Post by cricketwife on Jul 23, 2021 9:27:35 GMT -5
I’m looking for a water bottle for DS2 who starts school next month. I am older and wiser with kids 2, lol, and I now how requirements because I want to streamline my life.
1. No straw (would like a spout) 2. Dishwasher safe 3. leak proof
I stupidly bought a bunch of these camelbaks based on the great reviews and bargain price, but didn’t pay attention that they are not dishwasher safe. I am OVER hand washing water bottles (especially ones with straws!) every day. I want to have two bottles per kid that can go in the dishwasher.
I’d like to keep it under $20 per bottle, but I would be willing to spend more for the right bottle.
Some of the newer funtainers don't have straws anymore. I think you have to check the description though if you order online. We put those in the dishwasher.
I love the Contigo kids water bottles with the autoseal. They work more like a travel coffee mug than a water bottle spout and we've never had issues with leaking.
Not sure of your kids age but I buy bottles that are intended for coffee. Problem solved! I HATE water bottle straws. The Hydroflask Flex Sip above is our favorite.
Contigo also makes some that work well. Search Contigo Autoseal on amazon for strawfree options. We have both the Cortland and Monaco lid styles.
Yes! I was coming in to say the same. These thermofask lids also work with the small bottles posted above. We got a 2-pack at Costco, but I don’t see them online.
Can you help me understand how the lids work? I’m not seeing good pics of how they function. Do they unscrew and detach from the main bottle or stay attached?
eta- my local Dick’s has the full price ones in stock so I’m going to ch3ck them out in person and order a sale color online if I go with these.
Post by cricketwife on Jul 23, 2021 13:27:20 GMT -5
RELATED QUESTION- do your little kids find the big bottles heavy?
I originally wanted a smaller bottle because my son’s bag is SO HEAVY when there’s a water bottle, and his lunch (often including ice packs and/or a bento box) and a snack. DS1 always commented how heavy his bag was when he was younger and he had the small funtainer bottle. DS2 ( who I’m shopping for now) is a much smaller kid for his age and it just seems like a lot of weight to carry. He has ample opportunities to refill the bottle (two recesses, snack, and lunch) so I’m not worried about that being an issue. But I know he’ll need a bigger one in two years, so now I’m second guessing getting a small bottle vs just getting one that he’ll use for years. ( As side note, I can’t believe how complicated something as minor as a water bottle can be! )
Post by ellipses84 on Jul 23, 2021 13:50:29 GMT -5
I put them all in the dishwasher now. Maybe they don’t last quite as long, but honestly I don’t notice that much difference in longevity and they get cleaner. The taller contigo ones that look just like the contigo kids kind have a straw that can be removed. We have glass, plastic and stainless steel bottle versions of it.
Can you help me understand how the lids work? I’m not seeing good pics of how they function. Do they unscrew and detach from the main bottle or stay attached?
eta- my local Dick’s has the full price ones in stock so I’m going to ch3ck them out in person and order a sale color online if I go with these.
The flex sip twists halfway to open. You sip from the lid. Twisting sort of like you would with a disposable salt shaker. It's two layers. The bottom layer has the opening.
The traditional wide mouth screws off completely and you drink out of it like a cup.
You can buy straw tops for both models. They aren't marketed as leakproof, but nearly are. We've never had a leak. It's also an additional cost.
RELATED QUESTION- do your little kids find the big bottles heavy?
I originally wanted a smaller bottle because my son’s bag is SO HEAVY when there’s a water bottle, and his lunch (often including ice packs and/or a bento box) and a snack. DS1 always commented how heavy his bag was when he was younger and he had the small funtainer bottle. DS2 ( who I’m shopping for now) is a much smaller kid for his age and it just seems like a lot of weight to carry. He has ample opportunities to refill the bottle (two recesses, snack, and lunch) so I’m not worried about that being an issue. But I know he’ll need a bigger one in two years, so now I’m second guessing getting a small bottle vs just getting one that he’ll use for years. ( As side note, I can’t believe how complicated something as minor as a water bottle can be! )
We’ve used the 24oz bottle for 1st and 2nd and it hasn’t been an issue. They have to carry the computer, folders, lunch, snack, boots etc so what’s a few extra ounces? (Plus Covid anti water filling restrictions) She used a 16oz one in Kindergarten which she now uses overnight in bed.
