Nursery don't want DD to use doidy cup - any suggestions?

[QueenGina]

My 10 month old DD has always drank out of a doidy. She'll be starting nursery next week and the workers there say that although they have no problem with her using doidy (she can just pick it up and drink from it herself), they are worried that because it doesn't have a lid, the other babies might throw things in her water. I'm not keen on her using a sippy cup - even if I could train her to do so - but what's the alternative?

[Jojay]

Will she drink out of those cups with straws, or maybe a bottle with a sports type lid?

[Seona1973]

use a free flowing cup e.g. tommee tippee first cup - it is lidded but has no valve so is ok re: teeth

[juuule]

If it was my dd drinking out of an open cup then I wouldn't be wanting to take what I saw as a backward step in giving her a sippy cup or similar.
Is no-one with her when she is drinking? Wouldn't they have some control over whether another baby throws things in her drink?
I think I'd persist with the doidy and they would have to work around that.

[hana]

really don't think it's a backwards step
what's wrong with using a sippy cup? there are dozens of cups with lids of all sorts - just have a look at boots or supermarket and grab a few to try out

[IlanaK]

I would be questioning why other children can throw things in her cup. In most baby rooms, drinks (not bottles) are given at meal.snack times or when the child asks. They are not left lying around in case another child drinks out of them. There should always be a staff member supervising meals or snacks. Also, it is no different than when a group of toddlers all drink from an open cup - which is developmentally what they shoud be doing at nursery. Very strange in my opinion (and it is an informed opinion as I have run two nurseries in my time - both with baby rooms).

[Monkeybird]

I think it's a bit unreasonable of the nursery TBH. I'd be peed off if my nursery said this (they're quite happy with doidy cups) I think what they perhaps mean is with a doidy cup they might have to supervise her a tiny bit more rather than doing their paperwork while they're all sitting quietly? Or is that just me being suspicious as usual...?!

[QueenGina]

Thanks for all the suggestions.
Nursery say that there are OFSTED? rules that the children should have access to water at all times. I might suggest to them that we wait and see IF the babies throw anything in her doidy, if they don't then there is no problem, but if they do, I might try one of those cups with straws. (I've never been too aware of baby cups as the doidy was the first we tried and it worked, so not sure what's available in shops.)

hana - reason why I'm not keen on my dd using a sippy cup is because I want to encourage my dd to drink, eat, etc. as I do as an adult (ie feed herself solid foods at the family table, drink from an open cup etc.) I've also read that long term use of sippy cup isn't good for teeth (thanks for the suggest of Tomee Tippee, Seona).

hello Monkeybird! Nursery is a good one - all the parents rave about it and are v jealous dd has a place.
Thanks for help re: dd's nursing strike the other week - we have a new problem this week though: separation anxiety! which I'm going to post on another thread.

[IlanaK]

Yes, babies and children at nursery should have accesss to drinnking water at all times - however, that access must also be appropriate to their age. For instance, in a pre-school room, a water dispenser with cups next to it would be entirely appropriate for children to help themseleves. In a baby room, this would NOT be appropriate. IN a baby room, having access means that as soon as requested by a child, the water is poured for them - that is is not just available at snack/meal times.

I still maintain that having ANY kind of cups within reach of the children through the day is a breach of health and safety as there is no way that a child would always drink from his own cup.

[QueenGina]

Ilana - thanks for that all the info; gives me some ammo when I argue the case with the nursery for letting her continue using the doidy, which she can always point to if she wants water.
the nursery tells me that they have a photo of themselves on their own cups, so they know which one is theirs.

[RainingCatsandDogs]

Ds used a doidy from an early age following bf with great success.
We had this for when we were out and about as it has a lid!
He has also never used anything other than a free flowing cup so I would not want him using a sippy beaker either.

[SlightlyMadSweet]

I'm sorry I would press this with the nursery.

"Nursery say that there are OFSTED rules that the children should have access to water at all times."

This may well be true but in practice they don't leave 6 cups lying aroudn for 6 children like you might at home.

The children are put into high chairs/at the table for drink and food. She could be given her doidy at the table.

In a baby room other children throwing things in shouldn't be an issue as they should be in high chairs until about 18m ish. From here when they are sitting at teh table there may be more of an issue as IME toddlers like to grab at cups which could lead to some v wet toddlers.

At the end of the day if you don't want her to have a sippy cup she shouldn't have to have a sippy cup. You should discuss it further with the nursery IMO.

[Littlefish]

Our nursery uses doidy cups for all children where possible. It's part of the "bottle to cup" campaign in Birmingham.

I agree with SMS - if you don't want her to have a sippy cup, then tell the nursery. They should be able to accommodate her.

I also agree with IlanaK - "having access" does not mean that the water has to be out all day. It means making sure that children have an appropriate way of getting water when they want/need it. DD does to nursery with a child who has several extremely severe allergies. It would be dangerous for that child for the drink bottles to be on display every day. What if another child had eaten peanuts for breakfast, then drank out of the wrong cup/bottle. The implications don't bear thinking about!

[scottishmummy]

it is not unreasonable at all, my wee one also used doidy cup home and nursery. have quick chat to manager to allay their (unfounded) fears