The best kids’ water bottles are leak-proof, easy to clean, and toddler-friendly. Top picks: Thermos Funtainer (steel), CamelBak Eddy+ Kids (plastic), and Takeya Actives Kids (steel for older kids). We cover replacement parts, care tips, and recommend the OXO Good Grips Cleaning Set for long-term maintenance.
Thermos Funtainer Stainless Steel Water Bottle With Straw (12 ounces)
The best steel water bottle for younger kids
This insulated bottle is easy for young kids to use, leak-resistant, and simple to clean.
The 12-ounce Thermos Funtainer is the best kids’ water bottle: easy to use, leak-proof, and dishwasher-safe. It keeps drinks cold for 12 hours, and replacement straws are available.
Takeya Actives Kids Insulated Water Bottle With Straw Lid (14 ounces)
The best steel water bottle for older kids
This insulated bottle holds more, flows faster, and has a mature look, making it ideal for older kids.
The 14-ounce Takeya Actives Kids bottle has a secure spout, is easy to clean, keeps drinks cold, and offers a larger capacity with stylish color options for older kids.
CamelBak Eddy+ Kids (14 ounces)
The best plastic kids water bottle
This straw bottle is easy to clean and kid-friendly but may leak if the spout isn’t positioned correctly.
The 14-ounce CamelBak Eddy+ Kids bottle is lightweight, durable, and easy to clean. It won’t leak unless the bite valve is displaced but isn’t insulated. Replacement valves are available.
Who this is for
How we picked and tested
Water bottles are a must-have for kids, whether for school, daycare, sports, or travel. In this guide, we focused on bottles ranging from 9 to 18 ounces, with options for both straws and spout lids.
Our top picks share these key qualities:
- Durable materials: We focused on plastic and stainless steel bottles, excluding glass for its fragility and weight.
- Longevity: Since kids tend to be rough on their bottles, we prioritized models with replaceable parts.
- Appealing designs: We chose bottles available in a variety of colors and styles to excite kids.
- Affordability: We recommend bottles under $25, as higher-priced options don’t offer better performance or convenience.
Here are the tests we regularly conduct:
- Durability: We drop bottles on hardwood floors, stairs, and pavement to test their toughness.
- Leak tests: To assess leakage, we fill each bottle with water and food coloring, then toss it in a neoprene bag down stairs three times. We check for leaks after leaving them on their sides overnight.
- Cleaning: We disassemble and hand-wash bottles, evaluating how easy they are to clean and reassemble. We also run dishwasher-safe bottles through a dishwasher to check for damage.
- Kid usability: We have children ages 2-14 test how easy it is for them to open and close each bottle securely, ensuring younger kids can use them independently.
- Temperature tests: We fill each bottle with water and ice cubes to monitor how well it maintains cool temperatures over the specified time.
Our stainless steel pick for younger kids: Thermos Funtainer Stainless Steel Water Bottle With Straw (12 ounces)
The 12-ounce Thermos Funtainer Stainless Steel Water Bottle With Straw is our top pick for younger kids. It outperforms similar bottles in both function and durability.
It’s easy for little ones to use. Our 2- and 3-year-old testers found the Funtainer bottle simple to open and close, requiring minimal strength or dexterity. They also had fewer accidental openings.
It passed our leak test. The bottle remained leak-free after being left on its side overnight and during travel. Even with heavy use, the cap still sealed properly. Just make sure the flip-up cap is fully closed to prevent leaks, and be cautious when opening it on an airplane, as it may spurt water due to pressure.
The Funtainer bottle is easy to take apart and clean. Although we needed a skinny straw brush, the removable spout made it easy to check for grime. Its cap has no hard-to-reach crevices, reducing the risk of mold with regular cleaning. Thermos recommends hand-washing, but many parents report no issues with top-rack dishwasher cleaning.
Its vacuum insulation keeps water cool, outperforming other bottles in our tests. After five hours in the sun, the water was still 60°F, and after 12 hours, it measured 65°F—better than many other insulated bottles.
The Funtainer has lasted for years. After over six years of testing, the bottle remains durable, with many reviewers noting its straw holds up to heavy use. When the straw wears out, it’s easy to replace.
The Funtainer bottle offers a variety of sizes and designs, from fun themes like Star Wars and Bluey to more subtle options. For those who prefer a larger, strawless bottle, there’s also a 16-ounce version with a spout lid. We’ve found the 16-ounce plastic Funtainer to be durable, though it doesn’t keep water cold. The lids are interchangeable across Funtainer bottles.
Thermos provides a five-year warranty, covering manufacturing defects on the bottle’s stainless steel body.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
The Funtainer bottle shows wear over time. After just a week of use, the bottom became scuffed, and the printed designs on the metal are prone to scratching and fading, according to online reviewers and Wirecutter staff.
The cap can leak if not closed properly, and the bottle may also leak if not reassembled correctly after cleaning—ensure the straw is fully threaded through the hole.
Mold can develop if liquids are left in the bottle for more than the recommended 24 hours, if the straw isn’t cleaned promptly, or if the two-piece straw isn’t disassembled during cleaning.
The loop handle is weaker than those on other bottles and may break easily, as reported by some users, including a Wirecutter editor testing it with their kids.
The bottle’s base can detach due to adhesive failure, exposing an unfinished metal edge and leftover glue. This can be fixed with polyurethane adhesive.
