Disposable or Dishwasher Dishes

[originalkat]

I was just curious how many providers use disposable dishes versus regular plates/cups/utensils?
I use paper plates for meals but use regular cups and utensils.

[gbcc]

It depends. If I have a full house I use disposable all the way! If I only have a few kids I use school trays, plastic cups, and children silverware. Sometimes if my dishwasher is full and I'm too lazy to run right then I will use disposable.

[mac60]

I use regular dishes 9 out of 10 times. Paper plates only occassionally.
I also went to plastic silverware for the dckids, as they kept banging the real stuff into my tabletop. I just wash the plastic over and over and don't dispose of it. We typically run the dishwasher 1 time per day.

[Former Teacher]

I use regular dishes 9 out of 10 times. Paper plates only occassionally.
I also went to plastic silverware for the dckids, as they kept banging the real stuff into my tabletop. I just wash the plastic over and over and don't dispose of it. We typically run the dishwasher 1 time per day.

Hey Mac, where you are at, isn't against state law to reuse disposeable silverware? In TX if you must throw out single use items. Of course we didn't. Only when state was there

[momofsix]

I always use real plates & cups. got cute little fork/spoons that have animal shapes on the handles at the dollar store, and sectioned plates on clearance at the end of summer. Much cheaper imo than using paper!

[momma2girls]

I use all real plates, silverware, and cups as well. I have all character plates, cups, and silverware. The children just love to see which one they have that day. I have cars, barbie, lion king, my little pony, hello kitty, spiderman, and more!!

[tymaboy]

I do not use any disposable stuff. The closest thing to disposable are those plastic cups with the snap on lids that are really cheap (found in the baby isle) I have the plastic kids utensils for the kids (baby isle) At the end of the day we run the dish washer.

[Chickenhauler]

I use regular dishes 9 out of 10 times. Paper plates only occassionally.
I also went to plastic silverware for the dckids, as they kept banging the real stuff into my tabletop. I just wash the plastic over and over and don't dispose of it. We typically run the dishwasher 1 time per day.

I threatened to feed them only bologna sammiches and other finger food if they continued to gouge the kitchen table up with silverware.

The littler ones get plastic, and the older ones lose theirs if the can't behave.

[Unregistered]

bologna sammiches

Lol!! The last time I heard it call a sammich was when my grandfather was alive and he had his dentures out. Too funny!!

[DBug]

I have several sets of the Ikea plates, bowls, cutlery and cups, along with the Nuby sippy cups (because they're available in the same solid colours). Each kid has their own colour, and they can tell where to sit at the table by looking for their colour. The kids each use one cup the whole day, kept on a tray in the kitchen. The only disposables I use for daycare are napkins instead of plates at snacktime (about half the time). The Ikea stuff is so much cheaper and alot more durable than the dollar store even. I've got 6 kids through the day, and a family of 5 at night and it usually only takes one dishwasher load each day.

[mac60]

Hey Mac, where you are at, isn't against state law to reuse disposeable silverware? In TX if you must throw out single use items. Of course we didn't. Only when state was there

I have never heard of this before. After children poking those beside them, hitting with the silverware, etc, I went to plastic. I don't understand, how does that spoon or fork know it has been used before????

Wouldn't surprise me though that some dumb butt came up with yet another stupid law. Along the same lines,,,,,,we refill bottled water containers, or a gatorade container, to take to class, in the car, etc. My son filled 2 apple juice containers (1/2 gal size) and took it to his mowing job this summer. I have a hard time believing that can be bad for you, if it is, it probably was the first time you used the container.

[wejo928]

Plates

In PA we can use disposable as long as it is not foam plates, cups or bowls.

I personally prefer the take & toss plates, plastic wear, cups & bowls. I keep a dishpan in my sink and wash after every use. Each child has their own color. And cups have training lids, straws or no lids as they grow. They are inexspensive and last long.

[GretasLittleFriends]

Sometimes I think paper plates are the way to go considering our dishwasher is usually my 14 yr old daughter. However, I just can't see spending the $$ each month to buy the stuff. Sure we go through more dish soap, but the added cost of dish soap compared to the cost of disposable dishware, I guess I'd just rather do the dishes. I know it'd be tax deductible, but still, I guess I'm cheap.

[AmandasFCC]

I have a set of Correll dishes that I use with the daycare kids .. the ones that are supposedly super resistant to drops? I picked them up second hand for dirt cheap. I run my dishwasher once a day as well.

[Persephone]

I picked up plastic divided plates super cheap at the end of the summer this past year. I think I paid about $.25 each for them. So I use them. If things are crazy or my dishwasher is already full I might use paper that day. If I even find re-usable plastic ware cheap, I'll buy those too, and use them in place of the silverware.