Home & Garden Home The 7 Best Water Bottles for Kids of 2023 Help keep your children hydrated with these BPA-free options. By Arricca SanSone Arricca SanSone Hiram College Georgia Southern University Arricca SanSone is a health and lifestyle writer, specializing in home, kitchen, and gardening. She has written for Dotdash Meredith since 2019. Learn about our editorial process Updated October 5, 2022 Share Twitter Pinterest Email Home Family Pest Control Natural Cleaning DIY Green Living Thrift & Minimalism Sustainable Eating We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Getty Giving kids their own bottles in kid-friendly colors and designs can help them develop good habits that reduce plastic waste. However, it can be tough to find one that doesn’t drip when your child drinks out of it or that won’t leak when it’s tossed in a soccer or lacrosse bag. You also need one that fits well in your child’s hand, opens easily, and will survive being dropped a few (hundred) times. There’s also been concern in recent years about Bisphenol A, or BPA, in products such as water bottles. The American Academy of Pediatrics says because there are significant gaps in data concerning BPA’s effects on growing kids, who may be more susceptible to such chemicals, parents can take precautionary measures by using alternatives to plastic and avoiding products that contain BPA. Ahead, our top picks for the best BPA-free kids’ water bottles: The Rundown Best Overall: Takeya Kids Insulated Water Bottle at Walmart Jump to Review Best Budget: Thermos Thermos Funtainer at Amazon Jump to Review Best Splurge: Hydro Flask Kids Wide Mouth Bottle at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Travel: YETI Rambler Jr. Kids Bottle at Amazon Jump to Review Best Leakproof: Klean Kanteen Insulated Kid Classic Bottle at Amazon Jump to Review Best Small: Thermos Kids Bottle 10 oz at Thermos.com Jump to Review Best for Sports: Pura Big Mouth Sport at Purastainless.com Jump to Review Best Overall Takeya Kids Insulated Water Bottle with Straw Lid 5 Amazon View On Walmart View On Amazon View On Takeyausa.com This 16-ounce double-wall insulated bottle keeps drinks cold up to 24 hours. Even the lid is insulated to keep beverages cold longer. The bottle is made of stainless steel and is BPA-free. Its convenient wide loop handle makes it easy to carry or attach to a backpack. The wide mouth has a folding leak-proof straw and a stainless-steel pin, which keeps the lid flipped back out of the way while your child sips, making it our top overall choice. The bottle is powder-coated so it won’t chip easily, it comes in several colors, and it has a limited lifetime warranty. It’s also available in a smaller 14-ounce size. It's dishwasher safe. Price at time of publish: $38 Best Budget Thermos Thermos Funtainer Amazon View On Amazon View On Thermos.com This 16-ounce BPA-free vacuum insulated stainless steel water bottle keeps drinks cold for up to 12 hours. The double wall construction can take being dropped and dinged a few times, and the integrated carrying handle makes it easy to tote everywhere. Pop it open with the push of a button to reveal the covered drinking spout; though this bottle doesn’t have a straw lid, it actually may be a better choice if your kid likes to bite down or chew on straws. It’s safe to wash on the top rack of your dishwasher, though the company suggests hand washing to retain its appearance. It’s available in several colors and also comes in a smaller 12-ounce size, adorned with your kids’ favorite characters. It has a five-year warranty. Price at time of publish: $19 Best Splurge Hydro Flask 12 oz Kids Wide Mouth Bottle Amazon View On Amazon View On Hydroflask.com Just like the popular grown-up bottle, this wide-mouth kids’ version keeps drinks cold up to 24 hours with its double wall vacuum insulation. It’s made from stainless steel and is BPA and phthalate-free. It comes with a wide mouth straw lid, which can be flicked open for quick sips. Although the straw lid isn’t leak-proof, you can buy an optional leak-proof lid (without straw). It also has a non-slip rubber sleeve and handy spot on the lid to write your child’s name with a permanent marker. It has a limited lifetime warranty. The company created Parks for All, a charitable organization which has donated more than $1.9 million to date to support building, maintaining, and restoring public parks. Price at time of publish: $29 The 7 Best Plastic-Free Lunchboxes of 2023 Best for Travel YETI Rambler Jr. Kids Bottle View On Amazon View On Academy.com View On Acmetools.com The 12-ounce BPA-free bottle is made from stainless steel with double-wall vacuum insulation to keep drinks cold all day. Both the cap and the bottle are dishwasher safe, which makes it super easy to keep clean. The integrated straw cap is leak-resistant when closed, so it’s fine to toss in a backpack or gym bag. The coating is extra-tough, too, so it won’t crack or chip when dropped. It’s available in several colors, and you also can order it customized with your kid’s name, initials or favorite design It comes with a five-year warranty. Yeti supports many conservation organizations such as Ducks Unlimited and American Rivers. Price at time of publish: $25 Best Leakproof Klean Kanteen Insulated Kid Classic 12 oz Bottle Amazon View On Amazon View On Kleankanteen.com This BPA-free 12-ounce insulated stainless steel bottle has a spill-proof sports cap and soft silicone spout, which makes it easy for little kids to take a drink. It’s designed to