Owala’s Stainless-Steel Kids’ Tumbler Is a Cool Solution To My Toddler’s Hydration

The kids’ cup market is flooded with options, and I’ve spent more time than I’d like to admit reading specs and reviews and trying options. My toddler currently drinks from either open cups or straw cups, and the Owala Kids’ Tumbler is one of her two go-to straw cups.

The Owala 12-ounce, stainless-steel straw kids’ cup is insulated, easy to clean, spill-resistant, and durable enough to handle toddler life.

Owala 12-Ounce, Stainless-Steel Kids' Tumbler

$19.99 from Owala $19.88 from Amazon

Choosing Owala’s Stainless-Steel Kids’ Tumbler

I purchased Owala’s 12-ounce, stainless-steel straw cup about 5 months ago.

Safe Materials

As someone who generally avoids plastic in kitchenware, I like that the Kids’ Tumbler from Owala has a stainless-steel interior. I don’t love that the straw inside the cup is plastic, but it is removable and you can get an off-brand stainless-steel straw replacement.

The straw tip that you actually drink from is flexible and made of silicone. Overall, the cup is advertised as being free of BPA, lead and phthalates.

Straw Construction

While the internal straw is removable, the straw tip is part of the lid. This design means it doesn’t slide apart when my daughter lugs the cup around by the straw.

The straw also features a spill-resistant valve inside that keeps water from pouring out of it when tipped, dropped, or held upside down by a curious toddler. However, the straw valve also requires stronger suction to drink from it than an open straw does. My daughter doesn’t seem to mind the straw valve usually, but when she was sick recently, she favored her open-straw cup from Elk and Friends until she was feeling better.

Tumbler Contents

I only serve water from the Owala Kids’ Tumbler, which falls in line with its caution to not use it for perishable products, hot liquids, or carbonated beverages. My daughter uses her Owala straw cup around the house and when we’re on the go, and I choose a different cup when serving milk.

A Good Size

My toddler initially struggled to carry the Owala cup due to its size and weight in her little hands, so it didn’t get a lot of use initially. (The age recommendation is for 3+.) However, a few months away from turning 2, she’s now able to easily carry it and hold it by herself to drink even when it’s full.

I like the capacity, which holds 12 fluid ounces. It’s large enough to not have to constantly refill it, and it’s a good size for her to carry or to pop into the side pocket of my backpack diaper bag.

Leak-Proof or Spill-Resistant?

The Kids’ Tumbler from Owala isn’t entirely leak-proof, but it is accurately advertised as “spill-resistant.” The cup has two spots where it could leak: the straw valve and the vent valve. Both of these silicone valves work well at preventing full-on spills. However, if you hold the cup at the right angle, you can get water to drip out.

Insulation Against the Summer Heat

The stainless-steel Owala cup is insulated with a vacuum-sealed double wall. It does its job keeping water cool even on hot Texas summer days. The insulation paired with a straw top is the feature combination that makes this the cup I consistently choose for my daughter when we’re playing outside or leaving the house.

Durable Enough for Toddler Life

In addition to surviving the Texas heat, Owala’s stainless-steel kids’ cup holds up to drops and rolls on concrete. My toddler’s cup has a slight ding on the bottom edge and the logo has started to show wear, but otherwise the color is still vibrant.

Cleaning Owala’s 12-Ounce, Stainless-Steel Kids’ Cup

The Owala tumbler is easy to clean on a daily basis. My typical routine is to remove the lid and pop the straw out and then hand wash the lid, straw and cup every night.

If the cup has been left in the sun or I feel like it’s due for a more thorough cleaning, I can remove the seal ring from the lid (I use a toothpick to pry it out) and I can pop the gasket through the center of the lid (this takes a strong push to remove).

In the five months my toddler has used the Owala tumbler, I haven’t had any issues with mold. I do use a straw brush to clean the straw and the vent seal in the lid to get the hard-to-reach spots.

All pieces are “technically dishwasher safe” according to Owala’s FAQ page, but it’s highly recommended to only hand wash the cup to preserve the finish. The lid parts are top-rack dishwasher safe and the straw can go in the silverware bin.

Getting Help from Owala’s Customer Service

Owala’s customer service generally offers a good experience. First, I like the humorous tone of the FAQ page, which includes light-hearted answers to basic questions. In response to how often should you wash your Owala tumbler, it says: “How often do you shower? Daily seems like a good idea … but that’s up to you.”

The specifications info on the product page was fairly thorough, but I couldn’t find what material the straw’s flexible tip was made of. I reached out to customer service via its online form and received an answer by email within minutes from Wally, “Owala’s AI Assistant.”

The answer was unhelpful as it repeated what I could find on the product page, but it offered to connect me with a team member. I had to reply confirming I wanted to get an answer from a team member; I then got an email answer from a representative early the next morning stating that the straw’s tip is made of silicone.

Owala 12-Ounce, Stainless-Steel Kids' Tumbler

$19.99 from Owala $19.88 from Amazon

Would I Buy It Again?

The Owala Kids’ Tumbler straw cup was a solid purchase and I’d buy it again if it got lost. I recently also bought the 15 oz. plastic version of the tumbler ahead of a family trip as a back-up cup. Both cups work well for my daughter, but I prefer the stainless-steel version due to its insulation and my preference to limit plastic for food and beverages.