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Nothing tastes better or is healthier than water when you’re thirsty. This is true no matter how old you are. In fact, about 60% of the adult human body is made of water. Our bodies need water to function, and in the case of children, to grow and develop properly.
Staying Healthily Hydrated!
Supermarkets, gas stations, and school vending machines all carry water, but they’re also full of sugary beverages like carbonated drinks, heavily sweetened juices and iced teas, and even energy drinks and other caffeinated products. It can be tough to resist the temptation of sugar and caffeine for many adults, let alone children.
Sugar-sweetened beverages and their effects on human health have been heavily studied. Drinking too many sweetened beverages may lead to unwanted weight gain, encourage tooth decay, and increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and/or heart disease over time. Habits started in childhood, such as frequently drinking sweetened beverages, which can be tough to change as you get older.
Encouraging children to drink healthier things like water and white milk may help them make better dietary choices as they grow up. Bringing reusable water bottles to school, on vacations, or even in the refrigerator may encourage your children to drink more water.
Which Insulated Water Bottle is Appropriate for Your Child?
All the water bottles we reviewed were designed with children in mind. The bottle part of each product is made of stainless steel, while the tops are made of various materials: plastic, metal, or silicon. Each of these insulated water bottles is made BPA-free (bisphenol A) plastics. These bottles, made in smaller sizes for smaller hands, are made to keep cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot, just like adult-sized insulated bottles.
Choosing the right water bottle for your child essentially boils down to two things: size and intended usage. All of the reviewed water bottles hold between 10-12 ounces (296-355 mL), though one bottle comes in a larger size. Pick a water bottle that best suits your child’s drinking patterns (and bladder capacity)!
By intended usage, we mean what types of drinks you want to hold in this bottle. Most of these water bottles are not only great for keeping water cold, but also for milk, juice, and warm beverages like hot cocoa. Choose your insulated water bottle according to what else besides cold water you want to use it for, if applicable.
Bottle Closures
In addition to the criteria above, your child’s age could also be taken into consideration when purchasing an insulated water bottle. Some of these water bottles use a button or flip-spout mechanism to open, while one uses a screw top. Some children, particularly younger toddlers, may struggle with opening a tightly screwed cap.
Most of the water bottles we reviewed, however, have taken the motor skill levels of young children into their design. These considerations include simple button mechanisms, bite values, inner straws, and the bottle’s shape itself. Keep in mind that some of these water bottles are not recommended for children under the age of three.
Keeping Things Clean
Most of the insulated water bottles we have reviewed are not dishwater safe due to their materials (all of the insulated bottles we reviewed are stainless steel). With this in mind, these water bottles have been designed to be easily taken apart by adults for easy cleanup. Some of these water bottles have parts, such as the bottle cap, which are top-rack dishwasher safe.
Handwashing your insulated water bottles and their components frequently ensures they stay sealable and spill-proof, decreases the chance of mold and mildew, and helps them last for years to come.
Best Insulated Water Bottle for Kids Reviews
Snug Flask for Kids by Snug
This little water bottle is as practical as it is cute. Made of stainless steel, this insulated bottle will keep water and beverages at the right temperature – hot or cold – until your youngster is ready to drink it.
The bottle opens using a button mechanism: the lid and straw pops up when you push the button.
This product isn’t dishwasher-friendly, but the bottle’s components come apart for relatively easy cleanup.
If matching lunch sets interest you, these water bottles also match Snug’s lunch bag line (sold separately).
Pros
- Lots of fun designs available, including pineapples, cats, and robots.
- Ring on lid allows you to clip the bottle onto a lunchbox or backpack.
- This water bottle won’t rust or break from use.
- Available in two sizes, making it suitable for toddlers to preteens.
Cons
- Not suitable for dishwashers. This bottle must be washed by hand.
- May be difficult to find a replacement straw.
- May leak if the lid is left open while tilted.
S’ip by S’well
S’well’s child-sized water bottle is perfect for school lunches, road trips, or even around the house. S’ip keeps cold drinks chilled for 24 hours, and hot beverages toasty for 12. With its leak-free twistable cap, you won’t have to worry about water, milk, or juice ruining your child’s homework, whether he or she sat the bottle upright in their backpack or not.
The cap is attached to the bottle with a silicone strap as well, so you don’t have to worry about losing the cap when opening the bottle.
It may be small, but this product is still a S’well water bottle, which means it has the signature weighted bottom to keep the bottle upright and avoid spilling when it’s open.
