Owala FreeSip Review for Kids: Is It Good for Preschool?

My 3-year-old first asked for an Owala FreeSip because one of his friends at preschool was using one.

He kept asking me for the same water bottle, so I finally gave in. 😂

Now that we’ve been using it for preschool, I wanted to share what we actually like about it—and a couple of things I didn’t expect.

[Curious about the Owala FreeSip? → Check the current price on Amazon]

Why Did We Choose the Owala FreeSip?

Honestly, my son chose it before I did.

He saw his friend using one and immediately wanted the same bottle. Since I was already looking for a water bottle for preschool, I decided to give it a try.

And so far, he really likes it.

What I Love About the Owala FreeSip

Easy for My 3-Year-Old to Drink

My son can drink from it easily by himself, which is one of my favorite things about it.

The FreeSip design lets him drink from the mouthpiece without needing to squeeze or bite down on a soft straw.

One thing to clarify: the Owala FreeSip isn’t completely straw-free. It has an internal straw connected to the lid, but your child drinks from the FreeSip mouthpiece rather than directly from a soft silicone straw.

I Prefer the Hard Plastic Mouthpiece

I personally like that the part my son actually puts in his mouth isn’t a soft silicone straw.

However, there is one downside.

My son sometimes bites the mouthpiece, and his teeth have already left little marks on the plastic.

So if your child likes to chew on their water bottle, you may notice scratches pretty quickly.

Want to find the best water bottle for your toddler? Check out my Toddler Water Bottle Comparison Review to see which ones we’ve tried and how they compare!

👉 [Best Toddler Water Bottle: THERMOS vs Owala vs Zak Bluey]

It’s Just Really Cute

This is definitely a mom opinion, but I think the Owala is cute. 😂

There are so many colors and designs, and my son was excited to have the same bottle as his friend.

A Few Things to Know Before Buying

Cleaning the Lid Takes a Little Extra Work

The lid has small silicone/rubber seals that need to be removed when cleaning.

One is inside the lid, and another is around the screw-top area.

They’re small and easy to forget.

And yes, I learned this the hard way.

One day, I washed the bottle, forgot to put the little seal back properly, and put it in my son’s backpack.

A few hours later…

His backpack was basically a swimming pool. 😅

Now I always double-check the seal before putting his water bottle in his preschool backpack.

Is Owala FreeSip Good for a 3-Year-Old?

For us, yes.

My son can use it independently, he likes drinking from it, and he actually gets excited about taking it to preschool.

That’s probably the most important thing for me.

A water bottle can have all the features in the world, but if your child doesn’t want to use it, it doesn’t really matter.

Would I Buy It Again?

Yes!

We’ve been happy with the Owala FreeSip as our everyday preschool water bottle.

I love that it’s easy for my son to drink from, I prefer the hard plastic mouthpiece over a soft silicone straw, and—most importantly—my 3-year-old actually likes using it.

The plastic does show tooth marks, and cleaning the small seals takes a little extra attention, but neither has been a dealbreaker for us.

Thinking about getting one for your preschooler? → [Check the Owala FreeSip on Amazon]

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This comes at no additional cost to you.