Best Inflatable Pools for Kids Review

There is nothing better in the summertime than splashing and swimming around in cool water. But not everyone has access to a river, lake, sea or ocean. That’s why to buy a pool is the best way to beat the heat. Kiddie pools can bring hours of fun to kids on a hot summer day. Thus, there is a wide variety of pools on the market nowadays and to choose the right one for your child to take into consideration his/her age.

It’s worth noting that there is no standard definition of “a kiddie pool” but it should have the next characteristics:

  1. no deeper than 3 feet;
  2. no large than 15 feet in any dimension;
  3. not equipped with water filters or treated with chemicals;
  4. specifically designed for kids up to eight years old.

The kiddy pools are inflatable and made of plastic or vinyl. Inflatable pools are the cheapest and the easiest in assembly. All you need only remove stones, dry roots and level the ground, inflate using a pump and fill with water. There is a big variety of kiddie pools from small and simple ones to big water play centers. In this guide, we tried to review the most popular models on the market and objectively evaluate them. We would recommend looking at our article before buying a kiddie pool because it will help you to choose the right one.

Our review will be divided into two parts. In the first part, we will introduce the top best baby pools for toddlers and in the second part – for older children. We decided to split the review into two parts as it is silly to compare pools for different age groups – they are different price ranges and have different features and limitations.

TOP 15 Best Baby Pools Reviews

Baby pools are inflatable pools for toddlers (approximately up to 3 years old) and can be divided into two types:

  1. Mini pools for toddlers to 1.5 years old with walls height of fewer than 7 inches.
  2. Paddling pools for toddlers from 1.5 to 3 years old with walls height of up to 20 inches.

It is better when the walls and the floor of baby pools are inflatable and soft enough to help prevent little swimmers from injuries. Very often baby pools have additional elements that make it fun for kids to spend time in the pool as well as sunshades that help to protect from sunstroke and sunburns. No doubt this top list will help you choose the right baby pool and your kids will be delighted with it!

Dinoland Backyard Mini Water Park by Intex (from 2 years old)

It is a great toddler inflatable pool with 4 games (slide, ring toss, hoops, and ball trail) in just one play center from Intex. Dinoland play center is for those who love dinosaurs. It is huge, bright and colorful. There is a number of dinosaurs that are part of the design of the pool and a separate standing one that serves as ring toss holders. This prehistoric-themed pool also comes with a water sprinkler and a slide that will be great for toddlers of 2-4 years old but can be too small for older kids. It’s worth noting that 2-3 kids can have plenty of room to play in it together all at once. That is why it is excellent for a toddlers’ backyard party. It is a good value for the money.

The main drawback of this baby pool is the absence of the pump. The consumers complain that it takes much time to set up this pool as it has a lot of individual elements to blow up. One more thing that should be mentioned is that you must use it on a VERY FLAT surface. In general, we recommend buying this baby inflatable pool for toddlers of 2-4 years old as they will be delighted with it!

Pros:

  1. Water sprinkler.
  2. Soft slide and landing pad to keep your kids safe from accidental slips.
  3. Has additional activities.
  4. It comes with a repair patch.
  5. Good value for the money.

Cons:

  1. No pump in the kit.
  2. It takes time to inflate and deflate.
  3. Slightly large for storage.

57444EP Dinosaur Play Center by Intex

This is another dinosaurs-themed baby pool from Intex. Toddlers will love to slide down the inflatable volcano slide and feed the hungry dinosaur with colorful fun balls (6 balls are included). This baby pool also has a built-in palm tree sprayer and waterfall that attaches to a garden hose and has a little valve that lets you control the intensity of the water flow. It is not as big as the previous one from our list and there is enough space for no more than two toddlers.

It takes about 30-50 minutes to set up the pool as there are about 7-8 plow up parts. Many customers complain that the material gets holes easily. There is also no pump in the kit. To be honest, if you want to buy the Dino play center for your kids it is better to purchase the previous one from our list as you will get more activities for a lower price.

Pros:

  1. Water spray and a waterfall with a control valve.
  2. Landing mat for extra padding.
  3. It comes with a repair patch.

Cons:

  1. No pump in the kit.
  2. Many customers complain that the material gets holes easily.
  3. It takes time to inflate and deflate.
  4. High price.

Candy Zone Inflatable Play Center by Intex (from 2 to 10 years old)

It is a “sweet” water play center from Intex. It is a bright, colorful inflatable pool that has a waterslide, 2 lollipops, ball trails, and 6 balls. This baby pool made of high-quality hypoallergic materials. Toddlers will love sliding down a soft inflatable slide while the water spraying at them. Being able to roll the balls down into the water really puts a smile on children’s faces. Your kids will be really delighted!

As the pool has a lot of elements it takes some time to blow it up. Also, some customers complain that it is not easy to clean it, deflate and dry (this is true for all water play centers). There is no pump in the kit.

Pros:

  1. Baby pool with slide and water sprayer.
  2. Landing mat for extra padding.
  3. Repair patch included.
  4. Has additional activities: lollipops, rails for balls rolling down, and 6 balls.

