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Best Kids' Thermoses

Updated January 2022
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
DaCool Insulated Lunch Container Hot Food Jar
DaCool
Insulated Lunch Container Hot Food Jar
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Long-Lasting Heat
Bottom Line

The unique design will keep your food warm and earn you lots of compliments.

Pros

Vacuum-sealed walls for long-lasting temperatures, both hot and cold. Equipped with non-slip silicone base and portable folding spoon to make it easy to eat no matter the location. Sold in a variety of colors and portion sizes.

Cons

Children may have a hard time opening the lid.

Best Bang for the Buck
Mira Stainless Steel Lunch Thermos, 13.5 oz
Mira
Stainless Steel Lunch Thermos, 13.5 oz
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Large & Durable
Bottom Line

Great for bigger kids with bigger appetites, this thermos has a larger capacity than some others on the market, and it's affordably priced.

Pros

Vacuum-insulated stainless steel construction does a great job of regulating temperature: food stays hot for 5 hours or cold for 10. Boasts a sleek and modern look that appeals to older kids. Larger capacity holds more food. Comes in a variety of vibrant colors. Excellent quality for a reasonable price.

Cons

Can be difficult for smaller children to open.

Skip Hop Baby Zoo Insulated Food Jar
Skip Hop
Baby Zoo Insulated Food Jar
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Best for Toddlers
Bottom Line

If you're looking for a toddler-friendly option, this adorable thermos and spork set offers good performance, but it might not last as long as our other picks.

Pros

Comes with a built-in utensil holder and complimentary spork for mealtime convenience. Keeps food warm for up to 7 hours and cold for 5. Easy to open and close. Matching items like juice bottles, cups, utensils, and bibs can be bought separately to make a set.

Cons

Some owners found that the print flakes off even with hand-washing.

Thermos Foogo 10 oz Insulated Food Jar
Thermos
Foogo 10 oz Insulated Food Jar
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Great for Everyday Use
Bottom Line

With its kid-friendly design, robust construction, and dependable insulation, this popular thermos is a solid choice for smaller children.

Pros

Features a unique rubberized grip that's easier for little hands to open and a rubberized base that won't slide. Double-wall, vacuum-insulated stainless steel construction keeps foods and liquids warm for up to 5 hours or cold for up to 9. Rugged enough to survive everyday use. Available in multiple colors.

Cons

Small crevices in the lid can be hard to clean.

THERMOS Funtainer
THERMOS
Funtainer
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Easiest to Use
Bottom Line

Great option for keeping drinks cool on the go, and it's available in many designs and colors.

Pros

The interior and exterior is made with a BPA-free stainless steel. The pop-up straw is kept clean with the convenient push-button lid. Has a 16-oz capacity and will keep the liquid cool for up to 12 hours. Comes with an attached handle.

Cons

Tends to leak. The ones with the designs on the front may scratch off.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

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Buying guide for best kids' thermoses

Packing school lunches can be a bittersweet experience. On one hand, you get to rest easy knowing your child is eating a nutritious lunch. On the other, you face the struggle of working with limited lunchbox-friendly ingredients. 

If you're ready to take your school lunch menu to the next level, it's time to start thinking outside the lunchbox. With a kids' thermos to keep hot meals warm and cold foods fresh, you can serve up anything from last night's casserole to a yummy yogurt parfait. 

Kids' thermoses come in a range of sizes and styles to cater to different lunchtime needs. While some are specifically designed for beverages, others work best with food and snacks.

Content Image
Before you send your child off with a thermos in hand, test drive it at home. If necessary, demonstrate how to open and close the thermos. If your child still has difficulty using it, you might need to replace the thermos with a model that's easier to handle.

Key considerations

Thermos type

Kids' thermoses can be used for either beverages or food, depending on the style.

  • Bottles: Thermos bottles typically have a tall, slim shape and are useful all year round. During warm months, a thermos bottle ensures that drinks like smoothies, juices, and milkshakes stay chilled and fresh until your child is ready to enjoy them. In winter, a thermos filled with hot chocolate can help kids keep warm while they're away from home.

  • Food jars: Food jars tend to be shorter with a wide mouth. This design makes them easier to fill, eat out of, and clean. Just like thermos bottles, food jars can be used for both hot and cold foods. Warm foods like stews, soups, and casseroles make a hearty midday meal, while fruit salad or yogurt can be refreshing snack on a sweltering day.

Size

Kids' thermoses come in a variety of sizes with capacities that range anywhere from 7 to 16 ounces or more. Before you buy, consider your child's portion size. While a 7-ounce thermos might be perfectly adequate for a toddler or first grader, an older child is likely to need a more substantial meal. 

Insulation

How well and how long a thermos is able to maintain temperature depends on insulation. Most kids' thermoses give you some idea of what to expect in terms of heat and cold retention (for instance, five hours for hot foods and nine hours for cold), but this can vary from model to model. For the most effective temperature control, look for double-wall vacuum insulation, a reflective inner surface, and a tightly sealed lid.

Ease of use

Finding a helping hand away from home isn't always possible, so it's a good idea to choose a thermos that your child can use with confidence. To avoid frustration and missed meals, look for a thermos lid that little hands can open and close with ease. Also, if you're shopping for a thermos for a younger child, a smaller model will be easier to handle and grip, reducing the chance of a spill.

