10 of the best water bottles for kids
Take a look at all the best water bottles for kids, tested by real-life mums and their kids. The variety of kids water bottles is massive, ranging from an environmentally-friendly stainless steel option to a fold up silicone bottle.
Finding a children's water bottle that's safe, durable and affordable can be a challenge, so we've done the hard work for you, whittling down the best kids' water bottles on the market to the selection below.
From the best kids water bottles with straws for mess-free hydration, to the best insulated kids water bottles that keep drinks cool (or hot) for longer, we’ve found bottles to suit even the pickiest child. There are also eco-friendly options to not only please your child, but also the planet.
- We've also found great choices for other essentials, such as kids' lunchboxes and kids' backpacks to help you get everything you need together. And, if your child's approaching a big 'first day', we have some brilliant prep and settling-in tips on starting nursery and starting primary school.
Best kids water bottles at a glance
- Best leak proof kids water bottle: Ion8 Recyclon Leak Proof Kids' Water Bottle, £12.99
- Best water bottle for younger kids: Nuby Incredible Gulp Tritan No Spill Cup, £13 for 2
- Best compact kids water bottle: Smiggle Silicone Roll-Up Bottle, £15
- Best stainless steel bottle for younger kids: Klean Kanteen Kid Sippy Bottle Stainless Steel Bottle, £16.95
- Best sports water bottle for kids: Sistema Twist 'n' Sip, £4.49
- Best kids water bottle with straw: Little Life Kids Water Bottle, £8.99
- Best bottle for older kids: Camelbak Eddy Drinking Bottle, £19
- Best durable water bottle for kids: SHO Kids Bottle, from £20
- Best sustainable kids water bottle: Onegreenbottle 350ml Evolution, from £20
- Best kids insulated water bottle: Thermos Funtainer Flask, from £19
Jump to what to consider when buying a new kids' water bottle
Jump to what types of kids water bottles are there?
Jump to how big should a kids water bottle be?
Best kids' water bottles to buy in 2024, recommended by parents
1. Ion8 Recyclon Leak Proof Kids' Water Bottle, £12.99
– Best leak proof kids water bottle
Capacity: 400ml | Size: 7cm x 6.7cm x 17 cm| Material: Plastic | BPA free: Yes
Pros:
- Hygienic due to its spout cover
- Locking system
Cons:
- Quite a few nooks and crannies to clean
We’re a big fan of Ion8 bottles in our house. Leak proof, easy to clean as no straw to clean and dishwasher safe. We’ve got the plastic ones (they do metal too) and have had no issues with scratches etc, even the one that my daughter takes to school everyday.
This bottle is great for hygiene with its spout cover. It easily flips open and locks closed using just one finger. The clever locking system means there's no risk of it popping open and spilling everywhere. Parent tester Hannah really rates this bottle: "no leaks and super easy to open and keep clean, both my 1 and 3 year old (pictued above) can use them with ease."
It's got vented, smooth liquid flow that helps your child to drink at the right speed. The bottle is the perfect size for fitting in car cup holders too, being only the width of a can. Its soft grip makes it easy for your child to hold.
The plastic the bottle's made from is phthalate free, non-toxic and BPA free, and, as well as the Space design we've pictured, there are other cute designs to choose, including a unicorn and a dinosaur one.
Available from: Amazon and Ion8
2. Nuby Incredible Gulp Tritan No Spill Cup, £13 for 2
– Best water bottle for younger kids
Suitable age: 18+ months | Capacity: 360ml | Size: 10cm x 7.5cm x 21 cm | Material: Silicone | BPA free: Yes
Pros:
- Easy to open and close
- Leak-proof
- Dishwasher and microwave safe
Cons:
- Quite chunky to fit in a bag
- Only 2 colour options
I love that it's spill-proof, I feel safe having it in my daughter's bag. My daughter finds it easy to open and close herself.
This Nuby Incredible Gulp Tritan bottle is fantastic for keeping your little one hydrated wherever they are. The soft-flex silicone spout is dentist-approved. It pops open by pushing a button, making it easy for a kid to drink from. The cover ensures no spillages when its closed.
The material of the actual bottle is a plastic known as Tritan, which is BPA-free, shatter-proof, dishwasher safe and microwave safe. Another great thing about Tritan? It's as clear as glass so you can easily keep track of how much water your kid is drinking. Although this bottle is practical, it does not lack style. It comes in a red strawberry design or a blue dinosaur print depending on your child's preference.
