Do I need to provide water bottle with packed lunch?

[Rose50]

DD1 started reception last week so packed lunches are all new to me! She starts full time next week, and I've been preparing a packed lunch for her to eat at home so she can practice opening her lunch bag, and all the different packets.

The lunch bag seems quite small and there isn't much room for lunch plus a bulky water bottle. I remember in my day our lunch boxes came with a matching flask!

We were asked to provide a water bottle with a sports cap for the children to have in the classroom (which the staff can re-fill as necessary). So she has this each day.

Do I need to provide an additional drink for lunch or do they just use the water they already have in the classroom?

I understand schools might have different policies, but just wondered what usually happens. I suppose I should just ask the teacher or TA, but things seem to be so manic at the moment at pick up/drop off time, so thought I'd see what other mumsnetters do!

[TheOriginalFAB]

Yes, she needs water in her lunch bag as well as in the classroom.

[TheOriginalFAB]

Posted too soon. You can get bottles that fit from Asda, Tesco, etc.

[oneofthosedays]

I put a carton of juice (either concentrated or sugar free) in for lunch - water bottle can be used the rest of the time. We usually get 12 carton boxes of calypso cartons for £1.

[pinkhebe]

at our school they can get drinks of water in the canteen

[TarquinGyrfalcon]

Depends on the school.
In our school sandwich children can help theselves from the watercooler in the hall - cups are provided

[TheOriginalFAB]

In our school you can't have juice in your lunch box or classroom bottle.

[Seona1973]

my 2 take a bottle of water for having in the classroom. I also put a carton of juice/juicy water in their lunchbag.

[UniS]

depends on school.
But ,unless they eat pack lunch in their classroom it will be simpler for her to have a drink in her lunch bag/box.

[mamaduckbone]

The classroom water bottle will probably stay in the classroom so it's just a question of whether your child's school has jugs of water on the table in the hall. I'd send a drink to be on the safe side.

[Rose50]

Thanks everyone for your replies. Cartons of juice are a great idea, but unfortunately my fussy DD only drinks water. I'll look out at the supermarkets for a smaller water bottle. The one I have does fit but a smaller one would be great!

[LittlePushka]

Try tescos, where they have the sandwiches they usually have drinks of juice as part of the meal deal such as apple juice/tropical fruit. The bottles come with a screw top and are reuseable, The y are a really handy size and do not leak and the juice label comes off cleanly with no sticky residue left on the bottle.