Anonymous wrote:Get one of the Gatorade squirt sports bottles.
No mess, no straw, no lid. They squeeze it to get the water out.
They were on Amazon yesterday for 50% off. Usually $25.

Do you mean $5? These are usually $5 at Walmart.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS came home saying his 1st grade teacher said he needs to pack more snack. A couple weeks later she told him he needs to pack water daily.

Background:
I’m a mostly SAHM. I cook a big breakfast for my kid, then take him to school with two snacks, a lunch, and a water bottle.

Lately the water bottle has been giving him trouble (spills, bottle damage, and Miss T also emailed to ask I don’t pack a non straw bottle bc of spills) so after buying 4 or 5 different kinds of bottles I finally told him a couple weeks ago he can just drink from the fountain and drink at lunch. He typically eats his whole lunch but for awhile it was coming back partially uneaten so I started sending healthier snacks instead of snack packs.

Snack is twice daily and it’s typically things like:
Homemade medium size muffin
Handful of grapes or two apricots
Carrot sticks
An apple
Mini roll of Ritz crackers

What do you think DCUM? Do you think a kid needs to pack water every single day even when it’s not hot out? And am I packing enough snack?

Holy sh it yes

OP isn't packing all of that all at once. I don't think pure fruit/veggie (grapes and apricots, carrot sticks, an apple) snacks stay with them. Can you add something with a bit of protein/fat? A cheese stick? Instead of Ritz crackers, cheese & crackers? A zbar with protein?

He doesn’t like packed cheese. I packed hummus and was told that’s not allowed. No yogurt or smoothie allowed. Sometimes I pack a granola bar. He usually gets a fruit/veg snack and then another one that’s more hearty like the muffin or bar. I figure he can eat the lighter snack in the morning and heartier in the afternoon.

OMG pull your child from the small zany religious private school you send him to and just let him go to a real school. Public school ftw.

Sure, religious bigot.

We have been using the Simple Modern straw bottles for the past 6 years and none of them have leaked (we have bought a few replacement straws over the years though). We throw the lid and straw parts in the dishwasher and hand wash the metal, but you could throw it in the dishwasher if you wanted.

Oh - do you know about how you have to remove the plastic part from the lid and not just the straw? Maybe that's why you're getting mold? Because you don't know how to disassemble and reassemble?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this is a YOU issue. 5 water bottles and they all leaked?? Weird.

Two have straw parts of that over time started leaking. Another had a straw develop a split lengthwise… company sent a replacement in pink unicorn which DS is hesitant to take to school bc he will be teased. A narrow cap Nalgene was vetoed by teacher because no straw. Screw top narrow top Kleen Kanteen also vetoed. One pair of bottles I bought from Costco developed mold.

Sweetheart, this is a you problem. Normal people don't have this many water bottle problems, LOL! Wash your kid's water bottles, leave them out to dry, and they won't mold. Just wow, you sound incompetent.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS came home saying his 1st grade teacher said he needs to pack more snack. A couple weeks later she told him he needs to pack water daily.

Background:
I’m a mostly SAHM. I cook a big breakfast for my kid, then take him to school with two snacks, a lunch, and a water bottle.

Lately the water bottle has been giving him trouble (spills, bottle damage, and Miss T also emailed to ask I don’t pack a non straw bottle bc of spills) so after buying 4 or 5 different kinds of bottles I finally told him a couple weeks ago he can just drink from the fountain and drink at lunch. He typically eats his whole lunch but for awhile it was coming back partially uneaten so I started sending healthier snacks instead of snack packs.

Snack is twice daily and it’s typically things like:
Homemade medium size muffin
Handful of grapes or two apricots
Carrot sticks
An apple
Mini roll of Ritz crackers

What do you think DCUM? Do you think a kid needs to pack water every single day even when it’s not hot out? And am I packing enough snack?

Holy sh it yes

OP isn't packing all of that all at once. I don't think pure fruit/veggie (grapes and apricots, carrot sticks, an apple) snacks stay with them. Can you add something with a bit of protein/fat? A cheese stick? Instead of Ritz crackers, cheese & crackers? A zbar with protein?

He doesn’t like packed cheese. I packed hummus and was told that’s not allowed. No yogurt or smoothie allowed. Sometimes I pack a granola bar. He usually gets a fruit/veg snack and then another one that’s more hearty like the muffin or bar. I figure he can eat the lighter snack in the morning and heartier in the afternoon.