Parent tester Emma, mum of 3 year old twins, says "it's good you can get replacement straws/tops/spouts as my daughter likes to chew on hers!" If you feel like you're constantly needing to replace a bottle because your child is chewing it, buying replacement components like this could be a cheaper option.
Available from: Nuby and Amazon
3. Smiggle Silicone Roll-Up Bottle, £15
– Best compact kids water bottle
Suitable age: 3+ years | Capacity: 630ml | Size: 7cm x 7cm x 20cm | Material: Silicone | BPA free: Yes
Pros:
- Doesn't leak
- Folds down to fit small spaces
- Holds a large capacity
Cons:
- Can be fiddly to hold
We were pulling our hair out with the kids coming home with soaking wet lunchboxes until we stumbled upon the Smiggle bottles. They really don't leak: shake them, turn them upside down, squeeze them etc. They also fit in small spaces.
In our annual school uniform survey, Smiggle was one of the most popular retailers for parents to buy their kids' water bottles from and it's easy to understand why. If a water bottle takes up a lot of room in your kid's bag then this roll-up drinks bottle from Smiggle is exactly what you need, it even has a carabiner clip to attach to their school bag if they don't want to put it inside.
Its classic flip-top spout ensures no spills, making it perfect for kids always on the go. Taking care of this clever bottle is easy too, simply remove all metal parts and place on the top shelf of the dishwasher. One downside of the bottle that parent tester Karla mentioned was "it can sometimes be slightly fiddly to hold when there isn't a lot of drink left, but this is minor compared to the overall bottle."
This handy roll up bottle comes in a variety of designs, ranging from black to khaki to pink. Whatever colour your little one is after, you'll be able to find.
Available from: Smiggle and Next
4. Klean Kanteen Kid Sippy Bottle Stainless Steel Bottle, £16.95
– Best stainless steel bottle for younger kids
Suitable age: 6 months+ | Capacity: 355ml | Size: 10.3cm x 7.7cm x 17.9cm| Material: Stainless Steel | BPA free: Yes
Pros:
- Hard-wearing
- Easy to hold
- Metal loop to clip and hold
- Variety of colours and patterns
Cons:
- Quite expensive
- Can dent
- Have to purchase sports cap separately as child gets older
My son has dropped the bottle so many times and it bears the dents to prove it, but it's still standing where a plastic bottle would have cracked. The bottles are available in a wide range of attractive designs and I love that they are sustainable and ethically made.
This option from Klean Kanteen is a lovely, small and stylish stainless steel bottle. This one has a sippy cap, making it a great bottle for younger kids. As your child gets older, there's the option to purchase a sports bottle cap too.
It's spill proof and comes with a dust cover, to avoid germs and dust going on the cap. The handy metal loop allows you to easily attach the bottle to a pushchair or bag.
The Klean Kanteen bottle is designed to play hard with its chip-resistant Klean Coat finish. It's durable, safe for people and the planet. The narrow profile of the bottle makes it perfect for your little one's hands, helping them get a good grip of the bottle.
You can choose from a variety of fun patterns and colours, most being dishwasher safe.
Available from: Amazon and Klean Kanteen
5. Sistema Twist 'n' Sip, £4.49
– Best sports water bottle for kids
Capacity: 330ml | Size: 6.1cm x 6.4cm x 16.2 cm| Material: Plastic | BPA free: Yes
Pros:
- Great value
- Hygienic
- Dishwasher safe
Cons:
- Made from non-sustainable plastic
- Small capacity
I think they are such a good quality, a good price and they last my children ages...I like that they come in different colours as well and they are easy to wash.
If you're looking for an affordable water bottle, the Sistema Twist 'n' Sip is perfect. Its lid allows the bottle to be opened and closed without fingers touching the sipper tip; this makes the bottle more hygienic than other bottles where you have to touch the top. We also think it's a great sports water bottle for kids, due to its clever shape that means it adapts well to the hand.
It can be cleaned in the dishwasher, it's microwave safe (without the lid) and its phthalate and BPA free. It also comes in a variety of colours.
