-
1.
-
2.
-
3.
-
4.
-
5.
Playing in the pool is a great activity for kids and adults alike. When playtime comes, adding some pool toys to the mix can take the fun to the next level. You can take part and play with your kids, or give them something interesting to do while you kick back and enjoy your drink.
To get the most out of the day at the pool, you shouldn’t buy just any toy. It needs to meet certain criteria before you can give it to your child. It needs to be safe to use, appropriate for the age of your child, as well as tough and durable.
To make your choice easier, we’ve selected a variety of fantastic toys for our list. Additionally, we’ve also compiled a buying guide to discuss all the different features and help you find the best kids pool toys for your little ones, so don’t miss out.
OUR TOP PICK
Disney Finding Dory Dive and Catch Pool Games
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Great swim exercise for the little ones
- Cute recognizable cartoon characters
- Characters float at different depths (increased challenge)
- High-quality plastic for increased durability
Type: Catch game
Pieces: 6 (1 net and 5 characters)
Age: 5+
Dimensions: 10 x 8.5 x 1.5 inches
Weight: 5.3 ounces
EDITORS CHOICE
Joyin Inflatable Fruit Tube 32.5″ (3 Pack) Pool Floats
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Three fruity designs (watermelon, lemon, kiwi)
- Large enough for both kids and adults
- Repair patches included for quick fixes
- Phthalate-free materials for improved safety
Type: Pool float
Material: PVC (Phthalate-free)
Age: 9+
Dimensions: 32.5 inches (inflated)
BEST VALUE
KarberDark Floating Squirts and Water Scoop
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Smooth edges make them safe for toddlers
- Squirt and scoop pieces for an added challenge
- Child-friendly soft rubber construction
- Great for pools and bathtubs alike
Type: Catch game
Pieces: 8 (1 rod, 1 net, 5 squirts and scoops, 1 bag)
Material: Soft rubber
Age: 18+ months
Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 2.6 inches
Weight: 8 ounces
Fayoo Underwater Swimming/Diving Pool Toys
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Many different shapes so it never gets boring
- Quick-dry bag for convenient storage
- Heavy-duty ABS plastic for great durability
- Completely non-toxic and safe to use
- Better to use under adult supervision
Type: Diving
Pieces: 23 (rings, toypedo bandits, diving sticks, treasures)
Material: Non-toxic ABS material
Age: 3+
Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.4 x 2.9 inches
Weight: 1.25 pounds
Intex Volleyball Game
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Large size is great for older kids and adults
- Inflatable volleyball made of heavy-duty plastic
- Anchor bags included to keep it in place
- Repair patch included for easy patching
Type: Volleyball game
Pieces: Floating net, ball, anchor bags, repair patch
Material: 10 gauge vinyl (net base), 7 gauge vinyl (ball)
Age: 6+
Dimensions: 94 x 25 x 36 inches
Weight: 2.2 pounds
GoPong Lounge Inflatable Beer Pong
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Lots of fun for teens and adults
- Doubles as a pool float lounge
- Ten cup holders on each side
- Tethering grommets for securing it
- Perfect for pool parties
Type: Beer pong
Pieces: Floating table, 6 balls, 4 tethering grommets
Dimensions: 6 feet x 3 feet x 6 inches
Weight: 4 pounds
Swimline Giant Shootball Basketball Pool Game
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Giant 45-inch ball is incredibly fun
- Several ports for multiple shooters
- High-quality vinyl guarantees durability
- Easy to inflate and set up
Type: Basketball
Pieces: Floating basket, 1 inflatable ball
Material: Heavy gauge vinyl
Age: 7+
Dimensions: 45 inches (height) x 36 inches (width)
Weight: 5 pounds
Prextex 24 Pieces Diving Pool Toys
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- 24 pieces create lots of playing options
- Pieces sink to the bottom of the pool and require diving
- Bright colors make them easy to see in the water
- Comfortable grip makes catching easier
Type: Diving
Pieces: 24 (rings, sticks octopuses, torpedos, balls, fish)
Age: 3+
Dimensions: 5 x 6 x 7 inches
Weight: 1.6 pounds
Blue Wave Aqua Backyard Golf
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Green floats great on the water surface
- Two ball colors allow two players to compete
- Twelve balls included (six of each color)
- Velcro strips on balls so they stay on the green
Type: Floating golf
Pieces: Floating green, chipping mat with rubber tee, 12 practice golf balls, 2 flags, 2 cups
Materials: Foam, nylon, plastic
Dimensions: 32 x 45 inches (floating green)
Warranty: 90 days
Blue Wave Aqua Golf Backyard Game Pool Toys
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Floats great
- Two ball colors
- Velcro strips on balls
- Easy to set
How To Choose A Pool Toy – Buying Guide
Materials and Toy Safety
The most common material used for making toys is PVC. While it’s strong and durable, it’s not the perfect choice in terms of eco-friendliness. With this said, your child shouldn’t have any problem using plastic products.
However, you should know that safer alternatives exist. No matter which material you choose, make sure that it has no BPA, phthalates or other chemicals which are proven to be health hazards.