OMG pull your child from the small zany religious private school you send him to and just let him go to a real school. Public school ftw.

Teacher is getting manipulated by a whiny kid

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, he needs to be able to drink water during the day and it's not possible to go to the water fountain every 10 minutes. The teacher is probably saying this because he is going too often.

See I don’t think he should have to drink water every 10 minutes. He gets water and mil in the working before school and at lunch, and at two snack times and during PE. I don’t agree with the people - kids and adults - sipping at a water bottle every hour of the day.

It would also be easier to do daily if I could throw a capped bottle or Kleen Kanteen in every morning. Teacher is insisting everyone bring multi part bottles which inevitable mold if you don’t wash daily or else wear out and develop leaks.

Are you....NOT washing your child's water bottle every day? That's disgusting. We have several per child and throw them in the dishwasher at the end of the day. It's not hard, and I mean, you don't have a job, sounds like you have time.

What does you being a SAHM have to do with anything? I work full time and somehow manage to send my children to school with two snacks, a water bottle (they like the Owala kids bottle b/c she can sip or chug), and lunch. My kids (y an d 10) usually make their lunch and picks out her snacks the night before.

It sounds like you are not sending enough food - a handful of grapes or two apricots is toddler portions. A 7 year old is a growing child that needs some protein in his snacks. Send a sandwich bag full of grapes and cheese cubes, a cut apple (rubber band it together to avoid browning) and little container of peanut butter, or even your little pack of ritz crackers with cheese slices or peanut butter. My 7yo will sometimes make herself a little mini "charcuterie" container with salami, cheese, and pickles.

Separately, I think that if your son hasn't been able to figure out how to use water bottles by 7 years old, you need to have him evaluated by an occupational therapist to figure out what he is having trouble with and work on that. Sometimes SAHMs are the ones least willing to admit that their child needs help with something because they are with them all day long - it's okay if your child is struggling, it's okay to get him help.

My children's water bottles come home empty and they both tell me they refill at least once during the day. Doesn't your child have recess? PE? I would be SO thirsty if I had to go a full day without any water. How bizarre that you think he doesn't need it.

You're a SAHM and can't manage a daily water bottle?

People are obsessed with making sure kids drink water all the damn time. It's absurd. My ADHD kid was going through water bottles like crazy. I finally just sent disposable ones even though I HATE bottled water because the teacher was always on my case about it. It makes me heated just thinking about it (this was several years ago). I'm Gen X, we managed to get through childhood without toting g-dd-mn water bottles everywhere.

Anonymous wrote:What are the chances OP has an eating disorder and needs to control her child’s intake? I’m guessing very high. Give the child more snack and water.

Give the kid something more than vegetables. Let the poor kid have some freaking goldfish.

What are the chances OP has an eating disorder and needs to control her child’s intake? I’m guessing very high. Give the child more snack and water.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, he needs to be able to drink water during the day and it's not possible to go to the water fountain every 10 minutes. The teacher is probably saying this because he is going too often.

See I don’t think he should have to drink water every 10 minutes. He gets water and mil in the working before school and at lunch, and at two snack times and during PE. I don’t agree with the people - kids and adults - sipping at a water bottle every hour of the day.

It would also be easier to do daily if I could throw a capped bottle or Kleen Kanteen in every morning. Teacher is insisting everyone bring multi part bottles which inevitable mold if you don’t wash daily or else wear out and develop leaks.

We have had good luck with kid-sized 12 oz Nalgene OTF bottles. They are not perfect but they don't need a difficult-to-clean straw. The 12 oz size is pretty stable and the lock top does prevent leaks for as long as the lock lasts. Replacement lids are available. They go through the dishwasher fine. Our family has had these for about 15 years and I've only seen mold in the clear rubber seal one time. The disadvantage is, with the top open, it could spill. But it's a spout/limited opening so not everything can spill out before you have a chance to pick it up.

https://nalgene.com/water-bottles/lock-top/

You will not be able to fight the hydration trend. Some people genuinely benefit from drinking more regularly. Others treat hydration as a religious belief. I don't know how people survived for decades with just water fountains at school, lol.

What is the big deal on sending a water bottle. Get one from dollar tree or walmart for under $2.

At least your kids school allows snack! In Alexandria City public schools snack isn't allowed after kindergarten. They would rather young children be hungry than for things to be inequitable.

Contigo makes nice kids waterbottles that don't leak.