10 of the best drinks bottles for kids

Finding an affordable children’s drinks bottle is safe, durable and looks appealing enough for your child to actually want to use it can be a challenge.

That’s why we’ve done the hard work for you, whittling down the kids’ water bottles on the market to the selection below, ranging in prices from less than a fiver to around £20.

We’ve also found other essentials like some of the best kids’ lunchboxes and best kids’ backpacks to help you get everything you need together. Or, if it’s your child’s first time away from home, we’ve also got a guide on how to help your toddler settle into nursery.

Below, we outline some of the key considerations to help you choose the ideal drinks bottle for your child before providing a list of 10 of our favourites.

How to choose a kids’ water bottle?

There are lots of different styles of water bottle for kids. One of the most important things to consider first is price. Higher-end bottle may offer more durable materials, include warranties or offer extra features, so it’s worth considering what you’d be prepared to may the extra for.

In terms of lids, there are various designs. Some include fold down straws which may suit younger children more while others have interchangeable options, so you can switch to sports bottle openings instead.

A lot of kids’ water bottles tend to be roughly around 350ml in size, although there are larger or smaller versions available. Some may be able to slot into a lunchbox while others feature clips for fastening to backpacks which can be handy for school-age children.

When looking at materials, some of the budget models are likely to made of plastic although there are also many stainless steel and eco-friendly options available too.

One of the key selling points for a lot of bottles is being BPA free. BPA refers to a chemical called bisphenol A which some experts say can eventually have negative health impacts in large doses, although BPA is still widely used in a lot of containers around food. Some parents prefer to avoid BPA all the same.

Here’s our pick of the best water bottles for kids…

1. Rachel Ellen Dinosaur Water Bottle, £10

Capacity: 350ml | Size: H20 x W7 x D7 cm

Make sure your child’s water bottle is on trend with this leak proof kids water bottle. There are two fun dinosaur designs to choose from and both promise to be leak proof with no BPA.

There’s both an internal straw and flexible silicone spout that folds down and you can remove all components for cleaning (hand-wash only).

One grandparent who bought the product was impressed with its effectiveness and described it as a “lovely looking bottle for toddlers.” He said, “It has not leaked and my grandson loves it.”

Available from: John Lewis

2. One Green Bottle Stainless Steel Curvy Bottle, £12

Capacity: 350ml | Size: H23 x W10 x D10 cm

These kids’ stainless steel water bottles are an environmentally-friendly choice, as 25 plastic bottles are reclaimed from the sea with each one purchased. Made with zero plastic, this bottle comes with a detachable silicone straw, making it straightforward for kids to drink from.

There are lots of colours to choose and it is even guaranteed to be a leak proof kids’ water bottle. There’s even a a 1 year warranty and you can chuck the bottle in the dishwasher, but you’ll need to wash the cap by hand.

Available from: One Green Bottle and Amazon

3. Thermos FUNtainer Football Hydration Bottle, £10.99

Capacity: 355ml | Size: W18.8 x D6.6 x W4.39 cm

This kids’ stainless steel water bottle is ideal for footie-loving fans. The flask by iconic brand Thermos comes with vacuum insulation meaning it can keep liquids cool for up to 12 hours.

There’s a push button lid with a pop-up straw and there’s even a 5 year guarantee included, although it isn’t dishwasher-safe.

Recommended by Amazon, this model has over 500 reviews averaging 4.5 stars out of 5 overall. Previous buyers seemed impressed by the quality and durability of these bottles.

“My older son has had his one for a few years now and it’s been dropped and used all the time,” said one parent. “It’s really solid and has no damage to it after all it’s been through.”

Available from: Amazon

4. Polar Gear Aqua Sip Flip Drinking Bottle, £4.89

Capacity: 350ml | Size: H8 x W8 x D17 cm

Keep things simple and make your wallet happy by opting for a classic pink or blue bottle for your little one. No major frills, except for the handy pop-up drinking straw.

A great budget option, there’s a 350ml capacity and it’s top-shelf dishwasher safe for hassle-free cleaning. The simple curved shape of the bottle should also be ideal for little hands to grab hold of.