Cons:

  1. There is no pump in the kit.
  2. It takes time to inflate and deflate.

Mushroom Baby Pool by Intex (from 1 to 3 years old)

It is a baby pool with a large mushroom sunshade that helps to protect kids from sunstroke and sunburns. The edge of this colorful baby bath is also decorated with soft mushrooms. It is easy to use, you just need to put it on a flat surface and blow up. The walls and floor of the pool are inflatable and soft. This pool is made of high-quality vinyl. It has enough room for 2 small babies.

Some consumers complain that the mushroom top doesn’t stand well unless it is 100% inflated and you need to add air each time you use it. Just like all Intex baby pools from our list Mushroom Baby pool doesn’t have a pump.

Pros:

  1. Baby pool with mushroom-designed sunshade.
  2. Big enough for two babies.
  3. Colorful and bright.

Cons:

  1. You need to inflate three sections.
  2. There is no pump in the kit.
  3. Sunshade doesn’t stand well unless it is 100% inflated.

Summer Lovin’ Beach Play Center by Intex (from 2 years old)

It is a good baby pool with shade. Beach play center has is of good size and easy to set up. Children will love to splash and play in this colorful inflatable pool. It comes with a water-spraying dolphin that attaches to a garden hose. The removable sunshade will help protect small kids from sunstroke and sunburns. This play center doesn’t offer a soft slide but it has a ball hoop. It is very easy to blow up by mouth if you don’t have a pump.

One of the drawbacks is that the pool doesn’t have a drain and you need to flip it over to dump the water. Also from the feedback, you can learn that the majority of small kids aren’t too keen on the sprinkler as it sprays directly in kid’s face.

Pros:

  1. Good size and easy to set up.
  2. Removable sunshade.
  3. Small play center with a ball hoop.

Cons:

  1. No drain in the pool.
  2. The sprinkler sprays directly in the kid’s face.

Whale Spray Pool by Intex (from 2 years old)

It is one more toddler inflatable pool from Intex. The pool really resembles a whale. The tail actually provides a lot of shade so kids can easily seat under it in hot summer days and parents will not worry that they get sunstroke or sunburns. It is a huge, colorful and bright baby pool. There is lots of space to swim and play. It is still low to the ground and easy for toddlers to climb in and out of. It also comes with a water sprayer in the whale’s tail that attaches to a garden hose.

The main drawback of this baby pool is the absence of the pump. You need to blow it up constantly in order to keep the tail upright.

Pros:

  1. Good sunshade.
  2. Easy to set up.
  3. Repair patch included.

Cons:

  1. No pump included.
  2. You need constantly to blow the pool up.

Duck Pond Matching Game for Kids by Gamie

It is a very interesting baby pool from Gamie that offers to play classic duck pond game. The kit includes inflatable duck pond pool and 20 plastic ducks with pairs of matching numbers printed on the bottom. The rule of the game is simple. All the kids need to find two ducks with the same number on the bottom. It is a really exciting outdoor game that the whole family can play. This baby pool is excellent for kids as they not just splash in the water but also improve their memory, learn how to count, etc. It is a good value for the money. The only drawback that customers note is the chemical smell.

Pros:

  1. Develop memory and deduction skills.
  2. Learn how to count.
  3. Involve the whole family in the game.

Cons:

  1. Has an unpleasant chemical smell.
  2. No pump and repair patch in the kit.

Best Inflatable Pools for Kids Review

Now we will review the top best kids swimming pools for kids. It’s worth noting that pools for kids are typically larger and deeper than the baby ones but smaller than a regular-sized above the ground pool. Some of these pools are big enough and the whole family can splash and swim there in the summertime. We want to mention that the kiddie pools need to be used on a flat surface.

Intex Swimming Pool – Easy Set by Intex

It is a great backyard kids pool that will even fit for adults. The pool is made of vinyl. It has laminated PVC sidewalls and inflatable top ring. This model is easy to set up and clean which confirms its name. It is deep and wide enough that an adult can easily stretch and relax. You can even teach your kids how to swim in this pool.

This set comes without a filter pump. The pool needs time to be filled with water. If you don’t want to change the water often you need to buy additional products such as filter pumps, chlorinating tablets, solar pool cover, and others. You must set this pool up on the flat leveled ground.

Pros:

  1. Excellent poor for kids of preschool years.
  2. Easy to set up and clean.
  3. Repair patch included in the kit.
  4. Low price.

Cons:

  1. No filter pump in the kit.
  2. Need additional products to keep the water clean as this pool is big enough and takes a lot of time to fill in and drain the water.

Snorkel Buddies Snapset Pool by Intex (from 3 years old)

This multicolor little kids pool is made of sturdy vinyl and PVC. This pool is easy to set up as all you need is just to unfold the pool, pull the sidewall up from the center, cover the vinyl bottom with water and remove any wrinkles, and then finish filling with water. It takes no more than15 minutes. You can change the water wherever you want as it can be drained by just pushing on a side and letting the water out. It is a good value for the money.

