10 Best Water Bottles for Kids UK 2024 | Camelbak, Smiggle and More
Single-use plastics are very much a no-no these days and having a good quality BPA-free water bottle is a must for the whole family. Ensuring your kids drink enough water is vital, whether at school, during lunch, or while playing sports, so it's important to invest in a good quality reusable bottle for your child that won’t break the bank.
There are bottles to suit every taste and budget, from stay-cool insulated Hydro Flasks to colourful, ever-popular Sistema and handy, collapsible novelty Smiggle bottles. We have some great recommendations from Amazon, eBay and John Lewis to help you choose the perfect bottle for your little one.
Quick List - Top Water Bottles for Kids
Thermos
Keep Drinks Cold and Available in Designs to Appeal to All Ages!
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How to Choose a Water Bottle for Kids in the UK - Buying Guide
We've written this handy buying guide to take the guesswork out of choosing the best water bottle to buy for your child. Whether you're looking for a bottle for a younger child, an older child or one to stand the test of time and changing tastes, we've tracked down the best bottles.
Fast or Slow Flow Sprout: Choose the Right One for Your Child's Ease of Drinking
One key part that really affects the usability of a water bottle is the spout. This is especially important for children as it’s not always as easy for them to deal with different rates of water flow.
Consider Bottles With In-Built Straws for Younger Children
Many water bottles aimed at children come with an in-built straw. These are really great, especially with younger children as they make drinking water very easy for them. Straws are familiar for most children from a young age, and, as an integral part of the bottle design, it saves you hunting around for a separate straw.
Flip Up Spouts Suit Most Age Groups and Offer a More Robust Option to Straws
Flip-up spouts usually offer a faster rate of water flow and suit slightly older children. The spout can be a bit more robust than a straw, which may be prone to getting chewed, and the spouts can be flipped down when not in use – a handy feature that reduces chances of annoying spills.
Sports Spouts Can Offer Faster Flow and Fewer Spills
Also found on the pricier disposable water bottles, some children’s water bottles also feature a spout that is opened by either pulling or twisting the spout. These are useful as they offer a faster rate of flow but are easy to handle for children across a wide age range.
For Older Children, Cap Opening Bottles Offer More Versitility
Some bottles aimed primarily at older children and upwards feature simple screw-on lids that offer a wide mouth. These are very easy to fill and are great for really fast flow but are not really suitable for younger children without some supervision. Some of the bottles, such as the Hydro Flask, are very popular with teens and pre-teens.
When Choosing a Water Bottle, Consider What Type of Materials They're Made From
Water bottles for children tend to be made of metal, plastic, or silicone as they often have to be more robust than bottles for adults. Unless your child is very careful, it’s probably best to avoid glass bottles! Lighter, softer materials such as plastic may be better options to stop little people hurting themselves when the bottles are inevitably flung around.
Plastic Bottles Are Lighter and Usually Cheaper, So Perfect if You're on a Budget
Plastic bottles are perhaps the most readily available reusable water bottles for children here in the UK. They are often the cheapest option, which makes them a popular choice to take to school and for sports, or for children who often lose things.
While they are not as strong or long-lasting as metal bottles, they are usually cheaper and come in a wide variety of attractive colours and patterns. Look out for BPA- and phthalate-free bottles and check to see if they’re dishwasher safe before putting them in the machine!
Think About Metal Bottles for Added Strength and If You Are Avoiding Plastic
Although the more expensive materials used attracts a higher price tag, a metal bottle is likely to outlast a cheaper plastic bottle. They are also usually dishwasher safe unless they are coated and some, such as One Green Bottle, are compatible with a range of spouts, allowing them to adapt to a wide age range.
Metal water bottles for children are available in a huge range of colours and patterns. They are also a good option for those wishing to reduce plastic use and the stainless steel that is usually used in the construction of these bottles is non-toxic and easy to keep clean.
Decide on the Right Bottle Size for Your Child's Needs
One important thing to consider when choosing a water bottle for children is the bottle size and capacity. You will need to decide how much water your child will need, and what size and weight of bottle they’ll be able to manage, and whether it will fit into their lunch or school bag.
Obviously, the larger and older the child, the larger the bottle they’ll be able to manage. Not only do younger children need smaller bottles to get their hands around but they won’t be able to manage bottles that are too heavy, either.
