Need Ideas How to Provide 4 Sports Bottles of Water Daily at School for My Son

You can try speaking with his p.e. teacher and tell them about his medical condition. Maybe they can set aside a special place in their office for a case of water for him, and just replace it as needed. That way he doesn't have to haul all these bottles in his backpack.

Instead of thinking individual bottles, why not buy a "Thermos"...one of the smaller sports kinds with a handle. Put in some ice & fill it up...should stay nice & cold. If he carries a lunch box, toss the box, use a bag to put in his backpack & then he won't have so much to carry. If he needs to have something small like for PE, he can have a regular bottle you are now sending & this thermos should satiate for the remainder of the day. OR, maybe his teacher wouldn't mind if you brought in a case of waters every month for him only. If you live in a very dry climate, why not send out a letter to all the parents asking them for money & you will buy the cases & bring them to school. Every child will be entitled to them. About $5-$8 should buy enough for a class of 20 & every child to have 2 per month. The other parents may welcome the idea more than you think! If it's a medical condition, I don't see how they can deny any request you make or help you find a more reasonable solution that fits w/in their guidelines! L. in Lake Forest, CA!

Hi A.,
Can you store extra bottles in his P.E. locker? Have you asked if you can store in the school office. I'm sure the school would not mind if you explain his condition.

I know tis may not be the solution you are looking for, but you could call the teacher to see if you could take a case of water for him to school every week, then he wouldn't need to carry them to school.

Aside from the great suggestion to leave a supply with the school have you consider a Klean Kanteen. You can purchase the largest size which is 40oz and that should last him for awhile. You can get more info at http://www.reusablebags.com/store/klean-kanteen-40oz-stai...

I had a similar problem while pregnant and the best solution for me was this filtration bottle:
http://www.aquasana.com/product.cfm?id=36

Your son can refill the bottle at any sink and you wouldn't worry about the chemicals he might get from the tap water and on the long run you'll save some money by not buying the bottles all the time. And you can teach your kids about environmental responsibility by not buying and throwing away so many bottles.

I am not affiliated with this company in no way and don't get any commissions. I just share what worked well for me.

Warmly,

I.

There should be drinking fountains at school he can use. You could try to ask the school nurse (or his teacher) if you can leave a case of water in her office every week. You might need to get a letter from your doctor explaining there is a medical necessity. Then, he wouldn't have to carry them around (extra weight in his backpack), and they would already be at school.

I think the camel back suggested is the greatest, most convenient idea in this case. He'll have it with him at all times, without even having to think about it. I don't think the other kids will make fun of him or anything like that. It's so hard in elementary school. Who knows, maybe he'll start a trend and the other kids will want one too.

Does it have to be 100% water? Stores now carry packets of drink mixes...maybe he can take 2 bottles that you freeze the night b4 and 1 thats ready to drink. You can freeze the water bottles so they stay colder for him longer and refill as he needs to w/ water faucets at school?

You may have already thought of this or may already be doing this... but, is it possible to maybe take them to school ahead of time an entire case or to and give them to the counselor or school nurse. Maybe you could get him a rolling backpack.

Hope these suggestions help.

C.

I agree with Michelle. You can even ask at the nurses office. I'm sure they'd have a place for the waters there. Then he could just go in when he needs and he could keep one with him at all times. Do they allow children to keep water with them in class? If not see if your doctor will write a note because they couldn't deny him then.

I got so sick of my daughter's school sending her home sick when she was simply dehydrated because she won't drink milk with her lunch and they won't give her water or juice. Now all the children in her class are allowed to have water at their desks and the nurse has a special case of waters for "upset" stomachs (I know my daughter wasn't the only one).

Refill a plastic, wide mouth, refillable bottle at the drinking fountain. A 32 oz bottle is not too heavy to carry. Bottled water is overrated, overused, and a waste of resources. Tap water in San Diego is perfectly safe and does not harm the environment with plastic bottles being left everywhere and trucks poluting the air to get it to your store. If you insist on filtered water, have a filter system at your house and fill the bottles there or use the Camelback like others suggested (though it will likely be confiscated at most middle and high schools due to their very specific rules).

Would one of the teachers, office staff, or cafeteria allow you to bring in a case of water and store it for your son to access when he needs it? I would think someone would be willing to do this, especially since you said he has a medical condition requiring him to drink a lot of water.

Could there be an ally at the school? I mean could you leave the water with a counselor/homeroom teacher, I'm thinking drop off a case of water once a week and your son could go get them as he needs them during the day. He's playing basketball at lunch is there someone there that can over see a case of water?

Very good suggestions so far. A few things I would add is One: The camelpack sounds so practical and I first thought "Yeah Great Idea" but if it is going to draw attention to him and get him teased I think asking to keep water at a designated place at school is the best option. Who knows, it might not be an issue and be considered "cool". If you're concerned about environmental issues and filtered water, instead of storing store bought water at the school you could ask to store reusable bottles you've brought from home, rotating them out from week to week. (This assumes you have a water filter) Take care, T.

My daughter takes one bottle to school and refills it at the faucet in her classroom. This is hard, because you will have to trust that he will remember to do this. Good luck!

How about getting one of those CamelPaks? They would hold plenty of water.

Dear A.,

Have him carry one in his hand and place it in his desk, oh, oh. Maybe in middle school they have to carry everything in their back packs, well go to the nurse's office and talk to the nurse or to the principal and let them solve the problem for you. That is what they are there to do, is to help you and your children.

C. N.

The other's have good suggestions. It is correct, that since your son has a medical condition, the school would have to/need to accommodate his water needs. Get a doctor's note, and talk with his teacher's. There is also something called "camelbak".... here is the link:
http://www.heartratemonitorsusa.com/Pages/CAMELBAK/skeete...
Athletes and cyclists & hikers use these for their water needs.
Or try to do a Google search on water containers for travel etc. Good luck and I hope you find a good solution here.
~Susan
www.cafepress.com/littlegoogoo

See if the nurse can keep a few bottles in the office. She may even be able to refrigerate them as well. The school is obligated to accomodate any recurring medical condition.

Maybe he can also keep a case of water in the classroom? A 24 pack should last him a month if he takes one from the room, one from the nurse, and two in his backpack.

I work long shifts and need lots of water too. I found a water bottle at Riteaid that holds 8 glasses of water. It really helps to only have one thing to carry.

have you seen the Camelback hydration packs, they hold 70 oz. or more of water. REI carries them, or Google: Camelback.

Its reusable, so less waste too.