A playful and sustainable water bottle my kid loves
When my toddler began the journey from exclusively breastfeeding to drinking cow’s milk and water from a cup; I felt genuinely concerned for her hydration levels and overall well-being as she strongly and sternly met each new cup and water bottle drinking attempt with a dramatic shove or a sharp “NO!” However, by the grace of god, she eventually started accepting new sippy cups and toddler water bottles. Over the course of her cup training, with all the highs and lows, I would like to think of myself as a somewhat of a cup connoisseur. With some cups and bottles becoming her favorites, while others sat collecting dust on the shelf. However, the more she started depending on cups and water bottles to get her entire allotment of liquids for the day, the more I realized the importance of having a safe, high-quality container that my child actually wanted to use. I particularly wanted to limit our plastic use and aim for containers made from stainless steel, silicone, or glass to minimize any chemical leaching into the water. Furthermore, another criteria I had was one that travelled well, meaning it had a lid or mechanism to keep the mouthpiece clean while on the go. The final criteria was to find a bottle that was simple to clean and to assemble/disassemble. One brand that I recently discovered that I am very impressed with and that my daughter happens to love is called the Asobu Bestie Water Bottle. This Canadian brand features a kid-sized bottle that is made from vacuum insulated food grade stainless steel that is “100% free from lead, PFAS, BPA, and phthalates,” according to the brand. Additionally, each bottle is modeled after an animal, character, or fun object so kids can connect with the character of their choosing and make it a fun thing to hydrate. The bottle also includes a silicon straw and silicone head/cap to keep the top of the straw clean. Their bottles are also dishwasher safe and easy to disassemble with minimal parts to clean, so the whole process from start to finish feels seamless and hassle free. Who knew water bottles could be not only practical but… dare I say fun?