Pros
- S’ip is a light, little bottle: perfect for holding beverages in purses, backpacks, and lunchboxes.
- Cute designs include animals, vehicles, and solid colors.
- Keeps liquids hot for 12 hours and cold for 24.
- The weighted bottom keeps the water bottle upright and to avoid spills when sitting open.
Cons
- Not dishwasher friendly.
- Must be twisted open, which may be difficult for some younger toddlers to do.
Eddy Vacuum Stainless Steel Water Bottle by Camelbak
Camelbak’s child-sized water bottle doesn’t use a twist cap nor buttons to open. Instead, this bottle uses Camelbak’s spill-proof Big Bite Valve mechanism: flip up the spout, bite down, and the valve will open for drinking.
The stainless steel part of the bottle cannot be put into the dishwasher, but the cap can be cleaned on the top rack.
This BPA, BPS, and BPF-free water bottle will keep your child’s drinks cold all day long, which is great for staying hydrated while having fun under the sun.
Pros
- The bottle cap is dishwasher-friendly (top rack only).
- The cap and Bite Valve spout detach from the internal straw, making cleaning up simpler.
- Big Bite Valve spouts are available for purchase separately if the original one wears out from use.
- The cap has a carrying handle.
Cons
- Not meant for children under three years old.
- Marketed exclusively towards water and cold drinks. This bottle may not be suitable for hot drinks.
Kids Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle by Sprouts
This colorful little water bottle can keep beverages hot or cold for 12 hours.
Its wide mouth makes washing up easy, either by hand or in the dishwasher, or even for plunking a few ice cubes into your drink.
The latch-button and inner seal in the bottle’s lid prevent spills without using fiddly tubes or straws, making this water bottle suitable for both children and adults.
This bottle’s compact size means it fits into lunchboxes, vehicle cupholders, and backpacks.
Pros
- Dishwasher friendly and easy to clean.
- Appropriate for both cold and hot beverages besides water.
- Comes in a variety of colors to suit any child or child-at-heart.
- Latch button is easily openable with one hand.
Cons
- Bottle cap doesn’t have a handle.
- Doesn’t have a straw or valve mechanism, which may make it unsuitable for some younger children.
Rambler Jr. with Straw Cap by YETI
YETI’s pint-sized water bottle is designed to handle childhood. The cap is shatter and leak-resistant, and the paint is guaranteed not to peel.
The flip-top water bottle comes with two inner straws so that your child doesn’t have to turn the bottle up to drink from it.
The double-wall vacuum insulation keeps your drinks cold or hot until you finish them.
Durable, easy-to-clean, and available in multiple kid-friendly colors, the Ramblr Jr. is excellent for school, playtime, beach days, and any other adventures young people may find themselves having.
Pros
- Both the bottle and cap are dishwasher friendly.
- The cap handle makes the bottle easy to carry around by hand or for securing the bottle to a backpack.
- Has a leakproof cap, and liquid won’t spill everyone if your child accidentally drops the bottle.
- Condensation-free, keeping hands, tables, and backpacks dry.
Cons
- This water bottle is very durable, but that means it is on the heavier side.
- High-quality products don’t come cheap. YETI products are expensive, and this water bottle is no exception (in comparison to insulated water bottles of a similar size and shape).
Our Choice
All the insulated water bottles we reviewed are great products. However, our favorite is YETI’s Rambler Jr. The bottle is designed to keep consistent temperatures for hours on end, perfect for school, travel, or playing up in a treehouse all afternoon. The Rambler Jr.’s flip-spout design and inner straw makes the bottle easy to open and drink from for even the youngest of children.
Most of the water bottles we reviewed are durable and can handle children dropping them, but the Rambler Jr. can handle a child accidentally dropping it without cracking open and spilling water everywhere, and the company claims the paint coating won’t chip. Even better, the Rambler Jr.’s carrying handle fits comfortably into a child’s hand, so dropping the bottle should be less of a problem.
At the end of the day, you can shove the entire water bottle in the dishwasher, though its wide mouth and simple design makes handwashing an uncomplicated chore.
Being a YETI product, however, makes this water bottle more expensive than all the other ones we reviewed. All of these water bottles are great products with some slight differences. If you are just looking for an insulated water bottle to keep water cold, a different bottle may be a better choice for you. You know your child better than we do, so base your purchasing choice upon which insulated water bottle would work best for them.