It is essential to keep kids hydrated in a school or on the trip. This is especially important during sports exercise or when your kids are very active, but also during hot summer activities. In general, it is vital to keep adults hydrated as well, but I cannot stress enough how important this is for kids.
Even though parents are packing lunch, which should include a drink as well, lots of kids in a school or during other activities don’t have a bottle full of water with them.
If they do, often bottles are made of cheap materials that won’t last very long. This creates its own set of problems. You will be replacing them often due to their durability. Still, also cheap plastic can affect the wellbeing of your kids. I have selected the best BPA-Free water bottles for a school that your kids will absolutely love, and you will feel good about using them.
Did you actually know that leaks are one of the reasons why kids are not carrying around any drink with them? They are afraid that leaks might destroy or damage the content of their bag, including books.
The good thing is the purchase of the new water bottle every single year is not necessary. A quality bottle will last several years.
Let’s have a look at some features that every parent should pay attention to when buying a new bottle. These are purely based on my own childhood experience, and if you feel like I have missed something, feel free to put a comment below. I will add your suggestions to this article.
Table of Contents
Secure Lid, Wide Neck and Size
First of all, the lid should be able to seal securely to prevent possible leaks. At the same time, kids should be able to open and close the bottle quickly without the help of adults anywhere they are, in a school, during exercise, or during any other activities.
All of this should be done with one hand.
Bottom line:
Reliable bottle lid should be one of the main factors to consider when purchasing a bottle for your kids. You should find a bottle with flippable drinking spout or with a snap lid as those bottles are easy to open.
Second:
It is easier to wash the bottle with a wide neck. This is true, especially in the case when you fill the bottle with various smoothies or juices. I am confident that you will thank me later that you have listened to me when you have to clean the bottle.
Now, the suitable size of the bottle is something that you should take into consideration too.
We do it often when selecting bottles for adults. Nonetheless, we shouldn’t forget that size plays an important role for kids too.
Adult bottles are taking a lot of space in the bag and are more massive. So kids might struggle to fit them in their bags, and the reality is, they don’t need to carry that extra weight anyway.
The capacity of 18 oz is more than enough for kids, and even the size of 13-15 oz will be sufficient.
Having the handle is really useful, and having a loop that allows attaching the carabiner on the rucksack is very convenient as well.
By the way, if you prefer to give your child tea, soup, or any other hot drink, instead of water, get an insulated bottle. Usually, those are larger than standard bottles, but the drink will remain warm for ages.
The securely closed bottle that is easy to open and comes with a wide neck is good enough to consider.
Agree?
However, there is something way more important that you should pay attention to.
Materials that the bottle is made of.
The bottle might be very convenient, but as long as it is not in compliance with materials safety, it is not a suitable bottle, especially for kids.
So what are these safe materials?
Sometimes it is tough to tell what we can consider as a safe material. No worries as I am going to cover this topic in a second.
Before everything else…
Always search for bottles that are marked as BPA-Free (Bisphenol-A). I talk in-depth about Bisphenol-A in another article but what you should know about it is that this chemical component disbalances and interferes with the production, secretion, and functions of natural hormones in our body.
It has a similar behavior as female sex hormone estrogen. It has an impact on nearly all possible diseases you can have, starting from obesity and heart diseases and ending with cancer.
Now, let’s talk about the materials itself.
Materials
High-quality bottles must be made of quality, BPA-Free plastic, stainless steel, or aluminum. Let’s have a quick look at different types of plastics that are safe and which to avoid at any cost.
Dangerous Plastics
PET
Avoid plastics called polyethylene terephthalate also known as PET. This material is usually used in soft drink bottles that we are all purchasing from stores. Even though, this material is considered safe; I do not recommend using it when it comes to water bottles for kids.
There is a study that shows that the longer PET material contains water, the more antimony it releases into it. The same study also concludes that the PET bottles are sensitive to exposure to sunlight, high temperatures, but also on different pH of water.
Another study concludes that water contained in the PET bottles had 3 times higher estrogenic activity. An excessive amount of estrogen, especially in the male body, has a negative impact on health as this is not the main hormone of the male body.
