If you’re looking for an honest **Zak Designs Sesame Street sippy cups review**, here’s the short version: these are a smart buy. You get two 15oz tumblers featuring Elmo and Cookie Monster for around $14. The leak-proof lid actually works, the plastic is tough enough for daily toddler use, and the only real downside is cleaning the straw. Worth it for most families.
Durable, well-reviewed licensed toddler cups with a leak-proof design deliver strong everyday value for families.
Price vs. rivals
Pricier
CheaperTypicalPricier
Priced slightly above typical mid-range for branded toddler sippy cups, reflecting character licensing and leak-proof design, but not the most expensive option compared to premium insulated or stainless steel alternatives.
Ease of use
Excellent 95/100
The cups are highly intuitive with a simple leak-proof design, easy for parents to fill and clean, as reflected by the excellent customer rating.
Overview
The **Zak Designs Sesame Street Kelso Tumblers** are exactly what the title says: a 2-pack of 15oz plastic sippy cups. They solve the problem of finding the **best sippy cups for toddlers with leak-proof design** that your kid will actually use.
These are made for the 12-month to 4-year-old crew. Kids who are done with bottles but not ready to be trusted with an open cup. The character faces—Elmo and Cookie Monster—are a big part of the appeal. It turns the cup from a chore into a treat.
Key Features
Leak-proof lid: The straw has a silicone valve that seals when the spout is flipped down. Shake it, drop it, toss it in a bag. It holds up. Just make sure the lid is clicked all the way on and the straw is down.
15oz 2-pack value: You get an **Elmo and Cookie Monster sippy cups 15oz** set. Two cups for the price of one from a boutique brand. This is a strong selling point.
Durable Tritan plastic: It is BPA-free and designed to take a beating. Dropped from a high chair onto hard floors? It bounces. It will scratch over time, but it won’t crack easily.
Top-rack dishwasher safe: Throwing these in the dishwasher makes life easier. The graphics hold up well if you follow the top rack rule. Putting them on the bottom rack will speed up the wear.
Easy-grip shape: The sides are slightly textured. Not slippery. Small hands can grab them easily. The lid has a simple tab for flipping the straw up.
Fit for You
Your toddler throws their cup off the tray specifically to watch you pick it up. (We all know this game.)
You pack a diaper bag for daycare and want to stop finding puddles of milk in the side pocket.
You need a cup that will sit in a car cup holder without tipping over and leaking everywhere.
You are looking for a cup your child will recognize and reach for without a fight. Elmo and Cookie Monster do the heavy lifting here.
You are comparing prices and $13.99 for a **leak-proof sippy cups for kids 2-pack** feels reasonable, and it is.
Uses
These are workhorse cups. The most common scene is the dinner table. The 15oz size handles a full serving of milk. The leak-proof lid buys you a few seconds if it gets knocked over, giving you time to grab it before the table gets flooded.
Travel is where they really shine. The **durable plastic toddler cups for travel** handle being tossed in an overnight bag. No leaks. No mess. The plastic doesn’t dent like a metal cup would.
Playdates and parks are easier. The characters make them easy to spot. A quick rinse handles juice residue, and they are dry enough to put back in the bag in a few minutes.
Experience
First impressions are good. The plastic has a smooth, solid feel. Not brittle or hollow. The lids snap on with a firm click—there’s no mistaking when it is sealed properly.
Toddlers pick up on the straw mechanism quickly. Flick it up, drink, flick it down. It empowers them. The flip-down spout keeps the straw tip clean when not in use.
The biggest annoyance? The straw itself. It is a narrow straight tube. Milk can sit in the straw. If you don’t rinse it right away, or if you skip the straw brush, you will get that sour smell everyone warns about. A skinny brush is required kit for this cup.
The graphics are not stickers. They are a full wrap. They look great out of the box. After about six months of heavy use and daily dishwasher runs, you may see the edges of the Elmo face start to show some wear. It is cosmetic.
The seal is very good. If you close the lid and flip the straw down, it passes the shake test. The one leak point is the straw spout if left open. It won’t gush, but the valve can release a drop or two if pressed against the inside of a bag.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Effective leak-proof design: The seal works. When configured correctly, you can trust this cup in a bag. It solves one of the main reasons parents upgrade from open cups.