When discussing safety, it’s not just about the materials used, but about the design too. The best swimming pool toys for kids are made without any sharp or rough edges that can cause injury. You should be aware that safety also depends on the user, so you need to assess whether your child has the skill to use it properly or not.
Size
The size may be more or less important, depending on where and how you use them. If you have a small kiddie pool in your backyard, you shouldn’t get some of the large products we listed because you won’t have enough space. Luckily, most kid’s toys are made so that they can be used in any environment – large pool, small pool, beach, or even your bathtub.
Ease of Use
Since there are many things you can do in a pool, different toy types are available. They can be used to play with, or as a fun way to practice swimming or diving techniques.
For this reason, some swim pool kids toys float while others sink to the bottom of the pool, making things more challenging for your child. As we’ve mentioned, it’s a plus if they can be used on the beach, because this opens up the world of fun beach games too.
Construction and Durability
Regardless of which toy (or several) you get, you certainly don’t want it breaking after a couple of uses. The main thing here is to look for high-quality plastic and other strong materials that won’t get punctured or broken easily.
In addition, the valve (if there is one) should be reliable so that the toy doesn’t deflate spontaneously. Besides build quality itself, it’s best to take good care of them if you want them to last.
Maintenance and Storage
Proper toy maintenance increases longevity. You should always rinse them off with fresh water after using them. If you have squishy toys (or pool noodles), rinse them and then squeeze all the water out. Every product should be left to air dry before storing it.
We advise that you don’t keep them in the pool throughout the summer, but rather store them somewhere when not in use (deck box, shed, garage). Finally, try to buy swimming pool toys which are easy to clean, and can also quickly and easily be deflated.
You might also like: Best Solar Pool Covers
Age of Your Child
Manufacturers usually specify the minimum age of the intended user, and this should be a good indicator of whether you should give these kids toys to your child or not. Some are safe for very small children (baby and toddler pool toys), while others can be dangerous to give to children that will try putting the toy in their mouths.
If your child is very small, there are many soft products with round edges you can give them to occupy their attention. As time passes and your child grows, you can add a pool slide to the side of the pool, buy some water guns, and let your child enjoy a real pool party.
FAQs
Q: Why Use Pool Toys?
They benefit your child in many ways. The best swim toys for kids can help when learning how to swim, and also help develop motor skills by requiring children to catch things, climb on surfaces, and so on.
Furthermore, they can also boost kids’ imagination (especially games with cartoon characters). Finally, kids often compete with each other while having fun, which is a great way to develop social skills and get friends.
Q: How To Clean Pool Toys?
Keeping toys clean isn’t important just for durability, but for user safety too (avoiding mold and mildew issues). While pool chlorine does a good job killing many microorganisms, you sometimes need some additional cleaning after use. There are several ways to do this – with white vinegar, baking soda or bleach.
Vinegar: mild but efficiently dissolves the dirt
- Mix one part vinegar with 2 parts water
- Soak the toys in the solution for a while
- Rinse and leave them to dry
Baking soda: efficient alternative, a bit stronger than vinegar
- Mix ¼ cup of baking soda with one quart water
- Use the solution to scrub dirt and clean residue chemicals
- Rinse and leave to dry
Bleach: strongest, but you shouldn’t use it too often since it can be harmful
- Mix two cups of bleach with one gallon of water
- Soak the toys in the solution for a couple of minutes
- Scrub, rinse, and leave to dry before storing
If you can’t dip a toy in the solution you made (doesn’t matter which one), it’s best to soak a cloth in it and then thoroughly wipe the toy. If you want to scrub the toy, it's best to use a sponge or a soft brush so you don’t damage the surface. As we’ve said, don’t forget to rinse afterward, and leave to dry completely before packing.
Q: How To Inflate Pool Toys?
You have three options when inflating: blowing with your mouth, using an air pump, or using a hairdryer. Since these toys are usually very small, blowing with your mouth will often be the only safe option.
However, larger models are often safe to inflate with an air pump (electric or manual), saving you a lot of time. If you don’t have an air pump, you can even combine a hairdryer with a straw and bottle to inflate the toy quickly.
Q: How To Deflate Pool Toys?
Besides simply pinching the valve and letting the air out, there are a few other methods that can make the process faster. A great idea is to use a binder clip. Instead of pinching the valve with your fingers, you can pinch it with the clip, allowing you to press on the toy with both hands so the air gets out quicker. As an alternative, you can place a drinking straw into the valve to hold it open.
Q: How To Store Pool Toys?
The best option is storing them in their original package. If you can’t do that, you should put them in storage bags or boxes that will keep them dry and protected. Mesh bags can also be useful for smaller pieces and elements. Remember to properly clean and dry them after the pool party, and keep them away from direct sunlight.
Globo Surf Overview
Toys are fantastic additions to any swimming pool. As you had the chance to see, there are many benefits of owning different types of toys. In our toys reviews, we featured many products that both kids and adults can enjoy while spending quality time together. You just need to find and get the ones you like and the party can begin!
More Pool Accessories Reviews:
- Pool Lounge Chairs
- Pool Speakers
- Pool Umbrellas
- Pool Paints
- Diving Boards
- Pool Cover Reels
- Pool Fences