The higher amount of this hormone harms female’s health as well because it increases the risk of cancer and becoming overweight.
Polystyrene
Another material I strongly recommend you to avoid is polystyrene. This type of plastic is known to release a toxin called styrene when heated. Styrene damages the nervous system and is also considered as carcinogenic. You can read more about polystyrene in this research.
Safe Materials
Polypropylene
Polypropylene is considered a safe, low toxin material, which is BPA-Free and also recyclable. But make sure you are not mixing it with polycarbonate, which contains dangerous BPA and other harmful toxins in it.
Tritan
The last material, I would like to introduce a little more is called Tritan. Tritan is the material introduced by the company called Eastman in 2007 as a safe alternative to polycarbonate and polyethylene.
I am not affiliated with this company in any way, but I just like the approach.
The study toxicologically evaluated and compared different materials including Tritan. The research concluded that distilled water in a bottle made of Tritan after 3 testing periods, had a concentration of toxins 600 times below the European Commission legislation.
Based on this, I say that Tritan can be considered as an extremely safe material.
Materials Warning
Even though some of the materials listed above are considered safe, I strongly encourage you to be careful with any type of plastic.
Also, do not put bottles into the microwave.
Huh, this was exhausting but necessary for you to have the idea of which material to use, and you realize that it is the key when it comes to the selection of the bottle.
Now when we covered different aspects of bottles, let me show you carefully researched picks I have selected.
Nalgene 12 oz Grip-N-Gulp
- Packaged in a set of 3 bottles.
- BPA free! Dishwasher safe and guaranteed for life.
- Made in the USA from Nalgene Tritan material
- Each set includes three different colors
- Set is perfect for multiple children, or for always having a bottle wherever you go!
Last update on 2024-10-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Kids of a certain age might say that this bottle looks suspiciously like a feeding bottle for babies. However, both older and younger kids will appreciate the benefits of such a bottle.
The lid is leak-proof and also has a loop for carrying or attaching to something. The whole bottle is made of the Tritan, which is BPA and BPS-Free. Also, due to its size and materials bottle is very light to carry and does not take lots of space in a rucksack.
I like the fact that there is a wide variety of different designs, so you will definitely pick the right one for your child.
Brand Nalgene is also well-known and has an excellent reputation in the industry for its quality of products. This bottle is made in the USA. Another great feature of this bottle is size around, which is the same as a 12 oz coke can. This size allows you to fit the bottle into the car cup holder.
Despite all of the great features, there is a complaint from some customers about this bottle. Some users reported that it is hard to get water out of the bottle. I think that it is not very convenient when the spout is static and cannot be closed, but this is just a matter of taste, as I prefer that the spout is closeable.
- High quality Tritan
- Loop to hold or attach
- Fits into car cup holder
- Leakproof
- Convenient size
- Variety of designs
- Some users report that it’s hard to suck the water out
- Static spout that cannot be closed
Conclusion
This is an excellent choice if you are looking for a durable bottle that has a convenient size and is made of safe materials. Don’t also forget to check out other bottle designs from this manufacturer if you feel like this particular one is not something you are looking for.
Zak Designs 14 oz
- Made of durable, shatterproof Tritan(TM) for long-lasting utility.
- Committed to safety - 100% BPA Free.
- A vent in the lid ensures continuous liquid flow, but won't leak when the spout is closed.
- The bottle's molded shape is easy for small hands to hold, and the mouth is wide enough to fit ice cubes for cooling down on hot summer days.
- Built-in carrying loop in the lid.
Last update on 2024-10-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Comparing to Nalgene, this bottle is slightly bigger and can accommodate 14 oz of liquid. What I do like about this bottle is the fact that with a variety of children’s favorite cartoon designs such as My Little Pony for girls or Ninja Turtles for boys and more.
The bottle is leak-proof as well and has a loop to carry and attach. It is reported that a bottle is also dishwasher safe, however, should not be used in a microwave. So, if you want to warm up a drink in a microwave, you should better do it in another pot and then fill the bottle.
The bottle should fit into most of the car cup holders.