Available from: Amazon

5. Children’s Personalised Crocodile Water Bottle, £18

Capacity: 600ml | Size: H8 x W8 x D17 cm

This kids’ water bottle with name personalising options is ideal for ensuring your little one comes home with their own bottle. This crocodile design is made by an independent seller on Not on the High Street and has almost double the capacity of most other bottles made for children.

The kids’ water bottle comes with 2 different lids – a sports top and a screw top so it can be used in different situations or however your child prefers. There’s also a useful clip hook for attaching to a school bags or coats.

Available from: Not On The High Street

6. Drink in the Box, £9.99

Capacity: 225ml | Size: H15cm x W7cm x D4cm

Do your kids love juice cartons? Now you can prevent all the disposable packaging and straws by giving them this reusable version.

This clever drinking box can hold 225ml and comes with an integrated straw which is reusable. The box is also BPA-free and it seemed to go down well with previous buyers on Amazon.

Scoring an average of 4.3 out of 5 stars from hundreds of reviews, buyers were pleased with the design and size of the box.

One parent said it was “easy to clean” while another described it as “perfect” for her son’s small hands while still being “handy enough that I can pop it inside my purse while we are out and about.”

Available from: Amazon

7. Smiggle Squash Silicone Water Bottle, £14.97

Capacity: 500ml | Size: H20.5cm x W7.5cm (compresses to H11cm)

This pastel-coloured water bottle can clip onto your child’s bag or can be compressed when empty to save space and be popped in their backpacks. BPA free and made from food grade silicone, this bottle ticks lots of boxes.

This model is fall resistant up to 1.2 metres so it should stand up to any knocks and drops throughout the day. You can also wash it in the dishwasher on the top shelf for easy cleaning.

Buyers who chose this bottle for their children were impressed with the quality and said it went down particularly well with kids.

One parent who bought the bottle for his daughter said it won him “massive dad points”. He adds “she has told me she drinks a lot more water now at school and all her friends want one.”

Available from: Amazon

8. Pura Sports Bottle, £21.86

Capacity: 325ml | Size: H20.32 x W6.35 x D6.35 cm

This kids’ stainless steel water bottle comes with a lifetime guarantee, so it’s a definite investment option. The bottle comes with a sports cap, but you can buy a cap with an integrated straw instead if you prefer and there are lots of fun colours for kids to choose from.

It is 100% plastic and is a BPA free kids’ water bottle and can be washed on the top-shelf of the dishwasher, too.

One previous buyer who was impressed with the bottle’s performance described it as, “surprisingly easy for toddlers to use, incredibly durable, easy to clean.”

Available from: Amazon

9. Skip Hop Straw Bottle, £7

Capacity: 340ml | Size: H17.8 x W7 x D7 cm

A good choice for smaller children (suitable for 12 months+), this BPA free kids’ water bottle features an extra straw and a flip-top lid. The cute bee design is bright and fun for little ones and it comes with a budget price tag.

The bottle is top-shelf dishwasher safe and was an extremely popular choice for parents on Amazon. Scoring an average of 4.3 out of 5 stars from more than 5,000 reviews, parents were impressed with the bottle overall, although some mentioned that the bottle could leak if not closed properly.

One parent described this as “generally a good cup. Holds a decent amount, easy to suck and good for rough toddlers,” while another added it was “good and durable”.

Available from: Amazon

10. Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel water bottle, £16.95

Capacity: 355ml | Size: H17 x W7.4 x D7.4 cm

This kids’ stainless steel water bottle comes in 7 different designs and has a spout as well as a covering lid. The steel should help keep the contents cool and it also means it is a BPA free kids’ water bottle.

You can put the bottle (but not the lid) in the dishwasher and there’s a handy loop for carrying or attaching to backpacks.

A popular choice, this bottle has over 250 reviews averaging 4.6 out of 5 stars overall. Parents said they were impressed with the product’s performance and their children particularly liked the bottles.

“Holds plenty of water and looks really nice, my daughter loves it,” said one buyer while another described it as “long lasting, eco friendly and kids love them too.”

Available from: Amazon

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