I have the hardest time labeling cups. I use a sharpie and it always come off. I read on here about a week ago that a poster put clear nail polish over the ink to make it stay. I tried that today and the marker just smeared.

Any ideas?

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Was it permanent marker & was it fully dry first? Just curious. Do you always use the same cups? I've been using small glasses for meal time. I label them with a sharpie about once a week. It wears off in the dishwasher after several washes though. I've thought about baking it on? I know that works on ceramic, but I'm guessing it would bust the glass?

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Why are you labeling cups?

I just give each child a cup at snack and meals but they aren't assigned a specific cup each day so just curious...

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My kids have certain cups that they use for water. So everybody knows who's is who's. I'm supposed to have water available at all times.

I also bought these bands at Toys R Us that you can write names on. I used to put those on the cups. Everyone had their own color. During the summer, the kids are color coded. T is red, I is yellow, etc. That way everyone knew which water bottle was theirs.

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I use masking tape. It shows they were "made fresh" daily for QRIS.

Blue for the water cups. Available at all times.
White for the milk cups.
None for the juice, because I no longer serve it.

No longer buying juice = 1 thing I like about QRIS.

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During meal and snack times everyone get a small disposable dixie cup - so those I just toss.

But, I am in the southwest where it is hot 10/12 months of the year - so I like the kids to have access to water outside of meal and snack times. Everyone has their own sip cup/reusable water bottle that remains here. They sit on a shelf in our playroom and come outside with us. Those I am having a hard time keeping a label on.

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I use a sharpie on their water cups. When it fades, I just go over them again. They're color-coded, too, but I like them to see and recognize their names.

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It was, I let it dry for about an hour before putting the clear polish on.

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Got ya! Was just curious...

I too have to have water available at all times but to me that does not mean cups sitting out filled with water. It just means if you need/want a drink, you can have one and I'll get it for you.

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I think what you do is what they (QRIS) intended. I have a mini-fridge/freezer the kids can open to grab their water cups at will. It is me sucking up for points lost when I could not afford to have warm running water installed in the playroom.

The lady said she liked to see the masking tape because it won't stay on in the dishwasher.

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I understand I am too...dare I say lazy?

I would rather them just grab their cup, take a drink and put it back on the shelf

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I use color coded water bottles (each child here is assigned a color) and colored ikea cups for meals/snacks. No issues because "THAT'S MY COLOR!" will be said.

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I have a variety of sippy cups (colors, shapes). Each child gets their own, until it breaks or they term. These are on the counter for water only.

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At the table, we use tiny glasses I find at Goodwill and other thrift stores. I buy only one at a time, all different styles. So the kids remember which one they are using. We also have beach rocks with their names on them (in paint pen), which they use as placemarkers at the table in case they forget where they were sitting (we leave cups on the table all day).

On walks and outings, we use Klean Kanteens. I use big fat rubber bands with their names written on them in Sharpie. Works well for me, because I have more kids than canteens, so I don't want permanent labeling.

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Sharpie came out with a longer lasting pen, maybe try that. I have the same problem. At one point I took a tool and etched there names in. I would love tp see if anyone has any better ideas.
Deb

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I have a P-touch label maker. If you aren't using the laminated tape it will come off after a number of runs through the dishwasher but even that takes a few months.

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Us too, laminated tape. We use cups with lids and I like that each kid has their own, even though we do wash them daily by hand (no dishwasher).

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I was told by QRIS here in MI that we have to label all cups. They get labeled at QRIS time, but that's about it. Otherwise I have a zillion cups and they all get used once and washed.

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I bought a dozen of these years ago,

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Playtex-Crea...item35f1d8d568

they have a paper insert that can be removed and individualized, I use them to keep water handy when we're playing outside

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The Dollar Tree has some cups like this. Not sippy, but with a flip open top.

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I don't label them. I have a color coded system. Every kid has their assigned color and their own cups, plates, bowls and flatwear. I use the Re-play line. They have them at Walmart and on Amazon. There are about 15 colors.

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