Choosing the best kids water bottle sometimes turns into a surprisingly daunting task. As a mom to four young kids, I can relate. The goal is to find a water bottle that manages to have that just-right capacity while remaining easy enough for your child to operate—and not spill. Many parents are also concerned about the materials that make up kids water bottles, especially for our youngest children. Of course, it’s also helpful to find a leak-proof, durable water bottle that can stand up to everything kids dish out. That’s why my top pick for the best water bottle for kids is the uber tough Yeti Rambler Jr. Its 12-ounce size is just right for most children’s hydration needs, while the durable stainless-steel frame and vacuum insulation help to keep drinks cold.

The best water bottles for kids contain spills and make sipping easy for children. Whiskey Square Bottle

Another important factor in selecting a kids water bottle is to consider the style of cap or spout and how easy it will be for them to drink from it. Daniel Ganjian, M.D., a pediatrician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, recommends offering kids water around 9-months-old and to introduce it with a straw cup. “Water bottles with straws are the best to help with their oral motor skills and oral muscle development,” he says.

Ganjian notes that a regularly filled water bottle can promote good health and hydration for kids early on, too. “I see kids come in all the time with constipation due to dehydration,” he says. Making their water bottle accessible all day can ease this and other issues, the pediatrician comments. If your child likes the look of the water bottle, they’ll also be more likely to use it, he adds. (Hence all the cute prints on water bottles for tots and cool neutral hues on tween and teen picks.)

Every family’s water bottle needs are different. So while my family has used the Yeti Rambler Jr. kids water bottle for years without leaks, you might prefer another one of our picks below, such as a lighter plastic pick or a super cute print for your preschooler. After reading about the best kids water bottles below, you might also want to peruse our favorite adult water bottles, or read about more school essentials like the best backpacks for kids, lunch boxes and smartwatches for kids.

Materials: Stainless steel | Lid style: Flip-up straw/hard spout | Size: 12 ounces | Dishwasher safe: Yes

The Yeti Rambler Jr. is crafted from sturdy stainless steel, helping parents avoid plastic drinkware for their children if that’s their preference. Speaking from experience, this water bottle can easily withstand drops (and even tantrum throws) without leaving a scratch or dent on the exterior. Double-walled vacuum insulation also ensures your little one’s drinks stay cold, no matter the weather. The straw top is easy for small fingers to flip up and down, and the whole thing goes in the dishwasher, making it easy to clean. I also appreciate that there are just three parts—bottle, straw, lid—without the added insert that you’ll find in some kids water bottles like the Thermos Funtainer. The wide handle is easy for little ones to grip. Another nice feature: The bottle doesn’t sweat, even in the hot sun, so you don’t have to stress about it getting your bag or child’s backpack wet. My 3-year-old and 6-year-old use their Yeti Rambler Jrs. daily, and we’ve never had an issue with leaks. With a range of exterior shades available, kids can choose “their” color, and even customize it with stickers and monograms if shopping from the Yeti site directly. Worth noting: This water bottle weighs nearly a pound and is made for ages 3 and up, so if you have a young toddler, shop elsewhere.

Materials: Stainless steel | Lid style: Pop-up straw | Size: 12 ounces | Dishwasher safe: Yes

The Thermos Funtainer kids water bottle is one of the more inexpensive picks that still comes with all our favorite features, including stainless-steel construction, a straw top and plenty of fun prints and bright solid hues. At just 6.4 ounces in weight, the Funtainer is simple for even smaller children to tote around. The vacuum insulation keeps drinks cold for up to 12 hours, while its tough exterior make it ideal for stashing in backpacks. A push-button lid reveals a hidden pop-up straw that can be removed for easy cleaning by hand or in the top rack of the dishwasher. A snapping sound lets your child know the lid is secure when hydration time is over, minimizing the odds of an unsecured cap that leaks.

The Forbes Vetted baby and kids gear editor reports she has bought more than a dozen of these 12-ounce Funtainers over the years for her three children and they hold up well. “The kids love the designs and lightweight feel. I’ve found the straw is a bit gentler and easier to drink from compared to sport tops, especially with younger kids,” says editor Rose Gordon Sala. “The only thing I don’t love about these is the extra silicone insert that helps attach the straw. It’s just one more piece that I’d rather not have to fuss with or wash.”

Materials: Plastic | Lid style: Flip-up straw/spout | Size: 12 ounces | Dishwasher safe: Yes

At just 4.6 ounces in weight, the plastic Camelbak Eddy is one of the lightest, least expensive and easiest to use kids water bottles on the market. It also comes in a ton of fun designs, including dinosaurs, unicorns, sports themes and sharks. All of these features make this water bottle ideal for preschoolers and kindergartners. Don’t mistake the low cost for low quality. It’s crafted from durable BPA-free plastic and, it’s worth noting, the CamelBak Eddy in my home has been passed down through three kids. This 12-ounce bottle uses the special CamelBak bite valve to make it easy for kids to get water, while minimizing spills. The straw gently flips down when it’s not in use and the bottle’s handle is easy for little fingers to grip. When the day is done, simply unscrew the lid and put the whole thing in the dishwasher.