Another factor that makes this bottle different from Nalgene is that the straw is actually detachable, and the bottle can be used without it.
Also, the spout itself is flippable, and as I said previously for me, this is a big plus as it does not stick out anywhere. There is less chance that you will break it if you drop it on a hard surface. Price is another plus of this bottle as it is much cheaper than previously mentioned Nalgene.
Despite great features, this bottle offers there are, however, a couple of drawbacks. Users reported that the design pattern on the bottle starts to peel off very soon. Some users said that the material is not very reliable and bottle cracked after a couple of weeks of usage.
- Cartoon design
- Fits into car cup holder
- Detachable straw
- Price
- Design pattern peels off easily
- Some users reported that the material cracked soon after purchase
Conclusion
This is an excellent choice if you are looking for a reasonably big bottle with affordable prices and interesting design.
bottlebottle 15.5 oz Infuser Bottle
No products found.
I haven’t picked this bottle for the review randomly. Comparing to previously mentioned bottles, this is bottle has the infuser inside, and this is the most significant difference.
Also, I have picked this bottle because, if you search for other infusers, you will find out that those are usually 25+ oz big. This is not really convenient when we are talking about bottles for kids. In fact, it was one of the few infusers I was able to find that suits my size criteria for kids.
The whole bottle is made of Tritan and is dishwasher safe. All the components are easy to disassemble and clean. It has a handle loop that allows kids to carry or attach the bottle to the backpack, which I think is practical.
Even though the capacity of the bottle is reported as a 15.5 oz, you need to consider that the real capacity after the infuser is filled, is somewhere between 10-12 oz.
Some of the drawbacks are that the bottle might be hard to open, and kids might struggle because of this, and also that the closure latch might crack off, which makes the bottle useless pretty much.
- Only one infuser of suitable size
- Practical lid design
- Safe material – Tritan
- Rubber sleeve for better grip
- Might be hard to open
- Closure latch cracks
Conclusion
This bottle is definitely an excellent choice for parents who are struggling to get their children to drink more water. The whole bottle is made of transparent material, and when the fruit is placed into the infuser, it creates a beautiful design that makes you want to drink more.
Also, the fruit adds a sweet, refreshing taste to the water, which might be another motivator for your child to drink water with infused fruit rather than unhealthy lemonades.
Simple Modern Summit Water Bottle 14 oz
- Vacuum Insulated: Keep your drink cold for hours with the double-walled, insulated Summit water bottle.
- 2 Lids Included: Insulated Stainless Steel Lid and Leak Proof, BPA-Free Flip Lid
- Durable: Our Summit water bottles are coated in a durable finish.
- The 14-22oz Summit water bottles fit in most cupholders. The 32-84oz Summit water bottles do not fit in most cupholders.
- Bottles should be hand washed and both lids are top rack dishwasher safe.
Last update on 2024-10-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
If you want to give a hot or cold beverage to your child, you should consider an insulated bottle.
I have picked this particular one for two simple reasons.
The first reason is that the bottle is offered in various colorful, simple designs, just as I like. The second reason is that the manufacturer is adding an extra “coffee cup” like flip lid so, your child can drink from the bottle straight from the small hole.
Concerning insulation, the bottle is double-walled and vacuum insulated. Reported time of keeping beverage hot for 14 oz bottle is 6 hours and 14 hours to maintain a content cold.
The bottle also fits into the car cup holder up to the capacity of 22 oz. Bigger bottles are too wide to fit into the cup holder. So, if you want to get one for your child and a bigger one for yourself, this is something you need to consider.
Stainless steel material ensures that the bottle is not going to rust, and also plastic parts of the bottle such as lids are BPA-Free.
- Colorful design
- Stainless steel
- Holds hot and cold content for a long time
- Car cup holder friendly
- Extra lid in a package
- Minor reports of leaks
- Reported coating scratches
Conclusion
This bottle is an excellent choice if you give a hot or cold drink for your child. It has a beautiful design and lots of different models that are very colorful, so you will definitely pick the right one for you. Also, the manufacturer offers various sizes of bottles, which means you can get them for the whole family and not only for kids.
