Product Review: NUK Junior and Sport Bottles

For over 50 years now, NUK has been ensuring that mothers and their children enjoy a sense of wellbeing and security like no other in their constantly evolving world. NUK soothers were designed by Dr. Müller and Prof. Balters who used their expert knowledge of orthodontics and found that the mother’s nipple changes shape as she breastfeeds. It does this by adapting optimally to the baby’s mouth. This is why they developed the natural NUK Shape for soothers, which is exceptionally well-suited to the baby’s jaw. Most South African orthodontists use NUK soothers for their own children. All NUK products are the result of the latest medical know-how and the practical experience of mothers and midwives. Only in this way can NUK offer every mother the sense of security she needs to make such an exciting time the happiest time of her life.

We met up with the representatives of NUK SA at the Gauteng Mom Blog Meetup in February. I was given the opportunity to review two of their products, the Junior Cup for Pixie and Sports Cup for Koko. We love these bottles so much that we bought Fifi a Sports Cup too!

These bottles are the perfect size for their little hands and hold the perfect amount of water for car rides and extra murals. Their bottles get filled with water every morning and popped in the refrigerator. They fit perfectly into the door for easy access. I just love the themes they have gone with on each of the bottles. Pixie’s Junior Cup has a cute little girl that reminds me of Alice in Wonderland on the side. Koko’s Sports Cup has bikers on it and Fifi’s Sports Cup has a ballerina on the side. They love their “cool water bottles” and they aren’t “babyish” at all! They go everywhere with the children when we go out and have helped with increasing the children’s water consumption.

We only use these bottles for water and tea. I don’t recommend putting milky drinks into these as the spouts do not disassemble and will make cleaning the milk out nearly impossible. You can swap out the sport sipper for a non spill sippy spout (sold separately) that is easy to clean. I use these with Pixie when we travel (the girl LOVES her milk).

Junior Cup – Push Pull

For fun and games in all weather. Ultra-lightweight and unbreakable. For young adventurers aged 3 and upwards.

The bigger and more active your child is, the more he or she will need to drink. The NUK Junior Cup with its 300ml capacity and Push-Pull Spout 3 is ideal for children who are already exploring the world on their own two feet.

Features and Benefits:

• with non-spill push-pull spout that can be easily opened and closed by any three year old: simply press, pull and drink!
• made from ultra-lightweight and extremely sturdy polypropylene (PP) material
• includes a clip to prevent the spout from getting lost and an integrated protective cap to make sure nothing falls out!

Specifications:
Designs: Mickey, knight, Alice
Size: 300ml

Sports Cup – Push Pull

For fun and games in all weather. Ultra-lightweight and unbreakable. For young adventurers aged 3 and upwards. A new attractive companion for the whole family!

The bigger and more active your child is, the more he or she will need to drink. The NUK Sports Cup is the biggest of NUK Cups with its 450ml capacity and Push-Pull Spout it is ideal for children who are already exploring the world on their own two feet.

Features and Benefits:

• 450ml capacity ideal for games and sport
• With pull-pull soft silicone spout that can be easily opened and closed by any three year old: simply press, pull and drink!
• made from ultra-lightweight and extremely sturdy polypropylene (PP) material
• includes a clip to prevent the spout from getting lost and an integrated protective cap to make sure nothing falls out!

Specifications:
Designs: Ballerina, Bike, Mickey, Minnie & Mickey
Size: 450ml

 

The Importance of Water Consumption in Children

Why should we be concerned about kids drinking water? Water is a vital nutrient and, because it has no calories and is free when it comes from the tap, it is the ideal drink for thirsty kids.

The Kidlets drink copious amounts of water every day. I rarely have juice in the house and when I do, they are limited to a glass or two a day.

Many people are surprised at the amount of water they drink and that they will ask for more if their water bottles are empty. I am often asked how they can get their children to drink water and not demand juice, milkshakes, etc. My answer is simple, if its not accessible to them, they will drink water when they are thirsty.

Children and adolescents are not consuming enough water, instead opting for sugar-sweetened beverages (sodas, sports and energy drinks, milks, coffees, and fruit-flavored drinks with added sugars), 100% fruit juice, and other beverages. Drinking sufficient amounts of water can lead to improved weight status, reduced dental caries, and improved cognition among children and adolescents.

While water drinking is important to both adults and children, children are more likely to lose water during activity because of their size and might be less aware of their thirst than adults, Kristen E. D’Anci, a psychology researcher at Tufts University, has pointed out.

Here is a great tool for calculating how much water needs to be consumed per age.

Signs of dehydration

When our bodies don’t have enough water, we are said to be dehydrated. One of the first signs of dehydration is feeling thirsty.

If you think you may not be getting enough fluids, check whether you have any of these other common signs of dehydration:

• dark urine and not passing much urine when you go to the toilet
• headaches
• lack of energy
• feeling lightheaded

Resources:
Encouraging Consumption of Water in School and Child Care Settings: Access, Challenges, and Strategies for Improvement
Water Consumption Webtool: How Much Water to Drink A Day?
Easy access may boost kids’ water consumption
Water and drinks
Water In Schools
NUK South Africa