Nuby sippy cups are among the best selling baby sippy cups you will find. In addition, they are the largest selling sippy cup for the parent company Luv 'n Care based in Monroe Louisiana.

They are advertised as no spill, no drip, easy to grip sippy cups, but once in great while (when you take the total volume sold compared to the number that seem to leak), there are complaints about the cups leaking.

Having personal experience with the Nuby sippy cups, here are my observations and suggestions for a leaking sippy cup.

1. My sippy cup leaks from under the rim.

When I first bought my Nuby sippy cup I was so excited. I filled it with baby formula for my granddaughter, put the lid on it and shook it (luckily over the sink). Lo and behold, my no leak, no spill, no drip sippy cup was leaking! I was mortified and disappointed to say the least.

I shook the sippy cup again to see where the leak was coming from. It was leaking from under the rim. I unscrewed the lid, rinsed it off and carefully made sure I screwed the lid back on straight. That did the trick. I shook it over the sink again and it did not leak. I had the lid on crooked.

2. My sippy cup leaks from under the spout.

Another time it seemed as though the formula was leaking from right under the spout. Since this was a simple sippy cup, I didn't take the time to read any directions. I felt that I was mechanically inclined enough to be able to screw a lid on a sippy cup, shake the formula in it and give it to my granddaughter.

I soon found out that not reading the directions was a mistake. I found the directions for my Nuby sippy cup (they were right inside a new one that I had). I actually read the whole thing, fine print and all.

Apparently there are notches on both the rim and the spout. If you don't line those notches up correctly and screw the nuby sippy cup lid on straight, the cup will leak and drip.

From that day on, I lined up the notches and screwed the rim on straight and have not had a leaking problem since.

3. My Nuby sippy cup spout leaks when my toddler chews on the spout.

This is a tough one. . . The directions say that the toddlers aren't supposed to chew on the spouts, but just about everyone I know who has a teething baby or toddler with a few teeth tell me that their little one does chew on the spouts. Being the best grandma that I could be, I decided to see what the attraction was and why they liked to chew on the spouts.

So, I put one in my mouth and started to chew. I can now speak from actual experience.

If I was a toddler, especially one who was used to sucking on a baby bottle, I would like them because the nuby spouts are nice and soft. They are made from a soft silicone and are BPA free. They are soft enough that you can clench the nuby spouts between your teeth or as I've seen my granddaughter do, your gums, and let them hang from your teeth and/or gums as you run across the floor with mom, dad or grandparents chasing behind you. They feel pretty good on your teeth and can easily turn into a chew toy (certainly not recommended by Nuby). I liked how they felt on my own teeth (yes, they are my own teeth) so I could understand what the attraction might be to a baby or toddler who needs something to chew on to provide some relief to aching gums or even just for fun.

After I chewed awhile, I looked at the spout itself to see what damage I had done to the "valve" in the spout. It looked the same as when I started so I tested it out by filling the sippy cup with water. I did everything else right and the spout didn't leak. I am sure that in time, with lots of chewing (once again, not recommended), the valve will start to leak.

The newest valves (you can get them at http://www.nubysippycup.com/ by clicking on any picture), are even stronger and reinforced. The newer spouts aren't quite as soft as the old ones that still come on the Nuby sippy cups, but they are still nice and soft.

4. My sippy cup leaks through the valve.

It is important to check to see that no parts inside the valve are broken or stretched. The valves can break or become stretched after your baby or toddler chews on them for awhile or if they poke their fingers throught the valve. (We all know that babies love to poke their fingers into things). The valves can break if you put them in a dishwasher on one of the spokes on the rack or if you use a bottle brush to clean them and you aren't careful. After time they will most likely stretch or break.

It's easy enough to clean them by just running a forceful stream of hot water through the valves. This works best if you do this shortly after your baby is done with the Nuby sippy cup and not a day or two later when the milk has solidified. Even then, it's easy enough to gently remove the milk from the spout with a strong stream of water or spray.

5. Can I wash my Nuby sippy cup in the dishwasher?

Yes, you can but it's best to keep the cup and the spout on the top rack. I put the spout in the silverware tray part and have never had a leaking problem, but for longer wear, the top rack is a better place for all plastic or silicone items.

6. I've done everything you've said but I am still having a problem with leaks. What can I do?

Since nothing and no one is perfect, I would either go out and buy a new sippy cup or better yet, just a package or two of nuby sippy cup replacement spouts (http://www.nubysippycup.com/) and try again. Maybe you just have a defective cup or spout.

If you buy a new one and it still leaks, you can switch brands or you can contact Luv 'n Care, the manufacturer of Nuby sippy cups and speak with someone in customer service. I have done this before when I have had questions and I have been met with courtesy and kindness.

7. What is the Contact information and toll free number for Nuby sippy cups and Nuby sippy cup replacement spouts?

If you have a problem or concern, the customer service department at Luv 'n Care will be happy to help you.

Luv 'n Care is the parent company of the Nuby sippy cup and Nuby replacement spouts.

If you are having a problem with your Nuby sippy cup or Nuby replacement spouts and need to contact customer service, there is a toll free phone number you can use. Just follow the prompts the whole way through until you choose customer care.

The mailing address and phone number for Luv 'n Care is:

3030 Aurora Ave Fl 2

Monroe, LA , 71201-7295

Phone: 318-388-4916

FAX: 318-338-3160

Nuby Luv 'n Care Toll Free Phone: 800-588-6227

8. Where can I get great deals on Nuby sippy cups and Nuby sippy cup replacement spouts?

You can find small or large quantities (special orders) at http://www.nubysippycup.com/