CamelBak Eddy 20 oz
- Sleek stainless steel design, with double-walled vacuum insulation that will keep your drink cold for hours
- Vacuum insulation keeps beverages cold for 24 hours without condensation
- Made with 18/8 stainless steel and BPA/BPS-free materials
- Spill-proof: no tipping required, just flip open the bite valve and sip
- Camelback Got Your Back : If we build it, we'll Back it with our lifetime
Last update on 2024-10-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
I have picked CamelBak because the brand is well-known and respected in the industry for its quality.
I have decided to have a closer look at one of its stainless steel bottles called Eddy. The bottle has a capacity of 20 oz, and any other insulated bottle has a double-wall. All the plastic components are made of BPA-Free polypropylene.
This size of the bottle is slightly bigger but should fit into most nags and bike bottle holder, for those dedicated to cycling. The manufacturer states that the bottle is sweat proof. It means that the bottle won’t leak the inside temperature out, which will condense into water and create the sweat around.
The manufacturer offers a bite valve in its product, and this bottle is one of those. The lid is made of medical-grade silicone and is health safe. Bite valve means that you have to squeeze it with your teeth to release the water. This might become handy because you are not going to spill any water if you accidentally flip or drop a bottle. Also, the valve is flippable, so it doesn’t stick anywhere.
CamelBak states that the bottle is dishwasher safe; however, some users reported that you should only hand wash this bottle. In general, it is not recommended to put insulated bottles into the dishwasher. It might damage the double-wall of your bottle, and it won’t hold the inside temperature anymore.
The bottle holds the temperature very well, and many customers have reported that the bottle can keep content cold or hot for 12 hours.
CamelBak also provides a lifetime warranty on this product. However, please note that lifetime warranty is provided for product lifetime and not yours so, you need to keep this in mind. This might be a drawback for some people.
Another drawback is the price of the product. Compared to the other products, the price is higher.
- Bite valve
- Sweat proof
- Hot and cold content hold time
- “Lifetime” warranty
- Leak proof
- Higher price
- Warranty is for product lifetime and not yours
Conclusion
This bottle provides a vast range of benefits such as bite valve, quality of used materials, and convenient size.
Final words
I really hope that now you have an idea of what you should consider before buying a bottle for your child. It seems like an easy task, just pick any that appears nice to you, but as you know now, it is not a case.
There is a wide variety of products out there, and one might be easily lost. I really hoped that you like my selection and picked the right product to suit your needs.
If you have anything to add or have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comment section. Also, before you put anything into your new bottle, make sure that the actual water itself is safe for your health as well.
How can you achieve clean water? Well, this is everything that this website is about. Check out my other reviews for filtration products or just read a blog.
You have got loads of interesting information about water bottles, especially the materials. Quite a bit of this I didn’t really know about. I remember when I have had leaking water bottles, not serious but still annoying. You just don’t realise the negative effect that some materials have on the human body. The water bottles you have chosen to review look of good quality. This will be so helpful for many people especially parents.
Wonderful information. I have never heard of Tritan but I hate the way water in a stainless steel bottle tastes. It has always worried me that I don’t use better materials. Now I can. Thank You
Hi Maryann, I wouldn’t completely reject the stainless steel bottles as those are very durable, and it really depends on how you care about them. But I agree that water might have a bit of metallic taste.
Every parent needs to read this post. So many times I just pick up a water bottle because it looks attractive. Little do I think about the materials that are used to make it. I will definitely be paying more attention to this as of now. Of course I will share this post with all the moms and dads I know.
Hi Carol,
Thank you I am glad that you understand me, that parents cannot just go with the bottle that looks nice and need to have a deeper look inside to see how safe it is for their children.
Hi Eugen,
Really helpful, you have made it easy for me to pick a water bottle from this post. You have informed the good and bad so I know what to choose. And most importantly whats in my budget.
My little one is allergic to most of the plastic bottle. So I will definitely buy Nalgene
12 oz Grip-N-Gulp for my kid.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Maun, I definitely suggest to go with Tritan as it should be allergic free material.