Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Juice Pouch

Capri Sun Juice pouches are a great invention. Kids love them. They are portable. They are small and can fit in most pockets or diaper bags. They are silver and filled with liquids that a kid cannot resist. They are like a flask for toddlers.

But there is a design flaw. The hole, where the straw gets inserted, is to close to the back of the package.

Every time I take the pointy straw and try and puncture the little plastic-hole-area, I always end up pushing the straw too far and it ends up piercing the other side of the pouch. When my kid squeezes the pouch, in an effort to get every last drop, the hole on the other side of the pouch becomes a mini geyser.

I guess that is why they have flavors called "Splash Cooler" and "Roarin Waters".

20 comments:

Patience said...

Juice pouches and juice boxes all have the same problems. When you hold them just the teensiest bit too tight, the juice squirts out of the straw. And when you stick the straw in, invariably [at least when I do it], juice comes squirting out of the hole and the straw. I'd rather put the juice in another container that doesn't leak or squirt.

Now that problem is solved, time to tackle world peace.

Kami said...

I hate those damn pouches.

Anonymous said...

Momma's got a juice box, daddy never sleeps at night.

Anonymous said...

This same thing happens to me but I'm the one drinkin them. Glad it's not just me.

Scottsdale Girl said...

And they leave them all over the damned house...

Lowa said...

We ban them from time to time because as scotsdale girl said, they leave them everywhere. Half full no less. So then they keep getting more and more and leaving half full squirty pouches all over!!!

So we tell they are cut off. Then we don't buy them for a few months and when we get them again, it doesn't take long for the same thing to happen. Wouldn't you think they would learn?? Guess not!

Another flaw is how unhealthy they are. Not much actual juice in those Capri Sun things. Juicy Juice is much better health-wise.

Andrea said...

i have seen plastic boxes that you can put either a pouch or a juice box in, solid sides therefore preventing squeezing and squirtage.

i rarely give my poor deprived children juice. it's just much easier, fewer messes. i'm such a mean mommy that way.

Anonymous said...

I stopped buying the pouches because I just can't master the surgical precision it requires to get the f*ckn' straw in without making a mess.

They need reinforcement panels on the backside or something...

Unknown said...

I hate the pouches. The boxes get squeezed too and spill, but they are less likely than the pouches. I hate spilled juice.

Anonymous said...

The worst is when the kids learn what happens when they blow them full of air; they inevitably over fill and release their contents through the straw after the kid stops blowing.

The trick to not sticking it through the back is to fold the top over so that the place you're supposed to stick the straw in is now sitting flat on top of the juice. Of course, it increases your chance of spilled juice, but at least you don't have two holes.

sari said...

Just when you get used to your kids not leaking anymore, their juice boxes leak instead.

Sigh.

Spilling Ink said...

A spill is a spill. My kids drink from regular cups. That way I'm not under the false illusion that there will not be a spill. I guess I just kinda like to see it coming so I can remind them to keep it in the kitchen.

Stepping Over the Junk said...

that's why I taught my kids early on to drink out of water bottles.too much juice for them is bad anyway...heh.

Darren said...

I found a solution to the juice squirting out. Whenever I give my daughter a juice pouch I drink about half of it first--then she can hold a little tighter and it won't gush. She hasn't asked why she only gets about two sips per pouch though.

Lowa said...

I have read more of these responses. I do the same as what Darren said, only I let the kid drink it. I can't stand that stuff! This was when they were little anyway. I hold it right, then they take some sips so that the level is down enough that it won't spill just because you touched it.

As far as the two hole thing and going through the back of pouches...I am stumped. I have never had that happen! Sounds like it would be annoying, though. Doesn't happen to my kids, either. We just stick it straight down into the pouch and are fine.


I also agree that water is better. My kids mainly drink water or milk, these juice things are a treat.

Lisa said...

Umm... poke the straw in, yet downward. It works much better than straight in. :)

Just Jan said...

I'm so glad i'm not the only one that has makes putting that damn straw in the pouch difficult!!! It's so nice to not be alone.

Anonymous said...

My biggest problem with juice pouches is that they are non-recyclable and not biodegradable. Yesterday I found out that TerraCycle (www.terracycle.net) and Honest Tea (www.honesttea.com) launched a national program to collect used drink pouches. They pay the shipping and pay you $0.02 for each pouch that you collect. They are then going to turn these pouches into handbags and so on. You can sign up at http://www.terracycle.net/dpb/ - what a great idea!

Anonymous said...

I was bored so i hooked the straw to my bicycle pump, and am now blowing up used pouches, they seem to give at just over 20psi
Very satisfying!

Anonymous said...

Have you tried the Strawzzle? It is a reuseable straw that can be used on any juice bag or juce box that I have tried. I also used it on a foil covered top beverage (like orange juice and HUGS. I found that it eliminated all squirts and significantly reduced any spills from the container tipping over. It worked for me & my kids.