Kid magnet appeal: The Sesame Street characters get toddlers excited about drinking. This alone can change a picky drinker’s habits for the better.
Solid construction: The plastic is thick and impact resistant. It will outlast a cheaper cup by a significant margin.
Good size for toddlers: 15oz is a sweet spot for milk, water, or juice. It is a full serving without being so large that a two-year-old struggles to lift it.
Affordable 2-pack: Under $15 for two cups means you have a backup or a sibling cup ready without a second purchase.
Cons
Narrow straw is a cleaning chore: The straw is narrow and straight. This makes it difficult to clean effectively without a specific brush. Milk residue in the straw is a common complaint.
Straw doesn’t reach the bottom: The fixed straw leaves about an ounce of liquid at the bottom. A slightly tilted angle helps, but a weighted straw solves this better.
Plastic scratches with wear: It is durable against impacts, but it scratches easily on the bottom from table contact or inside the dishwasher. This is purely cosmetic.
Graphics eventually fade: The character art looks great new, but it will degrade over time, especially if the cups see the heat cycle of a dishwasher bottom rack often.
Advantages
The main competitor in this space is the Take Tums line. The **Zak Designs vs Take Tums toddler cups** comparison comes down to a few key differences.
Zak wins on value. Two cups for the price of one Take Tums. Zak also wins on character variety. The Sesame Street license is managed well here.
Take Tums wins on the straw. Their weighted straw follows the liquid, meaning a toddler can drink every last drop from any angle. The Zak straw stops working when the liquid level drops below the straw tip. This is a minor daily friction point.
Over the oxo or munchkin cups, the Zak Designs cups feel sturdier. The plastic wall is thicker. It doesn’t dent or crack as easily. The lid seal also seems to hold up better to repeated opening and closing.
Who Should Buy
Buy these if: You have a toddler who needs a fun, reliable cup for daycare, home, and travel. The leak-proof design works and the price is fair.
Buy these if: Your kid loves Sesame Street. The Elmo and Cookie Monster branding is a strong motivator.
Skip these if: You need a fully spill-proof cup regardless of lid position. If the spout is up, it can still drip a bit when knocked over.
Skip these if: You want a weighted straw that allows drinking from any angle. That feature belongs to a cup like Take Tums.
Skip these if: You refuse to clean a narrow straw. It’s a small job, but it is a daily one if your kid drinks milk.
FAQ
Is the **Zak Designs Sesame Street tumblers worth it** for the price?
Yes, the **are Zak Designs Sesame Street tumblers worth it** question gets a strong yes from most owners. For $13.99, the two-pack of **leak-proof sippy cups for kids 2-pack** is hard to beat. The value is in the durability and the kid appeal.
What is the difference in the **Zak Designs vs Take Tums toddler cups**?
The main difference is the straw system. Zak uses a simple fixed straw with a valve. Take Tums uses a weighted ball straw. Take Tums allows drinking the last drop without tilting, but Zak is easier to clean and cheaper per cup.
Are these actually **Elmo and Cookie Monster sippy cups 15oz**?
Yes. The 2-pack comes with one cup wrapped in an Elmo graphic and one in a Cookie Monster graphic. Each cup holds 15 ounces. The characters are officially licensed and well printed on the durable plastic toddler cups for travel.
How leak-proof are these **best sippy cups for toddlers with leak-proof design**?
Very effective when used correctly. The lid must be fully clicked shut and the straw spout must be flipped down. Shaken upside down, they hold. The only leaks happen when the lid is left open or the spout is up during a fall.
What parts need cleaning?
Three parts: the cup body, the lid assembly, and the straw. The lid has a small silicone gasket that pops out for cleaning. The straw needs a brush. The cup body is simple and easy to hand or machine wash.
How long do the graphics last on a **durable plastic toddler cups for travel** piece?
They last well with care. Top rack dishwasher cleaning preserves them. Expect a few months of solid bright color. Some edge wear is normal after prolonged use. Direct sunlight or high heat will fade them faster.
Final Verdict
This **Zak Designs Sesame Street sippy cups review** lands in a positive place. They are not a perfect cup—the straw cleaning is a real chore, and the fixed straw wastes a sip of liquid every time. But these drawbacks are easy to live with.
