Were you a kid who grew up sipping on a babycino while you listened to your mum spill the juiciest tea with her friends? Or perhaps you’re a parent who lets their kids knock back a ’cino while you stare into the distance and contemplate your existence over a double-shot oat latte? No matter your experience with the espresso-sized cup of chocolate-dusted warm frothy milk aimed at the toddler-set, there’s no denying café culture starts early – sometimes even before the kids have the whole cup-to-mouth thing down pat.

Like the pavlova, there’s some contention about whether they’re an Australian or New Zealand invention, but regardless, they started popping up in cafés in the 1990s to give kids a lil’ something to busy themselves with while parents got their caffeine fix. Initially, they were free, because the barista just scooped the frothiest part of the milk they steamed for the parent’s drink off the top. Some child-friendly cafes still offer free babycinos (so long as you order some actual coffees too) but pricing around the $2 mark is now pretty standard. Is that too much for around 50 millilitres of warm milk? Many sleep-deprived mums and dads would say that is a fair price to pay for a sanity-saving moment of calm where you can drink your coffee while it’s still hot. But what about $3, or even $4? I remember when an adult-sized latte cost that much, and I’m not that old.

It’s safe to say if a café is charging almost five bucks for a frothy, they do not want your kids there. And if they’re swapping the standard chocolate dusting for organic unsweetened dark chocolate – you need to run before your kid takes a sip and has a (very justifiable) meltdown. Not only do cafés like this not provide the marshmallow that comes alongside most babycinos as standard, they’re actively trying to ruin your day.

A babycino without a marshmallow is like fairy bread without sprinkles – what is the point? I mean, if I was a kid, I’d riot. I have heard of some smart parents who live near bougie cafés who keep a zip-lock of marshmallows in their bag for emergency situations like this.

On the other side of the equation, there are some parents who actively avoid the marshmallow by ordering their young’un a ‘naked babycino’. That’s no fun chocolate powder, definitely no sprinkles and if you show my kid that choking hazard of a marshmallow, I will be speaking to the manager.

Then there’s the whole issue of what the babycino is served in. An espresso cup on a saucer is pretty standard, but due to said children breaking all the espresso cups while slamming down a frothy (literally) some cafés now serve them in tiny take-away cups with a straw shoved down the lid lip. This is officially the worst because the kid will obviously squeeze the cup, pop the lid off and wear the babycino (not to mention the whole unrecyclable nature of these single-use cups).

It’s way smarter to bring your own reusable babycino vessel, even if you’re dining in – just buy one that’s piccolo sized! We particularly love the made by Fressko ones because you can buy them in your kid’s fave colour or the same shade as your big reusable cup for a coordinated coffee date with your youngest pal. Plus, the lid screws on and there’s a latch on the lip for spill minimisation. (Also perfect for when your coffee/chino date inevitably ends up at the park.)

If you’re unlucky enough for your coffee to come out before the babycino, may you rest in peace. That two-minute window when you’d ideally be ingesting caffeine and instead you’re answering the “where’s my babycino?” question multiple times in rapid succession will feel more like three hours. And may god have mercy on your soul if the waiter brings out a white marshmallow when your child made you specifically request pink.

Drama aside, the best part about the babycino (once your child’s hand-eye coordination develops enough to sip it without you being on constant high alert) is the social element. It’s so fun taking your kid (or your niece, nephew or friend’s kid) out for a coffee date. They’ve spent the first year or two of their lives watching you drink your long macchiatos and now they get to join in! Despite the complexities surrounding the babycino, it is pretty cute watching them sit opposite you at the table with their own cup, like they’re about to let you in on all the hot gossip from their soft toys.

This very important rant was brought to you in partnership with made by Fressko. Find your perfect fun-sized reusable made by Fressko Piccolo cup for your mini-me on the made by Fressko website.