Available from: Amazon and The Range
6. Little Life Kids Water Bottle, £8.99
– Best kids water bottle with straw
Suitable age: 3+ years | Capacity: 400ml | Size: 7cm x 7 cmx 19cm| Material: Plastic | BPA free: Yes
Pros:
- Wrist strap
- Can buy replacement components
- Dishwasher safe
Cons:
- Small capacity
It's not the biggest but any more and my boys would find it overwhelming, being faced with that amount to drink. It easily fits in a school bag or handbag being that size too
This cute safari water bottle will keep your little one hydrated on their adventures.
Its handy wrist strap and pop-up straw makes it super easy for your kid to hold and drink on the go. The adorable bottle features a no-spill, dentist approved, silicone straw, which pops open as you flip open the lid. There's also a handy measure on the side to keep track of how well your child is hydrating throughout the day.
The Tritan material the bottles made from is shatter-proof, super durable, stain and odour resistant. It's also dishwasher safe which is always a plus. If needed, you can buy replacement straws and lids or other components of the bottle that may need replacing as time goes by.
Available from: LittleLife and Amazon
7. Camelbak Eddy Drinking Bottle, £19
– Best water bottle for older kids
Capacity: 750ml| Size: 7.6cm x 7.6cm x 25.4cm | Material: Eastman Tritan Copolyester | BPA free: Yes
Pros:
- Simple and plain design
- No tipping needed
- Dishwasher safe
- Large capacity
Cons:
- Made from plastic
- May be too large for younger children
My son loves this bottle and it really helps when he's experiencing sensory overload at school. The great thing is it's so normal it doesn't draw attention to the classroom...when my son is overloaded he can just have a drink of water in class and it grounds him.
This sleek and stylish water bottle is a great choice for older kids who need to drink more water throughout the day.
It's redesigned cap and bite valve allows for a faster flow. The valve is made from medical grade silicone and has a spill-proof closure. With its flip, bite and sip valve, no tipping is required so it's easy to avoid leaks.
The bottle is designed perfectly to fit in most cup holders, and most importantly your child's hand. It's also easy to carry with an integrated loop handle which can be used to clip to your child's belongings. To clean, you can place on the top rack of the dishwasher.
Available from: Amazon
8. SHO Kids Bottle, from £20
– Best durable water bottle for kids
Capacity: 260ml/370ml | Size: 6.5cm x 6.5cm x 19cm / 7cm x 7cm x 23cm | Material: Stainless steel | BPA free: Yes
Pros:
- Lots of designs to choose from
- Spill proof straw lid and leakproof screw lid included
- Lifetime guarantee
- Can be personalised
Cons:
- Quite expensive
SHO bottles are great. They’re metal not plastic, so they don’t crack. They come with a straw lid too, so great for getting water into kids on hot days. They're also leak proof - our daughter (2) has been using the same one since before she turned 1 and it’s been brilliant.
We're really impressed by this reusable bottle from SHO. Its stainless steel design is incredibly durable and it's insulated too, it keeps drinks cold for 24 hours and hot drinks warm for 12 hours. You'll receive 2 lids — a screw lid and a straw lid. The screw lid is 100% leakproof and although the straw lid unfortunately isn't, it is spill proof.
Impressively, the bottle comes with a lifetime guarantee too so, although it's expensive, you can be assured that it will last and will be worth the money.
We also really love the fun and bright designs to choose from, from animals, dinosaurs and dragons to pirates, mermaids and more. You can also choose to personalise the bottle with your child's name for an additional £7.
Available from: Amazon and SHO
9. Onegreenbottle 350ml Evolution, from £20
– Best sustainable kids water bottle
Capacity: 350ml | Size: 7 cmx 19cm| Material: Stainless steel | BPA free: Yes
Pros:
- Eco-friendly
- Leak-proof straw
- Insulated
- Robust and durable
Cons:
- Small capacity for older kids
- Expensive
We love our onegreenbottle bottles — lush colours, solid, easy to use and clean! We've had ours ages!
We love this robust water bottle from onegreenbottle. The bottle is insulated and so similarly to the SHO bottle above, it will maintain the temperature of cold drinks for 24 hours and hot drinks for 12 hours.
As our tester mentions above, it's easy to clean. It's also the perfect size for a toddler to wrap their hands around and the 350ml capacity is an ideal size to keep your toddler hydrated.
Onegreenbottle are a great eco-friendly choice too. For every bottle sold, the company reclaims 50 single use plastic bottles from the ocean. The company is certified B-Corp, their supply chain is single-use plastic free and the bottle is 100% recyclable too.
