10 of the best water bottles for kids

From bottles with straws for mess-free hydration, to insulated designs 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 other essentials such as, 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.

Best kids water bottles at a glance

• Best bottle for a microwave safe option: Nuby Incredible Gulp Tritan No Spill Cup, £8.75
• Best bottle for fitting into small spaces: Smiggle Silicone Roll-Up Bottle, £29.99
• Best bottle for value: Sistema Twist 'n' Sip, £3.49
• Best thermos bottle: FEIJIAN Kids Water Bottle, from £14.99
• Best bottle for hygiene: Ion8 Leak Proof Kids' Water Bottle, £14.39
• Best environmentally-friendly bottle: Blafre Stainless Steel Bottle, £15
• Best bottle for days out: Little Life Kids Water Bottle, £8.99
• Best bottle for cute design: Waterdrop Toddler Bottle Steel, £30
• Best bottle for older kids: Camelbak Eddy Drinking Bottle, £19
• Best bottle for younger kids: Klean Kanteen Kid Sippy Bottle Stainless Steel Bottle, £18.95

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.

Things to consider when buying a water bottle for kids

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 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.

Here's our pick of the best water bottles for kids

1. Nuby Incredible Gulp Tritan No Spill Cup, £8.75

– Best for a microwave safe option

Suitable age: 18+ months | Capacity: 360ml | Size: 10cm x 7.5cm x 21 cm | Material: Silicone | BPA free: Yes

This Nuby Incredible Gulp Tritan bottle is 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 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.

The cover ensures no spillages when its closed. Parent tester Catrina uses this bottle with her daughter (pictured above) and she "loves that it's spill-proof" and "feels safe having it in her bag." She also said how her daughter "finds it easy to open and close herself". Although this bottle is practical, it does not lack style. It comes in a pink unicorn design or a green 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.

Pros: Easy to open and close, leak-proof, dishwasher and microwave safe
Cons: Quite chunky to fit in a bag, only 2 colour options

Available from: Tesco, Nuby and Amazon

2. Smiggle Silicone Roll-Up Bottle, £29.99

– Best for fitting into small spaces

Suitable age: 3+ years | Capacity: 630ml | Size: 7cm x 7cm x 20cm | Material: Silicone | BPA free: Yes

Does your bottle take up lots of room in your kid's bag? This Smiggle roll-up drinks bottle is just what you need! And if you don't want to put this bottle in their bag, it even has a carabiner clip to attach to their school or sports bag.

Its classic flip-top spout ensures no spills, making it perfect for kids always on the go. Parent tester Karla uses this bottle with her 6 year old twins (pictured above). She said, "we were pulling our hair out with the kids coming home with soaking wet lunchboxes until we stumbled upon the Smiggle ones." She continued to say, "they really don't leak: shake them, turn them upside down, squeeze them etc." She also loves that "they fit in small spaces".

One downside of the bottle that 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."

Taking care of this clever bottle is easy too, simply remove all metal parts and place on the top shelf of the dishwasher.

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.

Pros: doesn't leak, folds down to fit small spaces, holds a large capacity
Cons: can be fiddly to hold

Available from: Amazon

3. Sistema Twist 'n' Sip, £3.49

– Best for value

Capacity: 330ml | Size: 6.1cm x 6.4cm x 16.2 cm| Material: Plastic | BPA free: Yes

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, a particularly good thing in the current environment.

It can be cleaned in the dishwasher and its phthalate and BPA free. It also comes in a variety of colours.

Parent tester Zoë, who has 3 children, said, "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".

Pros: Good value, hygienic, dishwasher safe
Cons: made from non-sustainable plastic, small capacity

Available from: Amazon and The Range

4. Thermos Funtainer Flask, from £14

– Best for maintaining temperature

Capacity: 355ml| Size: 7cm x 7cm x 19cm | Material: Stainless steel | BPA free: Yes

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 Consumer & Commerce Editor 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.

Pros: Keeps drinks cold, 5 year guarantee, nice patterns
Cons: Not dishwasher safe, quite expensive

Available from: Amazon, Freemans and Thermos

5. Ion8 Leak Proof Kids' Water Bottle, £14.39

– Best for hygiene

Capacity: 350ml | Size: 7cm x 6.5cm x 17 cm| Material: Plastic | BPA free: Yes

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 praised these bottles, saying, "no leaks and super easy to open and keep clean, both my 3 (pictured above) and 1 year old 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 the cute animal train design is also a massive plus. There are lots of other designs available from the same brand if your child prefers a different print.

