What we loved
This was the first cup I used early on during breastfeeding, as I had read it was good for babies moving between breast and cup – apparently it encourages a mouth action similar to breastfeeding so is often recommended by health professionals. I wanted to avoid a bottle at this stage in case of 'nipple confusion'. Even though the rim looks wide, I found it was fairly easy for even a tiny baby of only a few weeks old to sip from.
Non-spill training cups with spouts are sometimes associated with tooth decay, so this is a great alternative. If you're bottlefeeding, it's useful for weaning your baby off the teat. The slanted side means your baby can peek inside without tilting his head forwards too much (as with a typical open beaker). From around 6 months old, your baby should be able to hold the two little handles - my son certainly found these instinctive to grasp.
Now a 1-year-old, he can confidently pick up the cup and drink himself, without too much dribbling down his chin. He drinks more naturally than he does with a lidded cup, taking larger gulps so it quenches his thirst quicker. Yes, there are undoubtedly quite a few spills along the way, but if you can bear it, it's a valuable way to teach independence.
The Doidy is sturdy and I loved its funky looks – it comes in a range of 12 bold colours, including red, turquoise, orange and purple and three rather splendid sparkly designs. I chose a canary yellow, as I didn't want to go down the pink or blue avenues.
With its modest price, you could invest in a few and keep them on a cycle. The cup is dishwasher and microwave safe (though it's perhaps not advisable to use for hot drinks because of 'hotspots'), is BPA free and made of food safe HP Polyethylene.
Last but not least, the Doidy is made and sold in Britain, so definitely worth supporting. Its makers, Bickiepegs, are based in Aberdeen and have been in business since 1925.
What to watch out for
For obvious reasons, the Doidy is far messier than the no-spill cups popular with many modern mums. There's nothing to stop your baby experimenting with liquids and their amazing capacity to go everywhere, so get used to changing soaked vests and trousers, and mopping up the floor! This is not too bad if you just use it for water, but is more frustrating with sticky juices and milk, especially if soft furnishings are close by. If you think messy play is best left to playgroup supervisors, then you might find this a nightmare. I stuck to water, and found it easiest to use the cup with a small amount of liquid and to keep topping it up, to minimise spillages.
Obviously unlike lidded cups, you can't just fill it and pop it in your bag, so it might be something you use mainly at home, rather than out-and-about.
Who is the Doidy best for?
Breastfeeding mums who don't want to use a bottle, or mums who want to teach their little one to use an open cup.
The Doidy cup is a clever, British-made design classic. It's suitable for use from birth, the slanted side means it's an excellent start for teaching your baby to use an open cup, and it’s kinder to tiny teeth than no-spill designs. It looks stylish and modern too. However, there's no doubt it can be messy.
