MAM Trainer+ review

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Price RRP: £12

What we like

Fun design
Teat made from SkinSoft silicone (with extra soft spout)
Ergonomic handles
BPA-free
Wide neck for easy pouring
Simple to clean
Good value for money

What we don't like

Not entirely spill-proof
Doesn’t encourage sipping (more sucking)

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Key specs

Capacity: 220ml | Recommended age: 4 months+ | Material: Polypropylene, silicone

Our verdict

Safety: 5/5
Design: 5/5
Ease of use: 4/5
Ease of cleaning: 5/5
Value for money: 5/5

The MAM Trainer + is a fun, bright trainer cup for kids, with a central teat for easy drinking from any angle and adjustable handles for a comfortable grip. My 11-month-old daughter found it easy to hold and drink from. Its slim design and dust cap (that doubles up as a measuring cup) makes it ideal for travel and on-the-go drinking as it fits easily in a changing bag and is spill-proof when using the spout.

The MAM Trainer + comes with a size three teat, which is the fastest-flowing bottle teat, and an extra-soft spout, plus it’s compatible with other MAM teat sizes so you can adjust to the exact flow rate your child needs.

However, if you’re looking for a traditional free-flow sippy cup which encourages independent drinking like the Tommee Tippee Essentials Free Flow First Cup then the MAM Trainer + may not be ideal as the follow-on spout, which claims to help with transitioning to a cup, still encourages sucking as opposed to sipping. Plus, its flow rate is super slow without having to biting it slightly which can take little ones a while to master. So, I wouldn’t call this a free-flow trainer cup for that reason.

Both the NCT and dentists agree: sipping from a cup is healthier for your child's teeth. Drinking sugary or acidic liquids through bottles or spill-proof cups with straws or valves can expose their teeth and gums to these harmful substances, leading to tooth decay over time.

Unlike other MAM bottles, the MAM Trainer + can't be self-sterilised in the microwave either, which might be missed, especially since it's suitable for use from four months. However, this isn't a common feature in sippy cups, so I didn’t expect it.

Nonetheless, my daughter still enjoys drinking from this trainer cup and loves the bright design. From a parent’s perspective I found that the MAM Trainer+ is sturdy, easy to pour liquids into, quick to clean and good value for money.

How we tested the MAM Trainer+

I’ve been using this trainer cup as a water bottle daily with my daughter which she drinks from when she feels like it. We've also taken it out in the changing bag and on shopping trips.

During testing, I scored this trainer cup on a number of different criteria including: safety, design, ease of use, ease of cleaning and value for money.

How does the MAM Trainer+ look and what age is it suitable for?

This trainer cup can be used from four months plus and works well as a water bottle for toddlers. It’s quite versatile in that the SoftSilicone teat helps babies transition from breastfeeding to bottle feeding, while the extra soft spout makes the transition from bottle to cup a little easier.

We have the blue trainer cup with the cute animals and hearts printed on the side which my daughter loves. She does tend to favour it above her other sippy cups due to the bright colour. If your child tends to drink at night, there’s also an option to purchase the MAM Trainer+ Night with glow-in-the-dark handles.

MAM Trainer+: is it BPA-free?

Yes, this trainer cup is made from durable plastic and is shatterproof – which has been handy since it’s been dropped several times from a high chair. It’s also BPA and BPS-free, like all MAM bottles.

Read next: Best sterilisers for baby bottles

How easy is the MAM Trainer+ to use?

The MAM Trainer+ is very similar to regular MAM Easy Active bottles, which my daughter is accustomed to drinking her milk from. In the past we’ve also used the Munchkin Miracle 360° Cup and the Tommee Tippee Essentials Free Flow First Cup which both allow for better transitioning to cup use in my opinion.

However, the non-spill spout on the MAM Trainer+ is quite impressive as it’s soft on the mouth and easy to drink from, thus allowing my daughter her independence to use the cup unaided without making a mess. Unlike most other sippy cups I’ve tried, the MAM Trainer+ also provides a lid (dust cap) which is essential for the changing bag, ensuring the teat or spout stays clean while out and about.

Is the MAM Trainer+ spill-proof?

The size 3 teat is not spill-proof and behaves the same as a regular baby bottle, but the follow-on spout is completely spill-proof, which is great for on-the-go drinking.

Funnily enough, my daughter enjoys continuously slamming the bottle on the floor while crawling and it’s quite amazing to see how well this trainer cup holds the liquid.

MAM Trainer+: how easy is it to clean?

This trainer cup comes apart into five different parts: the handle, container, teat, teat holder and lid - which makes it very easy to clean.

It also boasts being top-rack dishwasher safe unlike other sippy cups. Unfortunately, it's not self-sterilising like other MAM bottles, but it's not something you expect from a sippy cup.

Read next: Best kids' water bottles

Is the MAM Trainer+ good value for money?

This trainer cup is so similar to a regular MAM milk bottle, which in some ways is great for transitioning, but it raises the question whether it's worth buying another new bottle if the teat and spout still encourage sucking.

That being said, the MAM Trainer+ does come with easy grip handles and fun colours which makes it more appealing and engaging for children. The spill-proof feature is also invaluable for parents who want to avoid mess. So, at £12, I think it’s good value for money overall.

About the author

Rachel Best is a Senior Developer at Mumsnet and mum of one. She has worked at Mumsnet for almost 12 years and has developed an exceptional amount of knowledge on what parents are looking for when it comes to baby products, most recently becoming part of our trusted team of parent testers.