6 Best Water Bottles for Kids, Tested and Reviewed
We tested a dozen popular models to find the best leakproof and durable options for your child.
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The best kids' water bottles should be leakproof when closed to prevent spills in your child's backpack, lunch box or all over their desk at school. They should be durable, resisting dents and breakage from inevitable drops, and also be easy for small hands to grasp and carry — with a design that's easy for parents to clean. Additionally, a great kids' water bottle should come in fun colors or patterns to keep children excited about staying hydrated.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, our team of experts tests thousands of beverage-related products every year. In fact, we've tested almost a hundred water bottles, insulated tumblers and Stanley cup dupes in the last year alone. Over the last few months, we tested 12 kids' water bottles in our Lab and enlisted some tiny at-home testers to see how they liked using them in their daily lives. Our top picks below excelled in ease of use, versatility, durability and ease of cleaning.
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Removable non-slip sleeve on the bottom with a spot for child's name
Cons
- Small, so may have to refill often
The Hydro Flask Kids Wide Mouth Water Bottle performed well in our Lab and in the hands of our kid testers. With the drinking spout closed, we found that it was completely leakproof, whether the bottle was laid on its side or turned upside down.
It also proved to be incredibly durable, seeing no dents after it was dropped three times from our drop tester machine. We also love the fun colors it comes in and that it has a silicone sleeve on the bottom with a place to write your child's name so there's less chance of losing it at school.
"It's easy to clean and carry around with the handle," said the parent of one kid tester. "We like that the grip is removable at the bottom." They did state that they found the bottle to be a little small meaning that they had to refill it often, though.
| Capacity | 12 ounces |
| Weight (empty) | 9 ounces |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
Pros
- Highly durable plastic that retained its integrity after being dropped
- Leakproof design
Cons
- May be harder to drink from for some children
This water bottle from Contigo is designed for children over 3 years old. It's lightweight and features a straw that folds down when not in use.
With the spout closed, we found that the bottle was completely leakproof in our Lab tests — and almost leakproof with the spout open. (That said, the Contigo's leakproof design makes it a bit harder to sip from than other bottles on this list.) We were also impressed with the bottle's durability. A similar brand's plastic water bottle shattered in our drop test, but Contigo's durable plastic bottle didn't even scuff.
The Aubrey comes in a 14-ounce capacity and a 20-ounce size if you want to refill it less often. This affordable kids' water bottle can be purchased in a two-pack for even greater value. It comes in numerous colors and patterns; we especially love the Dino design and the Cheetah & Toucans two-pack.
| Capacity | 14 ounces |
| Weight (empty) | 8.8 ounces |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes, top rack |
Pros
- Versatile drinking spout with leak-proof mechanism
- Handle for carrying
Cons
- Bottom slightly dented in drop testing
We are fans of the Owala FreeSip Water Bottle for adults, and we were also impressed with the brand's similar model for children.
That said, we do not recommend this model for smaller children who are just learning how to use a water bottle because it might be hard for little fingers to open and close and it may spill a lot because of the large spout. However, bigger kids who have more experience will love the fun color combos and the fact that you can sip or swig from the versatile drinking spout.
One tester's parent said, "It keeps drinks cold for hours," and that it's "big enough to not have to constantly refill." It proved to be completely leakproof in our Lab testing, thanks to a handle that securely protects the mouthpiece when closed. During our drop test, though, it did incur a small dent on the bottom.
RELATED: The Best Filtered Water Bottles
| Capacity | 16 ounces |
| Weight (empty) | 11 ounces |
| Dishwasher safe | Lid only |
Pros
- Comfortable and easy-to-grasp handle for kids
- Didn't leak or damage in testing
Cons
- Straw piece requires extra cleaning care
The Corkcicle Kids Insulated Water Bottle is a sleek and durable kids' water bottle with a fold-down straw. It also features a soft, easy-t0-grasp handle, which is great for little hands.
In our Lab tests, this water bottle didn't leak at all when the mouthpiece was closed and we saw no dents or damage after it was dropped from our drop tester machine. You don't have to tell them this, but your child can drop this water bottle at a 3-foot height multiple times from different angles and there's a low chance it will dent or spill if the straw is folded down.
The silicone bottom also ensures that it grips whatever surface you set it on. Take note that we found the straw piece a bit harder to clean than some other bottles we tested.
