Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Stages

Is a stainless steel water bottle safe for your toddler?

By

Many kids drink their water from plastic sippy cups, but is a stainless steel water bottle a better option?

It may be more eco-friendly, non-toxic, and durable to have a stainless steel water bottle, but also consider the weight if your child drops it on to their little toes. The good news is, you can get a water bottle cozy to cover it and make it easier to grip while also making it softer if it falls.

Recommended Videos

Plastics and metals both have some risks of their materials seeping into the water your toddler drinks, but high-quality stainless steel has perhaps the lowest risk of all. A key advantage of stainless steel is that it doesn’t contain BPA or other harmful chemicals that some plastics do. It also keeps drinks cooler longer for those beach days.

Related

R. Thomas Zoeller, a professor at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, who has studied the chemical effects of BPA, told the Washington Post he recommends metal bottles over plastic ones: “Generally, I feel more comfortable with glass than plastic, but I think stainless steel has a lot to offer in terms of not having things leach into the water.” He also said to make sure your metal water bottle isn’t lined with plastic, epoxy, or resin “because of concerns that those materials could contain harmful chemicals.” However, stainless steel is a metal that doesn’t require a lining like aluminum does, so this shouldn’t be a problem.

To make sure your kid’s stainless steel water bottle doesn’t have lead, look for #304 or 18/8 food-grade stainless steel. This means it’s FDA-approved and the safest for kids.

Ready to ditch plastic for stainless steel? Here are our top choices for stainless steel water bottles for toddlers.

CamelBak Eddy+ Kids 12 oz Bottle

This sweat-proof stainless steel water bottle for toddlers is an adorable, safe, and practical option. It’s leak-proof when closed and spill-proof when open, and it’s made of that 18/8 stainless steel you’re looking for. Unlike typical adult stainless steel water bottles, this one for kids has a sippy spout for drinking and a comfy handle for carrying. Choose from a classic steel look or one of four creative designs (camping foxes, flowerchild sloth, rainbow love, or UFOs).

CamelBak Eddy+ Kids 14 oz Bottle

Looking for a little more volume for a bigger kid? Choose the same bottle like the one above but in 14 ounces instead of 12 ounces. This one gives you different design choices, too: plain steel, cars & trucks, cats & dogs, dino bones, or unicorn & blooms. Kids will love the design that best suits them.

Ello Emma Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Kids Water Bottle with Anti-Microbial Straw

This 18/8 stainless steel water bottle comes in blue or pink and has a flip lid that can be opened with one touch. The lid keeps the entire drinking surface covered, so nothing gets on the sippy straw while it’s in a backpack, lunch box, or diaper bag. The soft straw is made of BPA-free antimicrobial material that inhibits bacterial growth. The lid is dishwasher-safe so that you can sterilize the drinking area, but you should hand-wash the bottle itself. This vacuum-insulated bottle keeps drinks cold for up to 14+ hours!

Linkit Kids Water Bottle – Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Thermos

If your toddler doesn’t want to use a straw and you are looking to avoid plastic altogether, this food-grade 304 18/8 stainless steel kids water bottle is the best choice. With a simple opening, just like adult stainless steel bottles, this one comes in various sizes and colors to match your child’s personality. You can choose 9, 12, 17, or even 25-ounce sizes. Sweat-free, leak-proof, and vacuum-insulated to keep drinks cold for up to 24 hours, this stainless steel water bottle will make toddlers feel like big kids.

Mira Insulated Small Thermos Flask

In yellow, blue, or pink, this small stainless steel water bottle is a good fit for toddlers, holding either seven or 10 ounces. It’s made of 18/8 food-grade stainless steel and has a powder-coated outer finish for insulation that keeps drinks cold for eight hours and prevents condensation on the exterior, so nothing next to it gets soggy, and it doesn’t slip when held. Leak-proof, sweat-free, phthalate-free, and BPA-free, toddler hands easily grip this bottle.

Looking for more? Check out our list of important daily routines for toddlers.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Sarah Prager
Sarah Prager
Contributor
Sarah is a writer and mom who lives in Massachusetts. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, National…
9 simple steps that’ll help teach your toddler to read
Use these tips to help your toddler on their reading journey
Happy toddler boy reading a picture book

Learning to read is a critical milestone for all children. It's a skill they will use throughout their lives, and fostering a love of reading at an early age will help them as they progress through school. As an adult, reading is an essential part of every day.

Since reading is so vital, it's easy for parents of young children to wonder when they should start teaching a toddler to read. Is it even normal for a two-year-old to read? While some children will begin reading as early as age three, most children will not. Developmentally, many children begin to make the connection between letters, sounds, and words at the end of kindergarten or in first grade.

Read more
5 great activities to teach your toddler to listen
These activities may seem like games, but they'll teach your kiddo to listen
A dad playing with his toddler.

Most parents agree that things start to get fun once their child reaches the toddler stage. This is when children are more active, more verbal, and let’s face it, they have more energy than should be humanly possible. Sometimes, getting your toddler to stop (or even slow down) long enough to listen to you can be a challenge.

If you're wondering how to teach your toddler to listen, we have some activities that can help. These may seem like games, but they're ways of how to teach a toddler to listen when it’s time to be quiet and pay attention to someone else when it's their turn to talk. Let’s check out toddler listening activities that you’ll both enjoy doing.
Games to teach a toddler to listen

Read more
These potty training tips will save your sanity
Helpful tips every parent needs to know
Toddler with stuffed bear on potty training seat.

The price of diapers alone is enough to make a parent wonder when their child will be potty trained. But when it comes time to teach your little one how to use the bathroom like a big kid, it could feel like an overwhelming task. This is a huge milestone for both of you, and if you need a little help getting through it, here are the best potty training tips to have handy.
Before potty training starts, keep a few things in mind

Potty training begins before you ever put your little one on the toilet. Parents, you need to be in the best headspace so the first training session doesn't end with everyone in tears on the bathroom floor.
Parents need patience
There will be setbacks. There might be wet pants, wet beds, or soiled underwear. As the parent and adult, you need to have patience. This is a big transition for your child, and they need a parent who will help them at every step without judgment.
Parents shouldn't force potty training
Each child is different and goes at their own pace. If you try to force your child to potty train before they're ready, you could cause emotional damage and scare them from wanting to learn.
Don't forget to let everyone know training is happening
Once you decide to start toilet training, let anyone who would be helping know. If your child goes to daycare, stays at a relative's house, or someone other than you watches them, talk with those people about the routine. Potty training will not happen without everyone being on the same page. 
These are the best potty training tips 

Read more