keep drinks cold up to 40 hours, which is the longest of any product on the market. The chip-resistant exterior puts up with a lot of drops or dings, and it’s available in a few fun colors and designs. The lid is dishwasher safe, but the bottle should be hand washed. Another bonus is that the company’s other lids fit this, too, so you can upgrade as your child grows up. Kleen Kanteen is a 1% for the Planet member, and its headquarters is 100 percent solar powered and 100 percent carbon neutral. Price at time of publish: $19 Best Small Thermos Kids Bottle 10 oz Thermos View On Thermos.com This BPA-free bottle holds just 10 ounces, so it’s perfect for the little ones. The stainless steel bottle is easy to open and won’t spill when closed. The reusable straws can be removed or replaced, and it comes with a five-year warranty. It's safe to wash on the top rack of the dishwasher. It’s a good basic bottle for kids on the go, made by a company that’s been in business since 1904. Price at time of publish: $15 Best for Sports Pura Big Mouth Sport Insulated Bottle Pura View On Purastainless.com Pura’s bottles are entirely plastic-free, with lids, straws, and sleeves made from BPA-free medical grade silicone. We love that these bottles have earned Made Safe certification, which indicates the product is third-party tested and fount to be free from a long list of harmful chemicals. The sleeve has a ring, to help carry the bottle or clip a carabiner to it. It’s a great pick for sports practice and game day, keeping water icy cold for up to 24 hours. We also like that Pura’s bottles have a range of interchangeable lids, so if your child prefers a straw over a flip top, you have the option to swap it. The Big Mouth Sport is available in 16 ounce and 22 ounce sizes. One drawback, however, is that the manufacturer recommends hand washing this bottle and its accessories. Price at time of publish: $31 Final Verdict Our top pick of BPA-free water bottles is the Takeya Kinds Insulated Water Bottle. We also like that sales of the Hydro Flask Kids Wide Mouth Bottle help provide funding for public parks. What to Look for in Kids' Water Bottles BPA-Free American Academy of Pediatrics recommends avoiding plastics containing bisphenols or BPA. These plastics are often found in number "7" plastics. This chemical is used to make plastics hard and to line metal containers, and traces can leach into food. Studies have shown chemicals such as BPA may have an effect on kids’ hormones, growth and development. Size Make sure the bottle fits your child’s hand comfortably. Consider the diameter of the cups that your child uses comfortably and look for a similar size. Dishwasher Safe You don’t want gross stuff growing in there, so make sure that all (or most) parts are dishwasher safe. You'll want to get a bottle brush to clean any bottles or parts that can't go in the dishwasher. Parts that Won’t Present a Choking Hazard You don’t want a nozzle or part that will come off easily and create a choking hazard. At least two manufacturers (not included on our list) have recalled water bottles for both kids and adults recently due to a silicone valve or spout detaching and causing a choking hazard. Check with the Consumer Product Safety Commission to make sure yours hasn’t been a problem. Frequently Asked Questions Are small-neck water bottles safe for kids? For most kids, they’re probably fine. But there have been a few cases of a child's tongue being trapped in the hole, caused by a vacuum effect. If your child is the inquisitive type (“what will happen if I stick my tongue in here?”), you may want to stick with a wide-mouthed style. Are glass water bottles good for kids? “Glass water bottles are safe for kids to drink from. They also have the added benefit of being free from chemicals that may be found in plastic and also are easy to clean,” says Jennifer Shu, MD, a board-certified pediatrician in Atlanta. “Many glass water bottles are very sturdy but they still can break, so use supervision when allowing kids to use them.” Thus, stainless steel may be a better option if your child will be using it at school (and some schools may not allow glass). How often should kids’ water bottles be cleaned? “Kids’ bottles should be cleaned every day with hot soapy water,” says Dr. Shu. “You may need to clean it even more often if it’s visibly dirty.” Consider using a special bottle brush to reach all the nooks and crannies that even your dishwasher may miss. Always wash new bottles once before their first use. Why Trust Treehugger? Treehugger is dedicated to helping parents make the world a better place for our kids by eliminating the need for single-use plastics and by protecting our kids from chemicals such as BPA. Arricca SanSone specializes in writing about home, shelter, and gardening. To make this list, she researched the market, taking into account data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and NIH. She also interviewed board-certified pediatrician Dr. Jennifer Shu about safety and health concerns related to water bottles. The Best Organic Baby Clothes of 2023 View Article Sources National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Bisphenol A (BPA). Updated March 5, 2020. Leonardo Trasande, et al. Food Additives and Child Health. Pediatrics. DOI:10.1542/peds.2018-1408 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Phthalates fact sheet. Updated April 5, 2021. Fernandes VT, Ng E, Campisi P. Metal water bottle causing tongue entrapment in a child. CMAJ. DOI:10.1503/cmaj.140112