How much water the bottle can carry is another thing you’ll need to think about. Younger children won’t need to drink as much, while older children or those who do a lot of sports will need larger capacity bottles. Many water bottle manufacturers such as Sistema and One Green Bottle offer a range of sizes for kids, starting at 330 ml-500 ml and more.
Look for Useful Features Like Leakproof Seals and Customisation
Using a water bottle for your child should not make life more difficult. You need one that will be robust enough to do the job of keeping your child hydrated. Make sure you pick one that is easy to clean, doesn’t leak, and covers the needs of your child. Some retailers even offer customised bottles featuring your child’s name! Perfect for tracking down the bottle again when it ends up in lost property!
If you want a bottle that will really last, then investing in a bottle with a few additional accessories, may prove a good choice in the long run. These bottles can adapt and grow with your child and also fit different age groups.
Pick Handles or Collapsible Bottles for Added Portability
Water bottles are all about making sure your children stay hydrated while out and about, so portability is a vital feature to consider. To help portability and gripability, maybe think about choosing a bottle with grippy ridges to help your child hold the bottle by themselves, making it easier to carry.
Other features to consider are straps or carabiners to help attach the bottle to your child's bag, or even a collapsible bottle that can be squashed to take up less space and expanded to hold more water.
Keep Your Child's Drink Cold With an Insulated Bottle
Many water bottle manufacturers also offer insulated water bottles that can keep your child’s drinks hot or cold for longer. This feature varies from bottle to bottle but it can be a nice feature to keep your child’s water ice-cold in the summer. Most of the insulated water bottles are made of metal and they do generally cost more than non-insulated bottles.
Consider Favourite Colours or Cute Designs on Kids' Water Bottles
Let’s face it, children are always going to pick the bright, colourful and cute over the dull yet functional items. Picking a bottle that the kids will love might just help get them to drink more water and hopefully help them remember to bring their bottle home with them!
Whether it’s their favourite colour or character, it’s worth exploring some of the novelty bottles that offer a little something extra.
Top 10 Best Water Bottles for Kids in the UK
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Thermos Funtainer Stainless Steel, Floral | | Keep Drinks Cold and Available in Designs to Appeal to All Ages! | |
2 | Camelbak Unisex's Eddy Water Bottle | | Vibrant, Lightweight Design Suitable From 3+ | |
3 | Smiggle Skip Teeny Tiny Strap Drink Bottle | | Lovely Designs and Handy Adjustable Carry Strap | |
4 | Smiggle Bball Squish Silicone Drink Bottle | | Space-Saving Design Sure to Appeal to Basketball Lovers! | |
5 | One Green Bottle Unicorn Stainless Steel Water Bottle | | Quality Metal Bottles With Various Spout Options | |
6 | Sistema Twist N Sip Squeeze Bottle | | Cheap, Cheerful, and Widely Available | |
7 | Contigo Kids Autospout Gizmo Water Bottle | | Bright and Colourful Leakproof Bottles Perfect for Children on the Go | |
8 | SIGG Kids Water Bottle | | A Bottle for Every Child, From Dinosaurs to Funny Cows | |
9 | Hydro Flask Unisex - Adult Kids Flask Water Bottle | | A Quality Insulated Water Bottle Popular with Older Children | |
10 | Aladdin Flip & Sip Owl Drinks Beaker | | Lightweight, Durable Bottle Suitable for Younger Children |
Keep Drinks Cold and Available in Designs to Appeal to All Ages!
Thermos, the well-known brand of insulated food and drink containers has done it again with these aptly named Funtainers. These drinks bottles feature Thermos’ unique vacuum insulation technology as well as a hygienic push button lid that controls the pop-up straw.
They also include an integrated carry handle and have a 340ml (12 oz) capacity for cold liquids. Funtainer comes in a wide range of designs, including a floral, football and many more to suit every child’s taste.
Vibrant, Lightweight Design Suitable From 3+
The Camelbak Eddy is a flip spout bottle available in a range of great designs perfect for children from 3 years. It is made from BPA-free plastic and features a handle designed to allow users to carry it with just one finger.
Designed to be leak-proof with the spout closed and spill-proof with it opened, the Eddy is a great option that’s sure to suit most kids.
