worth of water, but for our purposes, we knew we would frequently have access to water fountains and restaurants where we could get more water.
Ease of Use
There is a single button to flip the lid open that was plenty easy for my 2-year old to manage. She was even able to close the lid herself after a couple tries of explaining to her that she needed to keep pushing until it snapped shut.
Drinking from the straw is natural and there isn’t any special finagling to prevent leaks. These don’t need to be tipped or titled as the kids can drink out of the straw while the bottle is upright.
When the lid is open, the cup can technically leak a bit if its upside down or gets shaken around, but the straw mechanism really reduces that. With the lid fully shut, we have never had any problems at all.
The lid also has a carry handle that is easy for kids to grab onto and hold.
Durability
So far, these water bottles have held up flawlessly without breaking or cracking. The kids have thrown them on concrete during tantrums, dropped them accidentally, and sat on them who knows how many times.
Even the silicone part has held up to biting and chewing.
Also, if you lose the straw, reach out to Munchkin’s customer service and they may be able to get you a replacement part.
Keeping it clean
The Munchkin Flip and Go bottles are made up of just 4 parts that are super easy to disassemble and reassemble.
The only tricky part is sometimes pulling the silicone spout out of the plastic lid. If it’s wet, then the silicone just slips and it’s hard to get a good grip on it. Just dry it off and then its super easy to pull right out.
I have always just tossed them in the dishwasher on the top rack. If you wanted to hand wash them, I would imagine that would be pretty easy too.
Sometimes, they aren’t completely dry right out of the dishwasher, but since water or some other liquid is just going right into them anyways, I don’t worry about that. If I don’t anticipate using the water bottles for a while, then I will let them dry on my kitchen counter for a few extra hours after washing so the straw and silicone piece can fully dry out before storing them.
Munchkin has stated in their Amazon page Q&A that the water bottles are not designed to be sterilized, so no boiling or microwaving them. I have always felt like the dishwasher gets them plenty clean.
Also note that it is BPA-free and made of safe and non-toxic materials. Yes, it’s made of plastic, but this is for young kids, and the weight and durability make it well worth it.
Get the best water bottle for kids while traveling
In conclusion, the Munchkin Flip and Go Straw Cup is the best cup for kids while traveling for its portability, ease of use, durability, and affordability. My children love these and I would happily buy them again except I haven’t had to because they last. Whether you are traveling by plane, car, or foot, the Munchkin Flip and Go straw cup is the perfect companion for your little adventurer.
Get yours from Amazon to make sure it arrives before your next trip!