This product was purchased new after 2020. These cups are a three-piece set that includes a plastic lid, plastic cup, and a silicone cap that snaps into place. Silicone may test positive for very trace cadmium via XRF. These cups are very convenient for kids, resistant to shattering, and difficult to spill.
How do you think this cup ranked using XRF?
Reading on the Pink Plastic Cup:
| Element of Interest | Parts per million (ppm) | Error Range |
|---|---|---|
| None Detected | ||
| Other Elements | ||
| Nickel (Ni) | 14 | +/- 3 |
| Zinc (Zn) | 8 | +/- 2 |
| Iron (Fe) | 29 | +/- 7 |
Reading on the White Plastic Top:
| Element of Interest | Parts per million (ppm) | Error Range |
|---|---|---|
| None Detected | ||
| Other Elements | ||
| Titanium (Ti) | 3,704 | +/- 90 |
Reading on the Silicone Cap:
| Element of Interest | Parts per million (ppm) | Error Range |
|---|---|---|
| Cadmium (Cd) | 6 | +/- 1 |
| Antimony (Sb) | 11 | +/- 3 |
| Other Elements | ||
| Tin (Sn) | 7 | +/- 2 |
| Niobium (Nb) | 466 | +/- 8 |
| Indium (In) | 9 | +/- 2 |
| Platinum (Pt)* | 20 | +/- 10 |
The sample was tested in consumer goods TestAll mode using a Niton XL3t 700S for 60 seconds. Results are rounded to the nearest whole number.
Test Summary:
The plastic parts of the product are non-detect for elements of interest, which is typical for new plastic toys (excluding PET plastic, which may contain antimony).
This item tested is below the federal lead restrictions for children’s products which limits products intended for use by children 12 and under to 90-100 parts per million lead. This item is a new children’s product and is subject to these regulations.
The silicone cap tested positive for very trace cadmium and antimony.
Leach testing for antimony, cadmium, and other heavy metals is required for some U.S. toys, including those which make contact with food or drink. We have an article about those ASTM chemical testing standards and which toys apply.
We spoke with staff at the Consumer Product Safety Commission for further guidance. Although this product is in contact with drinks, toddler cups are not typically considered to be toys and not subject to the metals migration testing. That does not mean the manufacturer doesn’t perform such testing – on that subject we have no information – only that it is not mandatory to do so for this type of product.
We post our test results so consumers are empowered to choose the products that are the most appropriate fit for their family.
Note the levels of cadmium are extremely trace and below any total contact regulatory limits for children’s products (typically international standards) that we are aware of. The amount of antimony detected is also extremely trace.
Although we like silicone in a wide range of items, we prefer options that are non-detect for cadmium. We personally enjoy silicone products for many uses, including tablet covers, hot water bottles, sealers on glass food storage, and oven mitts.
We Prefer:
We like stainless steel or plastic cups for children when they are too young to use glass bottles. We do not recommend double walled stainless steel bottles which can be manufactured with lead solder at the base of the unit. Sometimes these surfaces are exposed and sometimes they are hidden with a metal cap or sticker.
We recommend avoiding vintage ceramic or painted glass cups, or older plastic cups, which can contain high levels of lead or BPA.
When possible, we recommend that all items used by children in the kitchen be lead free, with the exception of trace lead in products that are leach tested, preferably under 90 ppm lead on surface coatings.
Plastic Toddler Cups We Recommend:
Disclosure: These are Amazon affiliate links. By shopping for any item on Amazon starting with our links, you help support our business and testing.
The direct link to the product we tested above is here if you are curious. Below are our recommended products:
IKEA – KALAS Tumbler, Assorted Colors
Why we like it: IKEA has a wide variety of affordable kid’s products. We tested an example of their KALAS cups here.
Why we like it: These cups are made in the USA from recycled milk jugs. How wholesome is that? We tested one example here and the silicone was non-detect for cadmium.
Arrow Home Products Sip A Cup with Built in Straw, 10oz, 6pk – BPA-free Straw Cups for Kids
Why we like it: Here is another polypropylene plastic cup made in the USA.
Disclaimer: These items have not always been personally tested by us but are likely to be lead free or low lead and/or cadmium based on our research into the materials, discussions with manufacturers, and/or testing on similar products. We recommend items we would use ourselves.
We provide our XRF testing for general educational or informational purposes only to help consumers identify low lead and lead-free products. We hereby disclaim any and all warranties, expressed or implied, and assume no duty or responsibility with respect to how any person or entity chooses to use the information on this website.