Skip to main content

Made For Mums

  • Join
  • Log in
Search Account Navigation Menu
  • Chat
  • Getting Pregnant
  • Pregnancy
  • Baby
  • Toddler
  • School & Family
  • Reviews & Shopping
  • MFM Awards 2018

Find us on

  • YouTube
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

'Sippy-cup-search' dad overjoyed as Tommee Tippee promises 500 new cups for his son with autism

  • Family news
0

Marc Carter took to Twitter to find a no-longer-made Tommee Tippee cup for his son, who has autism. And the response he got was AWESOME

Every now and then at MFM we hear about a story that makes us go "ahhhhhh" – and this is so one of them.

It's the story of one dad's desperate search for a particular, no-longer-made sippy cup for this son – who has autism and won't drink from anything else – and the AMAZING way so many people came together on social media to help him out, including (hurrah!) Tommy Tippee, the original manufacturer of the cup.

So here's how it happened:

13-year-old Ben Carter, from Devon, who has autism, has been using the same double-handled Tommee Tipee sippy cup since he was a little boy – in fact, it's the only thing he'll drink from. 

As his current one, which he's had for about 3 years, is close to falling apart, his dad Marc was anxious to get hold of a replacement – only to find the model's no longer made ðŸ˜¢

Undeterred, the loving dad took to Twitter in a bid to try and get hold of another cup just the same – and the response was phenomenal.

Marc's (aka @Grumpy Carer) post got retweeted more than 17,000 times and was liked by more than 5,000 people – and he received hundreds of offers of help.

"I have that exact one my daughter had from being a baby!! Still have it and I can send it to you," said one person.

Another said, "We have a cup like this.... Where are you? Can we send it over?"

And we LOVED this... An ingenious student came up with: "Have access 3D printer in uni if you want us to try that. Would need lots of pics of cup, though. Good luck!"

Twitter to the rescue

The Twitter response was, in fact, so huge that Marc says he now has enough cups to last Ben a while – but he'd still like more, just to avoid ever finding himself in this situation again.

"People say Ben will drink when he's thirsty," Marc says, "but two emergency trips to A&E with severe dehydration say otherwise.

"The reality is Ben is unlikely to change, so I will need these for the rest of his life. That's a lot of cups." 

Tommee Tippee comes up trumps

But the best bit is still to come. Having got wind of Marc's sippy-cup hunt, Tommee Tippee, makers of the cup in question, started searching their archives to se if they had any samples they could send on.

They also created a  #CupForBen web page to help Marc spread the word further. 

And then – WOW! – Tommee Tippee announced they would re-start production of the cup to "ensure Ben has a lifetime supply and his family won’t ever have to worry about finding another one." 

Marc was astonished but overjoyed to hear the news. "I would not be happier if I won the lottery," he said.

What a lovely story! Isn't it great to see how social media (and, more importantly, the people who use it) can be totally BRILLIANT ðŸ’œ

Photos: Grumpy Carer on Twitter

Read more

  • Police buy Finding Dory lunchbox for little girl with autism after she has a meltdown
  • Morrisons cashier makes dream come true for little girl with autism
  • Why this teacher's letter to a little boy with autism brought his mum to tears
Tara Breathnach By Tara Breathnach
0 Comments Share
Like this article?
Showing of

Uh-oh! You need to be logged in to do this...

Sign In Sign Up
  • Load more posts
  • Write a comment

News & Gossip

  • Which pregnant celebs are due in 2018?
  • Should you use amber teething necklaces?
  • ‘Go-getter’ mum shares battle with PND, anxiety and post-birth PTSD
  • Kate Middleton's exact due date - has it been revealed?

Popular in Competitions

  • Win a Molly’s Magic Wardrobe book bundle and fairy costume, worth £50
    Closing date: 04/05/2018
    Enter Now View All Competitions
  • Win a BABYZEN YOYO+ stroller in Peppermint, worth £544!
    Closing date: 23/04/2018
    Enter Now View All Competitions

Popular in Product Reviews & Shopping

  • Bugaboo Fox
    in 3-wheelers & ATPs
  • Cybex Mios
    in Pushchairs

Latest on Made For Mums

  • Community
  • Getting Pregnant
  • Pregnancy
  • Baby
  • Toddler & Child
  • Product Reviews & Shopping
  • Competitions
  • News & Gossip

Follow MadeForMums

Newsletter
Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest
YouTube

Help & Info

  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Code of conduct
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookie policy
  • Complaints

Quick Links

  • Chat
  • Getting Pregnant
  • Pregnancy
  • Baby
  • Toddler
  • School & Family
  • Reviews & Shopping
  • News & Gossip
  • Competitions

Also Visit

  • You & Your Wedding
  • Junior
  • Immediate Media Co
  • Other Immediate Media Co Sites
    • Radio Times
    • Gardners' World
    • OutdoorsMagic
    • Visordown
    • Golfmagic
Immediate Media Co © Immediate Media Company Limited
This website is owned and published by Immediate Media Company Limited. www.immediatemedia.co.uk
Version 2018.2.83.0

We use cookies to improve your experience of our website. Read more.

Got it