The size of the poll is not big as it has space for a maximum 2 kids.

Pros:

  1. Easy to set up.
  2. No need for a pump.
  3. Do not need much time to fill up with water.
  4. Low price.

Cons:

  1. Small size.
  2. You need to remove any wrinkles from the bottom before filling up with water in order for the pool to hold its shape well.

Pentagon Inflatable Family Pool by Jilong (from 5 years old)

It is a good summertime pool from Jilong. The pool is made of sturdy vinyl and has extra-wide walls that provide stability and support for active kids. This inflatable pool for kids is easy to assemble as it takes no more than 10 minutes to blow it up. As it holds the weight of three adults you can spend hot summer days with your kids in this pool. There is room for three kids to play, or for two adults to relax in this good old-fashioned low tech pool.

Some customers complain that the size of the poll is smaller than the size indicated on the box but the majority of feedback is positive. There is no repair patch in the kit.

Pros:

  1. Kiddie pool for the whole family.
  2. Easy to assemble.
  3. Has two air chambers for added safety.

Cons:

  1. No repair patch in the kit.
  2. Some customers complain about the size as they think it is smaller than the manufacturer claim.

Inflatable Rectangular Pool by Jilong (from 6 years old)

It is kids and family inflatable pool for splashing and swimming in hot summer days. As it is 10 feet long it has plenty of room for the whole family. It is easy to inflate. It is deep enough to allow you to teach your kid how to swim. The total water capacity of the pool is 328 gallons.

The kit doesn’t have an air pump or a repair patch. Some consumers complain that it is hard to drain as the drain plug is on the very bottom of the pool (instead of on the side of the bottom) and the water can’t get out.

Pros:

  1. Good size for the whole family.
  2. Drain plug included.
  3. High water capacity.

Cons:

  1. No air pump and repair patch included.
  2. Some consumers complain that it is hard to drain it.
  3. Need some time to inflate and deflate the pool.

Crystal Blue Inflatable Pool by Intex (from 2 years old)

This 6.5 inches deep little kids pool is excellent for toddlers. It is made of high-quality vinyl. The pool can hold a total of 89 gallons. The pool is quite easy to blow up but you will have difficulties with draining it as there is no drainage plug. The surface should be flat and without any stones or roots as the bottom is not inflatable and the kids might get injuries. In general, it is a good value for the money.

Pros:

  1. Easy to blow up.
  2. Good value for the money.
  3. Repair patch included.

Cons:

  1. The drain plug is absent.
  2. The bottom is not inflated.

Sunset Glow Baby Pool by Intex

It is another inexpensive but good quality pool for kids from Intex. The floor of the pool is padded so kids can run around in the pool without their feet hit anything hard below. It holds up to 22 gallons of water. Children will love bright multicolor little kids pool that is made of durable vinyl. The pool has tree rings that are inflated individually. This pool has enough space only for only one toddler that can be a drawback for families of two and more children.

Pros:

  1. Inflatable pool bottom.
  2. Multicolor little kids pool.
  3. Great value for the money.
  4. Repair patch included.

Cons:

  1. Space for only one toddler.
  2. Need to blow up rings individually.

Mandarin Swim Center by Intex (from 3 years old)

It is one more inflatable pool for the whole family from Intex. It is made of 13 gauge durable vinyl. The pool is almost 8-feet long so you can stretch there still will be enough space for your kids to play in the other end. The kit includes a repair patch and a draining plug. Your kids will love to spend hot summer days swimming and splashing in this bright colorful pool especially with their parents. The pool blows up quickly with the air pump and fills with water in less than an hour. It is an excellent inflatable kiddie pool but still, some customers complain that pool walls don’t stay inflated for too long.

Pros:

  1. Large kiddie pool for the whole family.
  2. Repair patch and drain plug are included.
  3. Made of 13 gauge durable vinyl.
  4. Colorful 2-ring design.

Cons:

  1. No air pump in the kit.
  2. It doesn’t stay inflated for a long time.

Conclusion

Unlike grownup pools, which are often dangerous for kids and expensive, a kiddie pool is a great choice that can introduce your child to water. As there is a big variety of kiddie pools on the market you can spend a lot of time choosing the best kiddie pool for your children. In our guide, we tried to review the best baby and kids pools. If you truly want to find the best pool for you and your children, we highly recommended to look into the product’s safety, strength, size and depth, and price range.

You should remember that LEAVING YOUR CHILDREN UNATTENDED in a kiddie pool while filling the pool and while the kids are in the water is dangerous.

We hope our baby and kids pool reviews will be helpful for you and you will find the pool that is right for you.

1 COMMENT

  1. My son is 4 years old, he had long wanted a pool, that in the heat to play in the yard. After reading the article, it was decided to buy the Dinoland Backyard Mini Water Park by Intex. He seemed the most interesting and diverse in terms of games. And, as it seems to me, it has everything: water sprinkle, slide, ring toss, hoops, and ball trail. And most importantly – a stunning bright design that will definitely not leave a child indifferent. The child is insanely happy, and accordingly I am happy. Thank you very much Julia for the article!

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