How do you stop sippy cups and juice boxes from going through your museum? - Museum Professional Forums, News, Jobs, Articles, Books

Museumgirl · 03-05-2009, 10:52 PM

Please HELP!!! Like most museums, we do not allow drinks through our museum, especially not in the exhibit galleries. However, I continually see strollers laiden with sippy cups and juice boxes. How have you combatted this or do you just ignore it. Oh yeah, there's also a lot of Cheerios being eaten too!

I don't mean to offend any moms!

saralu · 03-27-2009, 06:00 PM

Count your blessings that your babies and toddlers come in strollers! Our little visitors usually come on their feet and that brings a whole host of other problems!
Honestly, what is wrong with just asking? We have never had anyone get angry -- they usually just don't realize that the item is there! Of course, our charming and disarming elderly employee helps. How do you get angry at someone who looks like grandma? Just be nice and politely ask that you hold their potentially spillable item. Having a place near the entry and exit for the item to go and easily be picked up on the way out can also help!

Conspectus · 04-30-2009, 10:19 PM

As a mom, I agree it really gets overlooked since you are corralling the kids and being pulled in many different directions. Some times sippy cups and bottles are "comfort items" to the child, and the worse thing you can do it take it away.

At the same time, as a museum professional, I pick my battles. Most good sippy cups these days don't leak, and if it is stashed away in the stroller or pocket of a diaper bag, I am happy.

However, I will tell guides and docents to give parents a gentle reminder and tell parents- at the end of the days toddlers are unpredictable.

03-05-2009, 10:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
Museumgirl Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 44	How do you stop sippy cups and juice boxes from going through your museum? Please HELP!!! Like most museums, we do not allow drinks through our museum, especially not in the exhibit galleries. However, I continually see strollers laiden with sippy cups and juice boxes. How have you combatted this or do you just ignore it. Oh yeah, there's also a lot of Cheerios being eaten too! I don't mean to offend any moms!

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03-27-2009, 06:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
saralu New Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 4	Count your blessings that your babies and toddlers come in strollers! Our little visitors usually come on their feet and that brings a whole host of other problems! Honestly, what is wrong with just asking? We have never had anyone get angry -- they usually just don't realize that the item is there! Of course, our charming and disarming elderly employee helps. How do you get angry at someone who looks like grandma? Just be nice and politely ask that you hold their potentially spillable item. Having a place near the entry and exit for the item to go and easily be picked up on the way out can also help!

04-30-2009, 10:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
Conspectus New Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Missouri Posts: 2	As a mom, I agree it really gets overlooked since you are corralling the kids and being pulled in many different directions. Some times sippy cups and bottles are "comfort items" to the child, and the worse thing you can do it take it away. At the same time, as a museum professional, I pick my battles. Most good sippy cups these days don't leak, and if it is stashed away in the stroller or pocket of a diaper bag, I am happy. However, I will tell guides and docents to give parents a gentle reminder and tell parents- at the end of the days toddlers are unpredictable.