Drinking beaker help for my autistic son!

[bethpurser]

Hi,

My son has autism and we've run into a bit of a drinking problem. He will only drink orange squahs and only from these teddy bear shaped Rubbermaid beakers we have. They have a straw inside meaning they don't need to be tipped back. We bought a load from Lakeland a few years ago but they stopped doing them. Our supply has dwindled over the years as he has thrown them in rivers, the sea, bushes, etc. and the few we have left are getting pretty rotten (depite regular sterilising - a necessity now!). We've contacted Rubbermaid but they are US based and have told us they won't send any abroad. My question is, does anybody know of anywhere else I can buy these or similar beakers (Great Little Trading company did similar ones a while back but they too have stopped) or whether anyone has one or two they would be willing to sell me. He honestly won't drink from anything else and if we can't get some replacements we're going to have some serious trouble on our hands - please help if you can.

Im sorry i cant help you here. But my son is similar in that he will only drink out of a fruit shoot bottle. It must look like he lives on fruitshoot! but i put milk and very watery juice in it although not at the same time!

do you have a pic?

you could start a thread asking if anyone in the us could send some over for you.

Would this sort of thing do?

or this ?

are these they?

or this

same as this?

I think the last one is the one CC - it shows a drink in my link so looks two tone but isn't. If desperate, I can get my brother in Florida to order some, but he can be a bit useless.... There are quite a number of American Mumsnetters.... one in particular I can think of is always keen to help on matters such as these.

according to that site its called a straw sipper.

My friend has bought some of these recently from a pound shop type place in devon. Her family live there so I'm sure they could pick up a load for you if you need them and I could post them to you. That would be easier than shipping from the states. She's down there at the mo so if you can let me know by the morning I could probably sort it out for you tomorrow.

US here in Colorado!!! Listen I'm more than happy to grab a couple and stuff them in a box for you. Would be my pleasure I can help. alison dot smits at btinternet dot com. Let me know

Just to add Tommy Tippee do make a very similar one with Winnie the Pooh on. I must say I do remember seeing this Teddy Bears in shops in Scotland, so they must be in the UK somewhere

Wow! I guess it's the usual story - the only people who help are those that understand. I've had so many unsympathetic emails from places like Lakeland and Rubbermaid who seem to lack any kind of appreciation of what such a small thing means for our family. Everyone here has been great so thank you for just paying some notice.

The last picture CharlieCat posted up was indeed the correct one.

Olihan if you were able to get me some I would be very grateful if you were able to get as many as possible of these to me. I will of course reimburse any costs and postage that you incur. Is there anyway to private message on here? If not, please email me at [email protected] if you are able to and I'll send you my address.

Alibaldi Thank you for your kind trans-atlantic offer. If Olihan is unable to get any I may call upon you!

Welcome to Mumsnet Bethpurser!
You now know why everyone is fiercely protective of it!

Have emailed you about this!!