For the asking price, you get two genuinely leak-proof, durable cups that your toddler will actually want to use. The character designs do the hard work of getting a kid to stay hydrated. Pick up a straw brush when you buy them and ignore the advice at your own risk. They will serve you well through the messiest years.
Zak Designs Sesame Street Tumblers vs the Competition in 2026
The Zak Designs Sesame Street Kelso Tumblers sit in a surprisingly sweet spot for a licensed character cup. They aren’t the cheapest option, nor the most advanced, but they nail the two things that matter most for this age group: the lid actually stays shut, and the plastic holds up to being thrown from a stroller. Most character-themed sippy cups are flimsy junk with paper labels that peel off in week one. These are genuinely durable, which makes them a strong contender in any best sippy cups for toddlers conversation.
Lid shifts in a bag and leaks if not perfectly aligned
Transitioning from bottles to open cups at home
The First Years Take & Toss
Budget ($5-7)
Dirt cheap and easy to replace
Not actually leak-proof; plastic warps, labels peel
Daycare backups, travel, and situations where cups get lost
CamelBak Eddy Kids
Premium ($16-19)
Bite valve, high capacity, very rugged
Several small parts to clean; can develop mold
Older kids (4+) for school, sports, and hiking
Zak Designs Sesame Street Tumblers vs Munchkin Miracle 360
The Munchkin 360 is a brilliant training tool for the kitchen table. Its weighted rim lets a toddler sip from any edge, just like a real grown-up glass, which is great for oral development. But it isn’t a travel mug. If you toss it into a diaper bag sideways, the lid shifts and you end up with a puddle on your car seat. The Zak Designs Sesame Street Tumblers use a recessed hard spout with a strong silicone valve. You can throw these into a tote without a second thought. That makes the Zak the better pick for stroller walks, car rides, and daycare. The trade-off is the spout itself. If you’re a stickler for dentist-approved sippy alternatives, stick with the 360. If you need a cup that won’t soak the change of clothes, grab the Zak Designs.
Zak Designs vs Take Tums toddler cups: why cheap can be a false economy
Let’s talk about the budget end of the aisle. The First Years Take & Toss cups are the go-to dirt cheap option, and they’re fine if you treat them as disposable. They’re not really leak-proof; they’re leak-resistant. The lids pop off when a determined toddler hurls one against the wall, and the plastic turns cloudy after a few hot dishwasher cycles. The Zak Designs Sesame Street Tumblers cost roughly $6 more, but the build quality is on a different level. The plastic is heavier, the seal holds, and the Elmo and Cookie Monster graphics are printed to survive a thousand washes. That’s the thing about cheap cups: they seem like a bargain until you’re replacing them every few weeks because they look crusty and won’t stop dripping. Are Zak Designs Sesame Street tumblers worth it? If your kid is a thrower, yes. It will likely be the last sippy cup you need to buy for a while.
Zak Designs Sesame Street Tumblers vs CamelBak Eddy Kids
Straw cup fans will point to the CamelBak Eddy Kids as the premium option. It holds a ton of water, the bite valve is practically indestructible, and it’s perfect for a 5-year-old heading to soccer practice. But cleaning it is a chore. You have to disassemble the bite valve, the straw, the gasket, and the lid, and if you miss a spot, it develops that funky sour smell. The Zak Designs Kelso tumbler is simpler. The 15oz 2-pack is a solid middle ground, and the recessed spout is easy for a 2-year-old to manage without flooding the table. For a toddler in the phase of launching cups off the high chair, I’d take the simpler Zak Designs. For an older kid who needs a big, rugged water bottle for school, the CamelBak makes more sense. They are really different tools for different ages.
If you’re searching for the best sippy cups for toddlers with leak-proof design that actually last, the Zak Designs Sesame Street Tumblers are the everyday winner. For $13.99, you get a durable plastic toddler cups for travel set, a 15oz 2-pack featuring Elmo and Cookie Monster that won’t leak in your bag. Pick these if your priority is no-mess peace of mind for daycare, errands, and the general chaos of raising a toddler. If your child is completely ready to ditch the spout, the Munchkin Miracle 360 is the better alternative. And if budget is the absolute bottom line, The First Years Take & Toss will do in a pinch. But for a sturdy, leak-proof sippy cups for kids 2-pack that handles real life, the Zak Designs tumblers take the win.
Ready to decide on the Zak Designs Sesame Street Tumblers?
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