Despite the fact most parents can’t recall drinking a single glass of water for their entire childhood, we all seem to do a great job keeping our little ones hydrated. So much so that finding the perfect toddler water bottle is a legit quest. It’s got to be easy to clean and easy enough for little hands to open, but not so easy that it floods the bottom of their backpack or your diaper bag.
Whether you’re looking to help the environment or reduce your use of plastics, stainless steel water bottles are a great solution for keeping your little ones hydrated all year long—especially when the weather is hot. We also prefer stainless steel water bottles for toddlers for their durability and the fact they don’t leach chemicals when exposed to heat (like baking in our beach bags.)
Our picks will keep your kiddos cool and are perfectly sized for little hands. Shop our favorite stainless steel water bottles for toddlers below!
Stainless steel water bottles for toddlers
Yeti
• $25.99
From the cooler masters at Yeti, the Rambler Jr. Kids water bottle is well worth the investment. They’re virtually indestructible (dents and dings included) with a super easy-to-carry handle and sweat-proof outside. The wide handle makes it easy to carry or clip onto something and like the grown-up version, it’s also completely leak-proof when closed and keeps drinks ice cold for hours. (We suspect reviewers who have had issues with it leaking didn’t screw the top on properly.) At three inches wide, it fits in some cup holders, but not all. We also love that it’s super easy for little hands to open and close all the way without help.
The fun part? You can customize them with names and logos–or even upload your own design!
Thermos
• $16.99
This one is Wirecutter’s top pick for kids’ water bottles and we’d have to agree. Not only is it the least expensive on our list, it’s also super easy to clean (all parts are top rack dishwasher safe), easy for little hands to operate and it legit NEVER leaks. It’s also about a half inch smaller in circumference than the Yeti which allows it to more universally fit into cup holders if that’s a concern.
Takeya
• $24.99
From the brand responsible for our favorite $20 iced coffee maker, Takeya’s Actives kids’ insulated water bottle is a favorite for the older set. The silicone-bottomed design holds up to bumps and drops like a total champ and even though the handle is a bit less beefy than other styles, we’ve yet to break it going on a couple years of regular use. It’s made of just four parts that separate easily for cleaning and comes in a variety of sizes and gorgeous colors.
Thermoflask
• $26.99
Parents who once grabbed these off the shelf at Costco will be thrilled to know you can find them on Amazon. The two-pack is not only a great value–it also comes with both chug lids and straw lids that can be swapped based on their preferences. What’s more, reviewers rave about the durability, ease of cleaning and completely leak-proof construction.
Hydro Flask
• $29.95
Hydro Flask makes awesome adult water bottles, so we’re not surprised that their kid version also hits it out of the park. Features we love here include double-wall vacuum insulation (translation: put ice in in the morning, and you’ll still have ice in the afternoon), an easy-to-drink (and clean) top, a silicone bottom to prevent dings, an integrated name tag and a bottle that’s just the right size for little hands. What age are these bottles appropriate for? We tried them on our two-year-old and eight-year-old and both were easily able to maneuver the straw lid, making it a great option from Pre-K straight through elementary school.
Eco Vessel
• $27.99
Ecovessel began with the goal of replacing wasteful, single-use bottles with insulated stainless steel ones, a message we can definitely get behind. Their straw bottle features a soft-tipped flip spout which some of our littles preferred to the hard plastic of styles like the Hydro Flask or Yeti. (Note that if your kiddo is a chewer, you might want to skip this one.) The internal silicone straw allows for no-tilt drinking, while the sturdy design holds up to an impressive amount of abuse. It also is available in a great selection of fun patterns & designs.
Camelbak
• $18
The ‘big bite valve’ is our favorite feature of this bottle—it’s simple for even the youngest toddlers to master, prevents spills, and is easily replaceable. We also love that everything is top-rack dishwasher safe and easy to clean, and that this bottle keeps liquids cool for hours.
Contigo
• $24.45
If you’re worried about spilling, don’t be with this stainless bottle. It features an ‘autospout’ lid with a straw and a spill-proof valve, perfect for even the messiest of little drinkers 😄 We also love how this one keeps the part that goes in their mouths completely under wraps when they’re not using it. It keeps liquids cool for up to 14 hours and is perfectly sized to fit in most cup holders.
Klean Kanteen
• $17.95
More of a traditional sippy cup style, this stainless option works well for older toddlers and little kids as it’s not leak-proof. We really like the chip-resistant powder coat finish (available in either a shiny finish or an awesome matte option) as well as the wide, easy-to-fill opening. The brand offers sippy and sport top styles which are conveniently interchangeable with the bottles themselves.
Pura
• $28.99
One of our main complaints about water bottles is that many brands make it difficult to replace parts. Pura, on the other hand, makes interchangeability part of the whole package. Their bottles are designed to fit a variety of lid and top styles that can be purchased separately to grow right along with your little one. There’s infant bottle, straw and sports options as well as silicone bumpers you can swap out as needed.
A version of this story was published September 21, 2021. It has been updated.