There are a really impressive selection of colours and designs to choose from, from neutral and bright colours to fun dinosaur and animal prints.
Available from: Amazon and onegreenbottle
10. Thermos Funtainer Flask, £19
– Best kids insulated water bottle
Capacity: 355ml | Size: 7cm x 7cm x 19cm | Material: Stainless steel | BPA free: Yes
Pros:
- Keeps drinks cold
- 5 year guarantee
- Good choice of designs
Cons:
- Not dishwasher safe
- Quite expensive
If you're looking for a bottle that'll keep cold drinks cold, these flip-top funtainer drinks bottles are perfect. Using the Thermos technology you're no doubt familiar with, they claim to keep drinks cold for up to 12 hours, and we've seen that for ourselves: MFM's Gemma used one of these with her toddler during a heatwave and it became a must have.
The bottle features a flip-top with a push button that can be operated by tiny hands. Inside you'll find a soft silicone straw. With the lid properly clipped on, it's leakproof, but with the lid off the straw can drip or spray. To wash it thoroughly, you'll need to take a few pieces apart, but no more than others on this list. The bottle also comes with a 5 year guarantee, so although it's expensive, you know it's going to last.
The bottle is available in a whole host of designs, including a really cute collaboration series with illustrator Rachel Ellen.
Available from: Amazon and Thermos
What to consider when buying a new kids' water bottle
Material – When choosing a water bottle for your kid, you need to decide on a material. If you are willing to pay more, a stainless steel water bottle is a more sustainable option and may be more hard wearing. If you want a budget-friendly bottle then a BPA-free plastic bottle is absolutely fine.
Shape of bottle – Consider how your child will hold the bottle and whether their hand will easily fit around it. It's important that they can hold it and drink from it independently.
Leak-proof lid – There's nothing worse than a water bottle constantly spilling and leaking everywhere. Ensure that it has a leak-proof lid and won't spill or leak in your child's school bag or your handbag.
Age suitability – Some water bottles are only suitable for children of certain ages. Make sure to check whether the bottle is suitable for your child's age.
Capacity – Different aged children require a different capacity. Also, depending on when the water bottle is intended to be used, for example, for quick trips out or a whole school day, a different capacity bottle will be needed.
Size – Water bottles tend to be shoved in bags and carried around. Therefore, the size of the bottle is important. If it needs to fit into a small bag then you should to opt for a smaller bottle and vice versa.
What types of kids water bottles are there?
The two main types of water bottles are plastic and stainless steel. If you are purchasing a plastic water bottle, you should ensure it's BPA and phthalate free. Stainless steel is a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly option, but these tend to be slightly more on the pricey side.
Other than material, you can get different caps. There are sippy caps, straw caps, sports caps or you can simply just drink from a bottle top. This is down to preference, there's no right or wrong cap, choose whatever suits you and your child best.
How big should a kids water bottle be?
Depending on the age of the child, they'll require a bottle with a different capacity. For a toddler, the ideal capacity is around 300-350ml. There's not much need for anything bigger as it'll be too heavy for them to carry.
A school age child should have a 500-750ml bottle. This ensures they have enough water to last them throughout their school day.
How did we choose our 10 of the Best?
When testing and selecting the best water bottles for kids, we considered value for money, capacity, size, comfort for kids, materials and how leakproof they are.
Our 10 of the Best lists are compiled by qualified and experienced parenting journalists. They rely on a number of sources, including our independent reviews, testing undertaken during the MadeForMums Awards, and feedback from our home testing panel and Top Testers Club. Each year thousands of products are put through their paces by hundreds of parents across the country on behalf of MadeForMums, to ensure we’re bringing you honest and true reviews and recommendations.
Our list is not an ordered ranking from 1-10, instead it is a carefully selected group of tried-and-tested products, each of which we believe is best for a different situation or requirement. We don't just tell you what is best, we help you discover what is best for your family.
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Authors
Chloe is a Digital Reviews Writer and Coordinator for Immediate Media's Parenting team, specialising in household and trying to help parents save money. She researches and writes articles, recommending the best products, ranging from best cordless vacuums to best playpens. She has a First-Class Honours Psychology degree where she developed a strong interest in child development. During her teenage years she worked as a play worker and Brownie volunteer to support children's play.
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