RELATED: The Best Insulated Water Bottles
| Capacity | 12 ounces |
| Weight (empty) | 10.2 ounces |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes, top rack |
Pros
- Leakproof silicone straw
- Holds water cold for longer
Cons
- Slightly dented during drop testing
Does your child want a Stanley Cup dupe to match you? The Simple Modern Kids Tumbler is a small tumbler with a completely leakproof straw ideal for your little one.
We love that you don't need to fold the straw down or turn the lid a certain way for the tumbler to be leakproof. The straw features a captive design that only releases water when you sip from it. It also comes in a variety of fun colors combos.
We found that this tumbler kept water colder than other kids' water bottles we tested, most likely because of the large water capacity. (We've found in our tests that larger bottles tend to keep water colder for longer.) It did dent slightly during our drop testing though.
| Capacity | 24 ounces |
| Weight (empty) | 14.5 ounces |
| Dishwasher safe | Lid only |
Pros
- Wide variety of colors
- Durable, insulated construction
Cons
- May leak if dropped
This insulated water bottle from YETI comes in over 20 colors and features an easy-to-drink-from straw. We especially like how easy to grasp the water bottle is, with a thick and wide handle that can be comfortably held by a little one or an adult.
During our initial leak test, this kids' water bottle didn't leak when the straw was closed, but when we dropped it, the straw popped out and a small amount of water escaped. The bottle, however, didn't dent at all. Keep in mind that if your child accidentally drops this bottle, it probably won't get damaged, but it might make a mess.
RELATED: The Best Smart Water Bottles
| Capacity | 12 ounces |
| Weight (empty) | 13.9 ounces |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
How we test water bottles for kids
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, we evaluate each water bottle for ease of use, performance and durability. We've tested hundreds of water bottles over the last decade, and when it came to testing children's water bottles, we tested 12 of them side-by-side to evaluate performance and ease of use.
When we evaluate performance, we test how well kids' water bottles retain temperature. We fill every bottle to maximum capacity with water and a calculated amount of ice. Then the internal water temperature of each bottle is documented multiple times over 24 hours to determine which bottles retain temperature best.
To determine if they're leak-proof, we knock over each water bottle and let it sit on its side for 30 seconds, then check to see if any water seeped through. We also shake each water bottle at full capacity to see if any water escapes.
Pictured here is a kids' water bottle about to be dropped from our drop-tester machine. To test durability, we drop water bottles three times each from a height of 3 feet and note any damage that occurs.
To evaluate ease of use, we consider how each bottle opens and closes, any handles or grips and whether it fits in a cup holder. Using either a dishwasher or dish soap and a brush, we test how easy it is to clean each water bottle according to the brand's cleaning instructions.
In addition to Lab tests, we send kids' water bottles to young consumer testers to get their opinions on how water bottles fare in real life, and their parents report back to us with testing notes.
What to look for when buying the best water bottles for kids
✔️ Material: There are two main materials used to make kids' reusable water bottles: plastic and stainless steel. Plastic water bottles are usually lightweight and sometimes durable but don't keep water cold for that long. Stainless steel bottles are usually durable and sometimes insulated to keep your child's water cold, but they can be heavier than a lightweight plastic model.
✔️ Size: Kids' water bottles can be as small as 8 ounces or as large as 16 ounces. We find the ideal size for a child is 12 ounces. While refilling a water bottle often may be annoying, take into consideration that the larger the capacity, the heavier it will be. Your child should be able to comfortably hold and carry their water bottle or you will be the one toting it around.
✔️ Drinking spout: There is a drinking spout for every child, and some brands even offer multiple drinking spouts tailored to the age or sipping preference of a child
- Wide mouths are great for big gulps of water, but are more prone to spilling, especially for small children.
- Small mouths like sipping spouts might offer less water flow, but there is less chance of spilling and they help teach kids how to take small sips of water.
- Water bottles with a straw are most common for kids because they're low-mess and easy for a child to sip from.
✔️ Additional features: Some kids' bottles feature handles for carrying around, non-slip sleeves so bottles stay put and don't sweat onto countertops and an additional larger bottle opening for easier cleaning or filling bottles with ice.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Eva Bleyer has tested all kinds of kitchen gear for GH, including gas ranges, microwaves, kitchen scales, blenders and more. She holds a B.S. in Food Studies, Nutrition and Public Health from New York University, where she studied sustainability practices. She's also a trained cook. Eva led the recent kids' water bottle testing, she has also tested numerous water bottles, insulated water bottles, tumblers and Stanley cup dupes for the Kitchen Appliances Lab.
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