I've been trying some different cups lately and this one went in the garbage. We would carefully line the nipple up with the ring and make sure the whole top got screwed on perfectly. I would even shake it a couple times over the sink to make sure everything was assembled correctly. Even with all that, my daughter would start drinking and half the time her drink would start pouring out where the ring connects to the cup. Waste of money! I have liked a cup made by Munchkin that looks very similar to this one (soft top).