Our stainless steel pick for bigger kids: Takeya Actives Kids Insulated Water Bottle With Straw Lid (14 ounces)
For older kids seeking a durable, insulated stainless steel bottle with a larger capacity, faster water flow, and a more mature design, the 14-ounce Takeya Actives Kids Insulated Water Bottle with Straw Lid is an excellent choice.
The firm straw spout allows water to flow more freely. Unlike our other picks, it’s made of hard plastic instead of soft silicone, making it better for kids with good control. However, tipping it too much can cause spills.
It passed our leak test. When the straw spout is securely closed, the bottle passed our overnight leak test. The straw requires a bit more dexterity to flip up and down, so it’s best suited for kids who can fully close it on their own and remember to do so.
It’s easy to clean. The plastic lid can go in the top rack of the dishwasher, and with the straw spout attached to the lid, there’s less disassembly. While the bottle itself can also be washed in the dishwasher, Takeya recommends hand-washing it.
Its double-walled vacuum insulation keeps ice water cold, and the wide mouth makes it easy to fill with ice cubes.
The Takeya Actives Kids bottle disassembles into five parts. Both the Takeya Actives and Thermos Funtainer open with their straws exposed.
The size and lid are customizable. You can swap to a spout lid, sold separately, for a faster flow. Takeya also offers other sizes, including an 18-ounce glow-in-the-dark bottle, and we recommend a 22-ounce Takeya bottle in our main guide to the best water bottles.
It comes with a better warranty than the Thermos Funtainer. Takeya offers a lifetime warranty covering manufacturing defects in the bottle, lid, and handle.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
The flip-top spout straw isn’t protected, so dirt, sand, and grime can accumulate around the spout area.
Our plastic pick: CamelBak Eddy+ Kids Bottle (14 ounces)
If you prefer a lightweight, plastic water bottle, the 14-ounce CamelBak Eddy+ Kids Bottle is our top pick. It features a unique bite valve for the straw spout: biting down releases water, and it stays closed when not in use.
This bottle is easy for young kids to use. Our testers could easily flip open the wide, soft spout to take a sip. While some 2- and 3-year-olds took a few tries to close it, all managed by their second or third attempt. Many parents report that even toddlers under 2 can figure out the bite valve.
It doesn’t leak, even with the spout open. Thanks to the bite valve, the Eddy+ Kids bottle was the only one we tested that didn’t leak when tipped over or held upside down with the spout open. After leaving it on its side overnight, our paper towel stayed completely dry.
It’s easy to clean. The bottle has only four parts, and you can remove and reattach the bite valve in seconds. All pieces are dishwasher-safe, though the underside of the cap has some crevices that can be cleaned with a bottle brush.
The CamelBak Eddy+ Kids disassembles into four parts. The plastic version (right) and its stainless steel counterpart (left) offer different options.
It’s durable. Introduced in 2020, the water bottle is made from partly plant-based plastic and has received positive durability reviews. Ours survived deliberate drops, and parents note that the bite valve, made of medical-grade silicone, holds up well to chewers.
There are interchangeable options. If you prefer a stainless steel base, the 12-ounce CamelBak Eddy+ Kids Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle keeps drinks cold for longer periods. The lid from the plastic CamelBak Eddy+ Kids bottle is also compatible with the stainless steel base.
CamelBak offers a lifetime warranty covering manufacturing defects in the bottle, lid, and handle.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
The bite valve has mixed reviews. Some parents report mold inside the valve if the bottle isn’t washed daily, though others haven’t had issues with smoothies. Kids often chew on the soft silicone spout, which can damage the valve and cause leaks or grime buildup, and it could be a choking hazard if chewed too hard. After about a year, a replacement valve may be needed.
The bottle can leak if the bite valve is pushed out of place. Both kids and adults can accidentally or intentionally dislodge the valve, causing leaks. Reassembling the bottle requires firmly pulling the spout through the hole to ensure it seals properly.
Replacement parts
Thermos
Thermos offers replacement straw sets for the F401 and newer F410 12-ounce Funtainer bottles, including silicone spouts and hard straw stems. The model number is etched near the spout hole. When our cap hinge broke, Thermos sent us a replacement cap.
Takeya
Takeya offers replacement Actives Straw Lids in various colors, along with rubber bumpers and O-rings. You can also swap the straw spout for a strawless spout lid, compatible with Takeya models from 14 to 64 ounces.
CamelBak
CamelBak offers replacement options for the Eddy+ Kids, including a set of four multicolored bite valves, a combo pack with two bite valves and two straws, and a replacement cap. Bite valves for the previous Eddy model are also available.
Care and maintenance
| Bottle | Cleaning | Dishwasher-safe |
|---|---|---|
| Thermos Funtainer Stainless Steel Water Bottle With Straw Lid (14 ounces) | Hand-washing is recommended. | Yes (bottle and lid on the top rack) |
| Takeya Actives Kids Insulated Water Bottle With Straw Lid (14 ounces, steel) | Hand-washing is recommended. | Yes (avoid harsh detergents) |
| CamelBak Eddy+ Kids Bottle (14 ounces, plastic) | Hand-washing is recommended. Note: We preferred hand-washing the Eddy+ Kids spout for thoroughness (although it does okay in the dishwasher). | Yes (bottle and lid on the top rack) |
To clean your child’s water bottle, use a skinny bottle brush with baking soda or vinegar. The OXO Good Grips Water Bottle Cleaning Set, which includes a large brush, straw brush, and detail-cleaning brush, is highly recommended and dishwasher-safe.