Post by lemoncupcake on Jul 23, 2021 16:33:04 GMT -5
Dumb question from a parent of an incoming kindergartener. Do they have 1 water bottle that they take with them to lunch, or do you pack a separate drink with their lunch and they keep their main water bottle at their desk?
Dumb question from a parent of an incoming kindergartener. Do they have 1 water bottle that they take with them to lunch, or do you pack a separate drink with their lunch and they keep their main water bottle at their desk?
My kid's school provided all meals to all students (breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack for I think grades 2 and below). So I rarely packed a lunch for E1. But when I did, I didn't pack a drink. He was able to go through the line and get a drink if he didn't want water. He usually got chocolate milk. *Rolling eyes*
Post by cricketwife on Jul 23, 2021 16:48:23 GMT -5
lemoncupcake, it might be school dependent, but ours just have one bottle. They use it all day and bring it with them to lunch if that’s what they are drinking for lunch. But I definitely wouldn’t send two water bottles.
RELATED QUESTION- do your little kids find the big bottles heavy?
I originally wanted a smaller bottle because my son’s bag is SO HEAVY when there’s a water bottle, and his lunch (often including ice packs and/or a bento box) and a snack. DS1 always commented how heavy his bag was when he was younger and he had the small funtainer bottle. DS2 ( who I’m shopping for now) is a much smaller kid for his age and it just seems like a lot of weight to carry. He has ample opportunities to refill the bottle (two recesses, snack, and lunch) so I’m not worried about that being an issue. But I know he’ll need a bigger one in two years, so now I’m second guessing getting a small bottle vs just getting one that he’ll use for years. ( As side note, I can’t believe how complicated something as minor as a water bottle can be! )
We only use the screw cap tops, and they are pretty heavy, but if you are going with a hydro-flask type bottle but don't want to pay hydro-flask prices (esp. for kids who don't care about brand names), these are a good option. But they are heavy for little kids IMO.
Dumb question from a parent of an incoming kindergartener. Do they have 1 water bottle that they take with them to lunch, or do you pack a separate drink with their lunch and they keep their main water bottle at their desk?
Before Covid, the water bottle lived in the lunch box and was only taken out at lunch, and if they were thirsty other than at lunch they used the water fountain. After last year, they were allowed a water bottle with them all day, but I still packed a separate one in the lunch box.
Dumb question from a parent of an incoming kindergartener. Do they have 1 water bottle that they take with them to lunch, or do you pack a separate drink with their lunch and they keep their main water bottle at their desk?
School dependent so YMMV but DDs school allows the kids access to their water bottles all day. We have bottle filling stations attached to the water fountains. Normally they are kept in one spot in the classroom, especially in the younger grades, but the kids kept them at their desks last year because of Covid. They take their regular water bottle to lunch. I will occasionally pack a separate drink for lunch as a treat but it's rare (and mostly if I have one last juice box I want to use up).
For whoever said they are heavy, DD school allows them to refill as needed so I used smaller ones when she was younger to keep things manageable for her.
Dumb question from a parent of an incoming kindergartener. Do they have 1 water bottle that they take with them to lunch, or do you pack a separate drink with their lunch and they keep their main water bottle at their desk?
Our school has no AC and is 90 plus in the classrooms it’s also very dry so the kids have their water bottles out all day. Precovid they had a bucket where they could put their lunch and it would get moved to and from the classrooms. Last year they had lunch in their classrooms. Not sure what the plan is for next year with lunch.
I like this one. DS used this all school year (he was 3) and it was really durable. I washed it in the dishwasher. It has the hard plastic straw so may not meet your spout criteria.
Dumb question from a parent of an incoming kindergartener. Do they have 1 water bottle that they take with them to lunch, or do you pack a separate drink with their lunch and they keep their main water bottle at their desk?
Our school lets them have one water bottle that they keep either at their desk or cubby and can drink from all day and bring to lunch. They shut the water fountains off for covid, so there are only water bottle filling stations now. The teachers all have disposable cups for kids who forget their water bottles, but it's encouraged that every child bring a bottle so as to reduce waste.
Post by sandandsea on Jul 24, 2021 16:40:10 GMT -5
We have switched from the funtainers to the simple modern ones that are like the hydro flask as the boys got older. We only use them for water so I don’t mind straws and I put them in the dishwasher even though they say hand wash. It’s been fine.