Pros: Hygienic with its spout cover, locking system
Cons: Quite a few nooks and crannies to clean

Available from: Amazon

6. Blafre Stainless Steel Bottle, £15

– Best for an environmentally-friendly option

Capacity: 300ml | Size: 15cm x 7cm x 7cm | Material: Stainless steel| BPA free: Yes

The Blafre Stainless Steel Bottle makes for a great sustainable, reusable water bottle. Its silicone ring ensures a leak-free fit, and the stainless steel material means its hard-wearing and practical.

It's rather small, but this could be a good thing for fitting into bags and lunchboxes. Once it's been used for the day you can put it in the dishwasher for a thorough clean, although it is not suitable for the freezer.

The standard design is like an open cup/bottle, but if you'd prefer a spout to make it easier for your child to drink, this can be purchased separately for £7.50.

Parent tester Tanya said, "my daughter is 2 (pictured above) and loves drinking from steel bottles," saying of this "it's a lovely size that fits in a handbag". Sammy, another MFM home tester also loves the Blafre Stainless Steel bottles: "Blafre are honestly the best bottles I have found for our boys as they are so robust". However, she goes on to note how you have to buy the spout lids separately so "it does become pricey."

Pros: Sustainable, compact, hard-wearing, dishwasher safe
Cons: Have to buy spout separately, plain design bottle, small capacity

Available from: Amazon and Smallable

7. Little Life Kids Water Bottle, £8.99

– Best for days out

Suitable age: 3+ years | Capacity: 400ml | Size: 7cm x 7 cmx 19cm| Material: Plastic | BPA free: Yes

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.

Parent tester Rebecca said "it's not the biggest but any more and my boys would find it overwhelming being faced with that amount to drink and it easily fits in a school bag or handbag being that size".

Pros: Wrist strap, can buy replacement components, dishwasher safe
Cons: Small capacity

Available from: LittleLife and Amazon

8. Waterdrop Toddler Bottle Steel, £30

– Best for cute design

Suitable age: 2+ years | Capacity: 400ml | Material: Stainless steel | BPA free: Yes

There is no denying that these Waterdrop bottles are absolutely adorable. They come in a variety of animal designs including; a racoon, tiger, bear and frog. However, they are quite expensive and may be a nice gift idea. The stainless steel bottle is the animal's body and is odour-free and taste-neutral. Not only this, but it's also easy to clean and the perfect size for a toddler to wrap their hands around. The 400ml capacity is also an ideal size to keep your toddler hydrated.

On top of the bottle is a rubber cap which aims to provide protection from dust and dirt. The leak-proof valve makes stops any accidents or leakages in bags happening (if the lid is secure properly). The spout lid – also the animal's head – is designed specifically for toddlers and should be easy for your child to drink from safely.

The bottle is suitable for the dishwasher, but do use with caution as depending on the dishwasher tablets you use, it could cause damage to the design.

Pros: Adorable design, sustainable stainless steel, odour-free, taste-neutral, good size, leak-proof valve, spout lid
Cons: Dishwasher may damage design, small capacity for older kids, quite expensive

Available from: Selfridges, Nontino and Waterdrop

9. Camelbak Eddy Drinking Bottle, £19

– Best for older kids

Capacity: 750ml| Size: 7.6cm x 7.6cm x 25.4cm | Material: Eastman Tritan Copolyester | BPA free: Yes

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.

Parent tester Elizabeth's 11 year old 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," she explained.

Pros: Simple and plain design, no tipping needed, dishwasher safe, large capacity
Cons: Made from plastic, may be too large for younger children

Available from: Millets and Amazon

10. Klean Kanteen Kid Sippy Bottle Stainless Steel Bottle, £18.95

– Best for younger kids

Capacity: 355ml | Size: 10.3cm x 7.7cm x 17.9cm| Material: Stainless Steel | BPA free: Yes

Here we have another small stylish stainless steel bottle. But, 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. Parent tester Erce backs this up as her 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 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. Erce continued to say how she loves that the "bottles are available in a wide range of attractive designs". She also is very fond of the fact the bottles are "sustainable and ethically made".

Pros: Hard-wearing, easy to hold, metal loop to clip and hold, variety of colours and patterns
Cons: Expensive, can dent, have to purchase sports cap separately as child gets older

Available from: Amazon and Klean Kanteen (US)

Read more...

• The best kids' lunchboxes
• The best school bags for kids
• The best pencil cases for school