A Dishwasher Basket Tames Baby Cup Parts

Danny’s cups have entered the stage where one drink means six pieces: lid, straw, valve, collar, handle, and the mystery silicone bit that hides under everything.

The fix is a dedicated dishwasher basket on the top rack. Not a fancy one. Just a small lidded basket with enough slots that straw parts stand upright instead of nesting together like wet puzzle pieces.

My rules now:

• take the cup apart at the sink, not near the dishwasher
• put every small part straight into the basket
• keep straws vertical so water can actually move through them
• unload the basket first, before the pieces scatter into the clean dishes

It is a tiny habit, but it stops the evening search for the missing valve when bedtime is already moving faster than the adults.