By now we all know that we should avoid single-use plastic wherever possible, and instead buy items that are built for repeat use – hence the sharp rise in popularity of reusable water bottles.
But where children are concerned, there’s also the added benefit of these water bottles being easier to use: they take away the danger of spillage that is always present with “normal” cups, and good quality designs can be packed into bags with no danger of leaks. Add this to the experience of the last 18 months, where personal hygiene has never been more important, and it’s easy to see why most schools now ask that children bring their own individual water bottle to school with them each day.
Wherever they’re taking it, the most important thing a kids’ water bottle can be is leakproof. We’ve seen countless vessels that look lovely or have elaborate straw systems and lids, but cannot be relied on to do the job of simply containing water without spillage, so we’ve ensured that all the bottles in this round-up can withstand bouncing around in school bags, knocks and shakes.
One of the main factors when it comes to children is appeal – so decoration and design are important, but never at the cost of functionality. Bear in mind that any water bottle with built-in straws or nozzles makes drinking easy, but cleaning a little bit harder.
Many schools require that children have a clear bottle, so we’ve included plenty of options if this is the case for you, but there are also many water bottles made from metal that are brilliant at keeping water cool and are in some cases more durable than their plastic counterparts, so we’ve included these too.
Contigo gizmo flip autospout kids water bottle
More fold out than pop-up, from the moment this 420ml capacity BPA-free water bottle was in our hands, we knew it meant business. With one press of a button, the silicone leakproof mouthpiece instantly folds out and can be pushed back into its “closed” position just as easily. From a hygiene perspective, this was great as children don’t actually have to touch the area they drink from. Our five-year-old tester was delighted with the mechanics of the lid/straw/mouthpiece – thankfully it’s so well made that no amount of fiddling is going to cause it to break.
The leak situation was brilliant, in that there wasn’t one – whether the mouthpiece was out or in, whether the bottle was shaken or dropped or rolled, not one drop came out.
One of this bottle’s UPSs is its “easy clean” claim – and we can vouch for this being the case. You simply take the lid and all of its components apart in what is actually a really intuitive way, before putting the whole lot in the dishwasher to ensure a thorough clean. Putting it back together is just as easy. There are lots of different colourways to choose from, too.
Mepal campus drinking bottle
With a 400ml capacity, this is a decent-sized bottle for younger children to take to school for the day. We love the design – an extravaganza of line-drawn sea life on pale ocean blue BPA-plastic that is totally dishwasher proof. There is a side button which when pressed releases a short drinking spout which is easily pushed down once used. This process is easy and works without a glitch – our five-year-old tester is obsessed with it.
We were impressed with how sturdy this is – it was dropped from a great height one day and survived without a dent, and the pop-up mechanism was unaffected. Its claims to be leakproof are true – notthing comes out even when held upside down and shaken.
Accessorize willow water bottle
This is one for older children – secondary school age and beyond – on account of it being made from sturdy glass, boasting a screw top and having a wide opening to drink from.
Covered in a tactile (BPA-free) silicone casing, it’s easy to hold, will bounce if dropped, which we did, twice on concrete, and looks fresh and contemporary, too, especially thanks to its bamboo lid. It’s wipe-clean only, which isn’t ideal but not a deal breaker.
Rex London Sydney the sloth water bottle
Like unicorns and llamas before them, sloths are having a moment. These sleepy creatures are everywhere and Sydney is the star of the show as far as this 500ml bottle with integrated straw is concerned.
That’s not to say this is more style than substance – we were in fact really impressed with how well this worked and how sturdy it was given the low price point. We wondered if this would be truly leak-free – and it is, provided the lid is pushed into place. We found there were no leaks, at all, even when shaken upside down. Our five-year-old tester loved the fabric wristband, which turns the bottle into a rather fabulous accessory. Although this is hand wash only it’s still an absolute bargain.
Nuby super quench no spill cup
This 540ml BPA-free, shatterproof bottle ticks all the boxes: it doesn’t leak, boasts a rigid handle to make it easy to carry and has shiny, dazzling iridescent design for little magpies who like a bit of bling in their backpacks. It can be used in the dishwasher (while it promises no warping the design might fade over time).
The straw part is essentially a soft, silicone spout that has been dentist-approved and is therefore gentle on growing teeth. This flips up at the press of a button and is easily pushed back down: in either state, there is no leaking at all. The only time you’ll see leaking is if the components in the lid are not all in place – for example after washing – so do double check. We loved the larger volume – perfect for hot days and long journeys.
Endangered animals water bottle
This diminutive aluminium bottle is so sweet – depicting a map of the world and boasting a round lid covering a nozzle that little ones must pull up to drink from, and push back down when they’re done to avoid leaks. This process might be tricky for younger children – our four-year-old tester had to be repeatedly reminded to close the nozzle. For this reason, we think this bottle is best suited to situations where there are flat surfaces or cup holders available – however, when closed properly it is absolutely leakproof.