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For your safety
If you're sending a hot meal for a toddler or younger child, advising caregivers to open the thermos can help prevent spills and burns.
STAFF
BestReviews

Features

Ergonomic lid

Opening a tightly screwed thermos lid can be something of a challenge, especially for little hands. Some kids' thermoses have textured caps or silicone-coated lids that allow for easier gripping and turning.

Utensils

Packing your own utensils is easy enough, but if you're concerned about spoons going missing, a kids' thermos that comes with its own spoon and built-in holder is worth looking for. Not only does a dedicated utensil slot make it easier to keep mealtime must-haves in one place, but it can also act as a visual reminder that something might be missing. Some spoons fold down to fit into a compartment in the lid while others simply clip onto the side of the thermos.

Handles

If there's no space for a thermos in your child's school bag, a model with a handle offers a practical carrying solution. Thermos handles can be positioned either on the side or on the lid. Some thermos lid handles are designed to face straight up for a more ergonomic carrying experience.

Spout

A wide mouth is a desirable feature on a food jar, but when it comes to kids' thermos bottles, it has the potential to cause quite a mess. Thermos bottles with spouts or straws can help prevent spills, splashes, and stains.

Colors

Kids' thermoses are available in a wide variety of colors, and some even come with cool graphics and cute cartoon characters. Choosing colors or prints that you know your child will love is a fun way to add a personal touch. If you have more than one child, choosing a different color for each will prevent accidental mix-ups.

Accessories

Using these accessories alongside a kids' thermos can make for a smoother experience.

Reusable snack bags: Bumkins Snack Bags
Having a used utensil floating around in a school bag is less than ideal. Slipping a reusable snack bag like one of these cute ones from Bumkins into your child's backpack can help keep things clean and organized. These affordably priced bags come two to a pack, and you get to pick your favorite pattern.

Bottle brush: Turbo Microfiber 5-Pack
Sometimes, thermoses need a good soak and scrub, but reaching the bottom can be tricky. A bottle brush can make cleaning crevices and other hard-to-reach areas a little easier. All of the sizes are sure to come in handy during your kitchen adventures.

Kids’ thermos prices

Inexpensive
A handful of smaller kids' thermoses can be found for between $12 and $15. This price range includes both thermos bottles and food jars with capacities that usually fall somewhere between 7 and 10 ounces.

Mid-range
The $15 to $20 price bracket yields a wide selection of quality food jars and bottles, many of which have desirable features like prints, ergonomic lids, and spoons. Capacities in this category can range anywhere from 7 to 16 ounces.

Expensive
Whether you desire a higher-than-average capacity, a sought-after print, an easy-open lid, or a folding spoon, you'll find plenty of top-notch options to choose in the $20 to $30 price range.

"A stainless steel lid will prevent plastic from touching your food and can help keep odors at bay. "
STAFF
BestReviews

Tips

  • Prep your thermos. Chilling or heating your thermos before filling it will increase efficacy. For warm foods or beverages, fill your clean, empty thermos with boiling water, close the lid, and let it stand for a few minutes. Once it's warm, pour out the water and fill it with a piping hot lunch or drink. For cold contents, you can either follow the same steps using ice water or simply take the lid off your thermos and place in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes.

  • Pack your kids' thermos right before you leave home. Most parents try to avoid leaving anything to the last minute, but when it comes to filling a thermos, doing so will help keep food hot or cold for longer.

  • Choose moist foods. A thermos needs at least some liquid to effectively maintain temperature. Moist foods like stew and soup work best, but if one of these isn't on the menu, adding gravy, sauce, or salad dressing can help.

  • Hand wash. Although many kids' thermoses are deemed to be safe for the top rack of the dishwasher, gentle hand washing can help preserve the finish and boost overall durability.

Content Image
Reserving a portion of weekday dinners for your child's lunch is a great way to save time and money. If your child isn't fond of leftovers or refuses to eat the same thing for two consecutive days, freezing and rotating meals might do the trick.

FAQ

Q. How long can I safely store food in a thermos for?
A. This depends on how well-insulated your thermos is and how hot the food is at the time of filling. As a rule of thumb, heated food that drops below 140°F should be disposed of after two hours, as bacteria may start to grow and multiply within this time frame if food isn't hot enough. To ensure that your child's meal is still safe to eat when lunchtime rolls around, follow these steps:

  1. Start with a clean thermos.

  2. Heat the thermos with boiling water before filling.

  3. Heat your child's food to a temperature to over 140° F.

  4. Pack your child's lunch right before they leave the house.

Q. Is there any way to remove stains and odors from inside a thermos?
A. The easiest way to get your child's food jar or insulated bottle looking clean and smelling fresh is to pour half a cup of white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of baking soda into the thermos before filling it with boiling water. Leave the lid off, and allow the solution to fizz away stubborn dirt. Soak for approximately 10 minutes, and follow up with a good scrub and rinse. If your thermos lid is looking or smelling suspicious as well, use the same method and allow it to soak in a separate container.

Q. Why is the finish on my kids' thermos flaking off?
A. Most often, the finish on the outside of a thermos starts to flake off due to incorrect washing practices like placing a hand wash-only model into the dishwasher or scrubbing with abrasive cleaning tools. To keep your kids' thermos looking like new, you should use a gentle hand wash, even if your model is dishwasher safe.

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