Lovely Designs and Handy Adjustable Carry Strap
The Skip Teeny Tiny features a handy strap for safely carrying around much-needed hydration. This Smiggle water bottle for children is BPA free and comes in several delightful designs. It is lightweight due to being constructed out of plastic.
The integrated straw spout and inclusion of a strap also offer great benefits to owners of this bottle. These bottles are suitable from about the age of 3 if supervised.
Space-Saving Design Sure to Appeal to Basketball Lovers!
These bottles have serious wow factor. Not only do they rank high on the novelty factor, being basketball-shaped, but they are also compressible to save space when empty!
Made from silicone, they are lightweight, durable and BPA free. When fully extended, these bottles hold a generous 500mL, offering plenty of hydration for your thirsty basketball fanatic.
Quality Metal Bottles With Various Spout Options
One Green Bottle is a specialist metal water bottles and related accessories online store that offers a range of robust, high-quality water bottles for children. Their range includes a number of colour and body shape variations suitable for children and water bottles come in sizes starting from 350ml to 2l capacities.
As an environmentally friendly option, One Green Bottle water bottles are made of high-grade stainless steel and arrive with no plastic packaging. On purchase, a range of different spout options are offered, with a flip spout and removable straw supplied as standard. The bottles are also guaranteed leakproof.
Cheap, Cheerful, and Widely Available
Sistema water bottles are possibly one of the most popular bottles for children. Cheap, cheerful and readily available in most supermarkets, they are often the bottle of choice for children who misplace their bottle.
The Twist N Sip Squeeze Bottle comes in several bright colours and features a contoured body with ridges on its side to aid grip. It has a twisty sports spout and its soft body allows the child to squeeze the bottle for faster flow. These bottles are BPA free and you can buy them in 330ml-460ml sizes. Some online stores, such as Amazon, offer them in multipacks.
Bright and Colourful Leakproof Bottles Perfect for Children on the Go
These gorgeous water bottles for children tick a lot of boxes in terms of features. Contigo is a company with considerable expertise in making water bottles for the whole family, and the Autospout water bottle for children is no exception.
With a 420ml capacity, the Autospout features a straw spout and a leak and seal proof valve to prevent spillages. These bottles are available in a range of colourful designs and they are also dishwasher safe!
A Bottle for Every Child, From Dinosaurs to Funny Cows
Made by Swiss company, SIGG, these water bottles are available in a wide range of cute designs, including the glow in the dark dinosaurs pictured.
High-quality aluminium is used in the construction of these water bottles, so the bottles are recyclable, BPA-free and robust. These bottles are a great option for those who prefer metal as opposed to plastic bottles.
A Quality Insulated Water Bottle Popular with Older Children
Hydro Flasks are the must-have drink bottle for older children. Made from high-quality stainless steel and boasting double-wall stainless steel insulation to keep drink cold for longer! The lid has a wide mouth for easy filling and offers a flip spout with an attached straw. This makes it suitable for younger children with supervision.
Hydro Flasks are BPA- and phthalate-free and come in an array of bright and beautiful colours. They also feature a silicone “boot” for optimum grip. Although they are some of the priciest bottles in our ranking, they do have a lifetime warranty.
Lightweight, Durable Bottle Suitable for Younger Children
These cute little bottles are lightweight and have a wide mouth for easy filling and cleaning. On the smaller side, they are perfect for younger children or shorter trips out.
Aladdin is a reputable brand that makes a range of bottles for the whole family and this flip spout bottle is available in a range of different cute designs including an orange lion and pink rabbit.
Birthdays, Christmas or a Special Occasion, We Have You Covered!
Whether you're looking for a present for Christmas or a birthday or you just want to treat your child to something special, we've got you covered. Check out our other articles for kids for guaranteed happy faces all around.
Top 5 Water Bottles for Kids
No. 1: Thermos｜Funtainer Stainless Steel, Floral
No. 2: Camelbak｜Unisex's Eddy Water Bottle
No. 3: Smiggle｜Skip Teeny Tiny Strap Drink Bottle
No. 4: Smiggle｜Bball Squish Silicone Drink Bottle
No. 5: One Green Bottle｜Unicorn Stainless Steel Water Bottle
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.