Materials: Stainless steel | Lid style: Flip-up straw/hard spout | Size: 14 or 16 ounces | Dishwasher safe: No

Takeya has built up a name for itself in the water bottle world, and its kids models are worthy of the same praise. In fact, it has built up a rating of 4.7 out of 5 in positive reviews on Amazon If you have a child who has an extra long day, or who just likes to hydrate, this stainless-steel kids water bottle comes in 14 or 16 ounce sizes, offering a bit more capacity than your average 12-ounce kids bottle and yet, it still feels fairly lightweight at ‎11.7 ounces. Its tough powder-coated stainless steel exterior helps it to resist dents and scratches and the thoughtful silicone bumper at the base protects your table from scrapes. The straw lid also has a little lever that small fingers can grip for easy opening and closing, and the loop handle gently flips up and down. Takeya even boasts the impressive ability to keep drinks cold for up to 24 hours.

Materials: Stainless steel | Lid style: Flip-up straw/hard spout | Size: 12 or 20 ounces | Dishwasher safe: Yes

At $30, this Hydro Flask option is the most expensive water bottle on our list. But the bottle has plenty of features to help ensure your child will be using this container for years. The bottle is made from 18/8 professional grade stainless steel to help it last and double-walled insulation to keep things cold. It’s similar to some of our other stainless steel water bottle picks, but this one does offer a 20-ounce model, and we love the ring-style handle that makes it easy to pick up. A perforated flex boot protects the bottom of the water bottle and makes it a bit grippier; the powder coating prevents marks and chips. The whole thing is dishwasher safe, and there are optional replacement tops should you need one.

Materials: Plastic | Lid style: Flip-up straw/spout | Size: 14 ounces | Dishwasher safe: Yes

The Contigo kids water bottle has been a hit with toddlers in my family for years. My now-9-year-old used them when he was a tot, my 6-year-old loved them and my 3-year-old currently uses hers at preschool. These water bottles have a patented “easy-clean” lid that’s free of grime-trapping nooks, and it’s easy to unhook the straw when it’s time to wash up. The bottle is also incredibly easy for little hands to open—it springs free with the touch of a button. (Just be warned: A few water droplets may spray in the process.) The built-in handle is comfortable to grip, making it easy to tote around and unscrew the lid as needed. This water bottle is designed for ages 3 and up as are most of the others on this list. If you have a younger tot, you may want to consider another water bottle, such as the Munchkin Stainless Steel Straw Cup that’s made for ages 18-months and up and features handles on either side, and a flip-top to prevent spills.

Materials: Stainless steel | Lid style: Sport cap | Size: 12 ounces | Dishwasher safe: Only the non-pattern bottles

Elementary school kids can be a tricky bunch. When they’re younger, they’re OK with whatever you hand them. But, as they move up grades, they tend to want a more adult-like water bottle. This option from Klean Canteen is a good compromise between a more todder-like straw top and something you unscrew (which leaves your child vulnerable to spills). The sport cap slides up and down for quick drinking, while the narrow width allows this bottle to easily fit into backpacks and lunch boxes. The patterns are even a little more “grown-up,” from whimsical strawberries to lifelike drawings of tigers to a plain brushed stainless exterior. The only downside? All the pretty patterns are supposed to be hand-washed.

Materials: Plastic | Lid style: Screw cap | Size: 32 ounces | Dishwasher safe: Yes

The hydration needs of teens are distinctly different from those of their younger counterparts. Nalgene’s classic wide-mouth water bottle holds an impressive 32 ounces of fluid and has a large enough opening to easily toss in ice. Ounce and milliliter markers on the side help your child keep tabs on how much they’re drinking throughout the day, while the attached cap has a long enough strap to quickly loop around a backpack strap or bag handle. Your teen can choose from a range of simple color combinations to find the look that feels right. The brand says the bottle is dishwasher, but its lack of nooks and crannies and wide mouth opening, make it a cinch to hand wash.

To choose the best water bottles for kids, I spoke to parents to get their insight on the bottles they love most, including some of the team at Forbes Vetted. I’ve also included my personal experience testing out many of these kids water bottles in real-life with my children and weighing which are worth your money and which might not deserve a spot in your cart. As a mom of four kids, ranging in age from 10 months to 9 years old, I have nearly a decade’s worth of experience with kids’ water bottles, along with first-hand knowledge of which bottles manage to avoid leaking and breaking under repeat use. I also spoke with pediatrician Ganjian to understand which features he prefers in kids water bottles. Lastly, I read deep into online reviews for additional feedback and considered elements like ease of use, capacity, materials and, of course, cost.

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I’m a digital media executive recognized for building engaging content experiences that delight and inspire audiences. As Chief Product Officer of Forbes, I lead a team of world-class product managers, designers, e-commerce leaders, and other experts focused on building the products that shape the Forbes brand across the web, mobile, social, and emerging platforms.

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As a shopping editor at Forbes, I create inclusive shopping content featuring brands that resonate with every type of consumer and interview the entrepreneurs who created them. Before joining Forbes, I was the associate beauty editor at Essence Magazine, where I chronicled Black Women's unique approach to style and beauty.

Stephanie Montes is an editorial contributor covering all things fashion and beauty. She writes about her adventures in testing the latest trends in skincare, hair and makeup, and explores the latest trends in clothes and accessories. She's not afraid to stick needles in her face or straighten her hair on an airplane (true story!), and she gets a rush from copying the best celeb outfits on a budget. Stephanie's bylines have also appeared on Elite Daily, Hello Giggles, Brides.com, MyDomaine, Byrdie, Well + Good, Parents and more.

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I'm a journalist writing about the world around me. I'm also a mother to two kids and promise to never ever recommend a loud child's toy. I'm currently based in Denver. My work has appeared on Vox, Cosmopolitan, MSNBC, Teen Vogue and many other sites.

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