The best kids’ water bottles you can buy

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The best kids' water bottles you can buy

  • From preschool to college, all students need to stay hydrated to perform their best in school, and no student should be found without their water bottle close by. 
  • We bring you cute designs and easy sipping for preschoolers and durable, insulated bottles for college students — we’ve brought you the best pick for each school age group. 
  • For elementary school we recommend the Thermos FUNtainer Bottle, while the Hydro Flask Wide Mouth is our top pick for college students.

Water bottles are a staple — pretty much every student carries one. When I was in school in the ’90s and early 2000s, hardly any kids carried water bottles, and if they did, there was nothing fancy about them. As a former high school teacher, though, over the past few years, almost every student in my classroom carried a water bottle. 

Water bottles have become much more than a container for water. Most students have water bottles with cute designs or interesting features like built-in fruit infusers. The right water bottle makes a statement and will earn students plenty of compliments from friends and strangers alike. 

Among my friends and family, I’m known for constantly drinking water (imagine how much fun it must be go on a road trip with me). My house is always littered with water bottles, so I’ve done my fair share of testing. When I was in college, I threw a water bottle into my backpack and it leaked all over my 3,500 page Shakespeare anthology. Don’t worry. I’ve learned from my mistakes, and I now properly vet every single water bottle I buy. 

One important thing to note about our picks: The majority of them are stainless steel because it’s a safe material to store water, and it helps keep water cold. However, some schools only allow water in clear bottles, so be sure to check with the school’s policy before you buy a water bottle for your child. 

I’ve combined my own experience with water bottles, my observations of my students’ water bottles, and countless roundups and reviews to bring you the best options for each age group. Another quick note to keep in mind about our picks: Many of these bottles are available in multiple sizes, so we picked the size we feel best fits the age group. 

Here are our top picks for the best kids’ water bottles for school in 2019:

The best for preschool

Amazon

The CamelBak Eddy Kids Water Bottle comes in over 40 fun designs, it’s leak-resistant, and it’s the perfect size for young kids. 

I have the regular-size CamelBak, and it has served me well over the years. I love that the CamelBak Eddy Kids Water Bottle has so many different colors and designs to choose from. A lot of parents worry that their kids aren’t drinking enough water, but adding in fun designs can help encourage your child to drink their water, and it can make it less likely the bottle will get left behind at school. This plastic bottle is BPA, BPS, and BPF free. 

This kids’ water bottle is the perfect size for little hands, and it’s easy for young kids to figure out how to use. We like that it’s a simple plastic option for young kids who are still learning how to take care of their belongings. The bite valve provides a way for kids to drink without having to tilt the bottle while it remains leak-resistant. The carrying handle on the top makes it easy to clip to backpacks or lunch boxes so your child doesn’t forget their bottle at school. 

One of the only cons of this CamelBak Eddy Kids Water Bottle is that the bite valve has been known to be hard to clean, which can lead to the development of mold. I actually had this problem after having one of my CamelBak bottles for a few years, and the company sent me a new bite valve. 

Wirecutter named the CamelBak Eddy Kids the best plastic kids’ water bottle, noting "The CamelBak’s spout is easy to open and close, and because of its bite valve, it’s the only one that won’t leak even with the spout open and held upside down." This is a huge plus for young kids who might forget to close the spout after they’re done drinking. Over 2,000 Amazon reviewers have given this bottle 5 stars, and it’s one of Amazon’s bestselling water bottles. 

Pros: Over 40 designs for kids to choose from, perfect size and easy for young kids to use, leak-resistant even with the spout open

Cons: Bite valve is hard to clean and can get moldy

The best for elementary school

Thermos

The Thermos FUNtainer Bottle doesn’t leak or sweat, and it appeals to young kids with prints like ‘Cats With Sunglasses’ and ‘Paw Patrol.’

Thermos is known for keeping liquids well insulated, and they’ve done it again with the Thermos FUNtainer Bottle. It has stainless-steel-vacuum-insulation technology to keep your little one’s water cold all day at school, and it’s sweat-proof so it’s less likely to slip out of your child’s hands or get their schoolwork wet. 

Cuteness factor is huge for elementary school students, and this water bottle delivers with many different colors and styles, including popular themes like Toy Story, Paw Patrol, JoJo Siwa, Marvel characters, and Disney Princesses.

If your child has already started elementary school, you know that a school full of hundreds of little kids is also full of germs. Because of that, we love how the Thermos FUNtainer has a straw that’s covered to keep it as sanitary as a water bottle in an elementary school can be. The cover also prevents leaking.  

This water bottle was named the best kids’ water bottle by Wirecutter, and it’s loved by consumers with over 4,000 5 star reviews on Amazon. Reviewers love that it doesn’t leak and that it keeps drinks cold all day. Many reviewers also mention how easy it is to clean, including a verified purchaser named Maria: "It’s super easy to clean since all the pieces come apart effortlessly."

Pros: Leak- and sweat-proof, fun designs, ideal size for young kids, easy to clean, keeps water cold all day

Cons: The bottle does leak if the lid isn’t closed all the way

The best for middle school

Pogo

The Pogo Tritan is a simple water bottle that’s perfect for middle school students who are transitioning from kids to teenagers; it’s made of transparent plastic and is leak proof. 

Oh, middle school. The time of awkward growth spurts and the peak of puberty. There’s one thing that doesn’t have to be awkward about your child’s middle school years though: their water bottle. 

The Pogo Tritan Water Bottle has been one of my go to water bottles for years, and the 18 ounce size with a simple design is perfect for middle school students. I’ve thrown this bottle in bags countless times, and it’s never spilled or leaked. It’s also very easy to clean. (Note: I’ve tested the chug-lid version; some reviewers complain that the soft straw version leaks.)

There are seven different colors offered, and this is our only large water bottle pick that is transparent, which is a requirement at some schools. The side carrying handle is perfect to slip a finger through when students are already carrying all of their books, and it could also be hooked to a backpack or lunch box. Even though this bottle is plastic, it’s BPA, phthalate, PVC, lead, and cadmium free.

The larger 32 ounce Pogo Tritan and this 18 ounce size both appear on Amazon’s top-selling water bottles list. The 32 ounce might even be a good option if your middle-schooler has sports after school or tends to drink a lot of water. One Amazon reviewer said, "I love that the spout is protected by a cover and the bottle itself is not extremely tall while also holding 18 oz of liquid (we use this for water only). For the price, the value is awesome."

Pros: Low price point; transparent color options; no BPA, phthalate, PVC, lead, or cadmium 

Cons: The soft straw version might leak

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Source: Business Insider – jwong@businessinsider.com (Alicia Betz)

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