Which water bottle to choose for kids?

Faced with excessive production and consumption of single-use plastic bottles, it’s urgent to find solutions to limit their extremely harmful impact on the environment. Every year, almost 6 million tonnes of plastic end up in the oceans, considerably increasing the number of threatened marine animal species.

Among the solutions available, reusable water bottles are an excellent alternative to single-use containers. Durable and sturdy, they let you carry your drinking water or your favourite beverage wherever you want. What's more, certain types of water bottle are made from materials that can keep your beverage hot or cold. Available in a wide range of models and accessible to different budgets, the water bottle is already an essential accessory for all your outings and excursions. What are the features of a water bottle? Which water bottle to choose for kids? Decathlon gives you all its advice here.

Why is a water bottle useful for a kid?

While more and more adults are opting for water bottles, they can also become an essential part of your kid's daily life.

An object with an ecological impact
In France, around 150 single-use plastic bottles are consumed per person per year, of which only 30% come from recycled materials. Buying a reusable water bottle is an excellent opportunity to raise your kid's awareness of the need to protect the planet and to introduce them to a zero-waste approach.

Chosen in the right size and made from strong, durable materials, your kid will be able to keep the water bottle for years to come.

An accessory to meet your kid's hydration needs
Whether you're taking them to school, to practice sport or on a family outing, a water bottle is sure to find a place in your kid's backpack. In particular, they'll be able to hydrate themselves at any time of day or activity. It's important to be able to meet your kid's daily hydration needs, which depend on their age and weight:

- Between the ages of 2 and 3, a kid needs around 900 ml of water a day.
- Between the ages of 4 and 8, they need 1.1 litres of water a day.
- From the age of 9 upwards, kids need 1.5 litres of water a day, just like adults.

Because it can be filled at any time, the water bottle makes it easy to satisfy your kid's daily water needs, which are vital to their health and well-being.

A money-saver
As well as being practical and environmentally friendly, the reusable water bottle saves you money. Thanks to this type of accessory, you no longer need to buy bottles of water not only in supermarkets, but also when you're out and about, at stands or motorway service areas, where prices are generally much higher. By providing a water bottle for each member of the family, you can avoid unnecessary expenditure.

Which water bottle to choose for kids: materials

In the same way as for a feeding bottle, it's out of the question to choose a water bottle made from materials containing substances that are harmful to your kid, whatever their age.

Stainless steel: the most durable and safe
Stainless steel water bottles are among the most popular models on the market, and for good reason: this material doesn’t impart any undesirable odours or tastes to the water, is unbreakable and contains no substances that could pose a health hazard to your offspring.

On the other hand, this type of water bottle is relatively heavy; It’s therefore important to take into account the kid’s body shape and their ability to carry the accessory alone. Finally, stainless steel is the only material that can ensure the isothermal properties of a water bottle; this means that a cold drink can retain its temperature for 24 hours, while a hot drink will remain so for 12 hours.

How to choose the right kid’s water bottle

Plastic: the lightest
Although we strongly advise against using single-use plastic containers, this material can still offer some advantages, provided it’s free from Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor present in many plastic objects used in everyday life. A bottle made from healthy plastic is lighter than most other water bottles.

What's more, some plastics are extremely strong and ideal for use by kids. However, plastic doesn’t protect water from the sun's ultraviolet rays, which are often responsible for its bad taste.

Aluminium: great value for money
The advantage of aluminium lies in its strength and lightness. What's more, this metal doesn't rust which increases its durability. An aluminium water bottle is therefore a good option for your kid, especially as it’s less expensive than a stainless steel bottle. However, it doesn’t have the same isothermal properties.

Glass: a safe but fragile material
Glass is one of the safest materials for storing food and drink and leaves no taste or odour. On the other hand, it lets the sun's rays through, which can quickly heat up the water in the bottle. Glass is also a fragile material that breaks easily. Logically, therefore, glass bottles are not recommended for use by kids.

Which water bottle to choose for kids: CAPACITY

The capacity of the water bottles available on the market generally varies from 250 ml to 1.5 litres, or even more. Ideally, you should choose the size of your water bottle according to your kid's age. As we mentioned earlier, their water requirements change as they grow, as does their ability to carry and handle the bottle. So a young 5-year-old needs a smaller water bottle than a 13-year-old teenager.

The capacity also depends on how your kid will be using it. For regular use at school or during extra-curricular activities, a 250 ml to 350 ml water bottle is more than enough. On the other hand, if they're going on a school outing or a family excursion, it's best to opt for a larger model that can hold around 1 litre of water.

Which water bottle to choose for kids: opening system

The opening system is a crucial selection criteria as it determines how comfortable your kid will feel when using the bottle. Their age is also an essential factor.

For toddlers (aged between 2 and 3)
To ensure a smooth transition from the feeding bottle to the water bottle, we strongly advise you to choose a model with a cap and a straw or pipette. These little accessories will help your toddler to stay hydrated and enjoy their drink without getting dirty, as well as letting them swallow slowly and safely.

For older kids (aged between 4 and 8)
As they develop, kids become more independent. This is when it's time to choose an opening and closing system that they can handle themselves. The screw cap and teat cap, which can be opened quickly, are particularly suitable solutions.

For pre-teens and teenagers (aged 9 and over)
From this age onwards, the risks associated with swallowing are virtually non-existent. The choice of water bottle cap then depends on your kid's preferences: one-handed or two-handed opening, screw top, snap-on, etc. What's more, if they're keen on long hikes in the great outdoors, you can also offer an interesting alternative to the water bottle: a water bladder, placed in the backpack, for simple hydration using a straw. Their capacity often varies from 1 to 3 litres.

Which water bottle to choose for kids: go for design

Whenever possible, it's always a good idea to choose a water bottle with a design that your kid finds attractive, especially if they're young. With a wide range of colours and designs to choose from, they can select a model to suit their tastes and personality. This will make the object more fun and, who knows, encourage your kid to drink more.

Buying a water bottle for each member of your family, especially your kid, is a good thing for the planet and will come in very handy in all situations. Do you love hiking and weekend camping with your family? Then don't hesitate to add to your equipment with our selection of cooksets, to make all your outings even more responsible!

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