Just say NO to Munchkin Trainer Cups

Here are a series of emails I have been exchanging with the Munchkin Customer Service. I do not recommend these cups with your little ones.

My 1 year old daughter recently transitioned from a bottle to a cup a few weeks ago. We chose your munchkin trainer cup with the soft silicone spout because it seemed the transition would be an easy one. Yesterday, as she was drinking her milk, I noticed she was chewing on something. I am sad to report that the soft no spill spout had broken off into her mouth. I am so glad I that I was sitting right there with her and caught this before she swallowed it or worse choked on it. This cup was brand new when we got it and had only been hand washed. We never put it in the dishwasher. I am not sure what caused the plastic piece to break off, but I do think it is a problem that you should look into. We will no longer be using your munchkin cups, and I now feel compelled to inform all of my mommy friends of this instance.
Holly

Thank you for contacting us, we recognize that customers like you have made Munchkin the company it is today, and we truly appreciate hearing from you. I’m very sorry to hear that the spout to your Mighty Grip trainer cup has torn.

So that I may better assist you, could you please confirm if your child was biting and/or chewing on the spout, before it tore?

Sincerely,

Amanda Maria
Consumer Relations
818-893-5000 x546
F: 818.893.6343
amanda.maria@munchkin.com

Amanda, The chances are very high that my 12 month old daughter was chewing on the cup. She is teething after-all, as are most children her age. I am unable to watch her every move with the cup, therefore we have chosen to go with the Playtex brand cup that has the valve on the inside of the lid instead of right there on the spout. The chance of something coming off in her mouth is reduced dramatically, I believe. Thank you for getting back with me so quickly. I am glad to know that you will look into your cup and hopefully make some changes. I don't want to cause any problems, just prevent them from happening in the future. Sincerely, Holly

Thank you for following up with me.

The Mighty Grip silicone spouts and straws are not designed to be chewed or bitten as this may lead to leakage or tearing. As such, we recommend that the product be discarded and replaced at the first sign of weakness or damage. This information is stated on the packaging and instructions for each cup. If you child was biting or chewing on the spout, which caused it to tear, then it may not be suitable for her.

Nevertheless, we value your input and work hard to make moms (dads) like you 100% satisfied with our products and I will be sure to pass along your concern for our Mighty Grip cups. Our management and product development teams are constantly reviewing our products to make improvements based on consumer feedback.

Sincerely,

Amanda Maria
Consumer Relations
818-893-5000 x546
F: 818.893.6343
amanda.maria@munchkin.com

Your email below states: This information is stated on the packaging and instructions for each cup. I have a Munchkin Mighty Grips TRAINER Cup in the package on my counter to go back to the store now. No where on the package does it say they should not be chewed on. If it stated this in the instructions that are INSIDE the cup, I missed that. I would not have spent money on these cups (4 in total) if it was clearly stated ON the package. They do say TRAINER on them which implies that these cups are meant to be used by children learning how to use a sippy cup. It also clearly states that these cups are for 6 mo+. Children learning how to use a sippy cup and who are 6 mo+ WILL be teething and are VERY likely to chew on them.

-Holly

Hi Holly,

I have pulled several samples of our Mighty Grip cups (all styles) from our warehouse and confirmed that the statement is on the packaging. I apologize that your Mighty Grip trainer cup does not have the biting/chewing statement on it and have informed our Quality Assurance department for their review.

In regards to the instructions, the statement is made as shown in the attached document.

If you have any further questions or concerns please let me know.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Amanda Maria
Consumer Relations
818-893-5000 x546
F: 818.893.6343
amanda.maria@munchkin.com

I don't mean to be a pain in the neck, I just wanted to show you the pics of the cup that I have here. I know the picture quality is not the best, but no where on my cup does it state that a child should not bite on the cup. I really do think your company should look at the wording on these cups. They should not be recommended as trainer cups. A child could bite the valve off all too easily. Once I open the cup and read the directions, I feel it is too late.

Holly

Hi Holly,

Thank you for providing me with pictures of the cup packaging.

I will forward these to our Quality Assurance department for further review.

Sincerely,

Amanda Maria
Consumer Relations
818-893-5000 x546
F: 818.893.6343
amanda.maria@munchkin.com

Top 10 (now edited with new info)

It has been a long while since I have put any thought to this blog. I guess with Facebook, I feel that is all anybody needs to know about what is going on in my life. A quick sentence or two and some pics here and there. This is for my dear friend, Emily, who gave up the FB addiction a few months back.

Top 10 Happenings at the Hebert House:
Ten: I am working a very part-time job for HERI Jax. My job is to help coordinate standardized testing for local Homeschool families. I love it and it is just enough work to keep me busy, but I don't feel like I am losing my mind. I get to do it on my time and in my home. It is an answer to prayer because Adam and I have been thinking of homeschooling and this gives me first hand information straight from homeschooling parents.

Nine: It seems my prayer list is long right now. I have so many friends that are trying to have babies, have babies in their bellies, or have new babies to care for. They are topping my list. I am in constant prayer for my own children. It seems everyday I am bombarded with information about sick, hurting, dying children, and that can overload my brain. I am praying that worry will not seep in and destroy my joy in having healthy children. I also am in constant prayer for protection over them as they grow up.

Eight: We have lived in our house over a year now and I love it. It really seems like home to me. Every week Adam and I do something small to make it a more organized or beautiful home. This is the house my children will think back to for many of their childhood memories. I have so many wonderful memories of my childhood home.

Seven: I am doing the Jillian Michaels 30 day Shred...I am sore.

Six: This has been the healthiest winter we have had in a long time. Bryson only suffered from asthma 2 times I think, and Mabry has only had one runny nose. Ahhh it has been great!

Five: Mabry is doing some sort of crazy army crawl, refusing to pick her belly off the floor. None the less she is moving and as a result has ended her up in "baby jail." Breaking news: Mabry has gotten her belly UP off the floor and has been crawling for the past 10 minutes.. A real crawl!
Four: As of this date, March 17, 2010, Mabry's sign language vocabulary consists of the following words: So big, More, All done, Eat, Dog, Elephant, Hi, "blow kisses", duck, milk, and book. Her verbal vocab consists of: Dada, doggy, kitty.

Three: Bryson is quite the ball player. He has been practicing hitting a baseball from a thrown pitch for a few weeks now. He is making contact with the ball on many of the pitches. He loves playing baseball with his daddy.

Two: Bryson has been introduced to Monster Trucks and Nascar. Both are all the rage around here.

One: I am planning my baby girl's first birthday party. Where in the world has the year gone? It is crazy. When I think about her she is still only 4 months old. She has gone from this:

to this:
So there you have it. My top ten.