The Best Kiddie Pools, According to Parents

Want to avoid the crowds at the public pool? Or, are you simply in the mood for some refreshing recreation at home? Well, you can enjoy all of the thrills and spills in your own backyard with a kiddie pool! While buying an inflatable baby pool may seem like a no-brainer, there are actually a few factors to consider. You’ll find a wide range of styles and designs available, and what may work well for one family may not for another. But we’re here to help.

To figure out what option will be the perfect fit for your household, have a look at our list of the best kiddie pools around. Plus, check out our top safety, set-up and sanitation tips for added peace of mind. Then, all that’s left to do is to get splashing!

How We Chose the Best Kiddie Pools

Here are the steps we took to create this roundup of the best kiddie pools:

• We interviewed a pediatrician to understand how parents should safely set up and use a kiddie pool at home.
• We researched what was being said about kiddie pools in The Bump community forums to learn what parents liked and disliked about specific styles and brands.
• We consulted water safety recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and read up on hygiene tips by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• To understand how these kiddie pools have worked for a variety of families, we conducted exhaustive market research, scouring external forums and message boards and reading user reviews to find out what parents across the country looked for in a baby pool.
• Lastly, we considered several aspects when sourcing kiddie pools to include in our roundup, such as size, material, price point and play features, to name a few.

Editorial integrity is at the heart of everything we publish. Read more about how The Bump develops our product reviews.

Best Kiddie Pools To Shop

Kiddie Pool Safety Tips

Kiddie pools are great places for your little ones to cool off on a bright sunny day, but safety should never be overlooked. “Drowning is one of the leading causes of death in childhood, so safety in any type of water is key,” advises Loretta Cody, MD, a board-certified pediatrician based out of Connecticut. According to the AAP, babies can drown in 1 or 2 inches of water in as little as 20 seconds. Drowning occurs quickly and quietly, so the AAP recommends constant adult supervision whenever a child under the age of five is near water. “Never leave your baby alone in water. Always have a good support on your infant and stay within an arm’s reach of a toddler,” Cody explains. When your child is using the pool, always have your eyes on your child. “Don’t text or use your phone,” says Cody. The AAP and Cody both advise parents to never leave the pool filled with water when not in use. After using it, “store the kiddie pool dry and in an upright position,” says Cody. The CDC’s guidelines surrounding kiddie pool safety also notes that parents should be checking their State and local laws, as “[some] laws in your area might require fences or barriers around inflatable and plastic kiddie pools and water slides.” So, make sure you are following these rules and regulations.

Between the ages of one and four, the AAP suggests enrolling your child in swimming lessons as an initial step toward water safety; “if your child seems ready, it’s a good idea to start lessons now.” Currently, the AAP doesn’t recommend infant swim classes “because there is currently no evidence that infant swim programs for babies under 1 year old lower their drowning risk.” That being said, you could enroll in a parent-baby swim class with infants over the 6-month mark as a fun activity to help your infant get used to the water while being safely in your arms.

What To Look For in a Kiddie Pool

Beyond safety concerns, there are several design specs you’ll want to consider when picking out a kiddie pool. Keep the following features in mind as you shop:

• Size. Think about what size baby pool will fit best in your space—and about what size would be best suited for your child’s age, says Cody. While you probably won’t find hard plastic options that exceed 45 inches in diameter, inflatable varieties are available in a wide range of sizes. (For instance, a mini round pool at 40 inches or a towering activity center pool that soars to over 12 feet high). Remember that larger pools are heavier and less portable, and inflatable options need to be blown up. Some come with a manual or electric pump, but others don’t, which means you’ll need to provide the air via a pump or your own lungs.
• Easy-to-store design. Cody suggests looking for a kiddie pool that’s easy to store. If you’re short on space, inflatable pools can come in clutch, as they can be emptied and compressed after each use. Hard plastic pools must either sit out (which isn’t the best idea when animals are afoot) or be stored inside a home, garage or shed.
• Age suitability. Kiddie pools are generally suitable for toddlers, little kids and tweens. Some baby pools are appropriate for infants as young as 6 months old, provided they’re sitting up without assistance. Use the pool manufacturer’s age recommendations as a reference point, but never as a reason to leave the pool unattended.
• Shade. A dip in the kiddie pool is super refreshing, but when the sun is shining, shade is a wonderful thing. Kiddie pools with canopies or alcoves work well, but the best options include full-coverage sun shades or an umbrella to protect kids from harmful UV rays.
• Special features. From slides and sprinklers to climbing walls and ring toss games, options abound when it comes to kiddie pool add-ons. However, remember that these “activity center” pools still have water in them, so slips and falls are bound to happen. This is why you’ll want to set up on a soft, level surface like grass (versus a driveway). Keep in mind that features enjoyed by older children—think sprinklers, sprayers or waterfalls—may be bothersome or overwhelming for younger toddlers and infants.

How To Keep a Kiddie Pool Clean

Kiddie pools lack filtration systems and should never be treated with chemicals (chlorine or bromine). As disinfectants are not added to the water, germs can easily spread in small inflatable or plastic kiddie pools and water slides. To avoid a grotty pool, regular cleaning sessions are a must. The following cleaning steps are recommended by the CDC:

• Drain or dump the water after every swim session
• Remove any debris that gathers or falls into the water
• Rinse off any remaining dirt using fresh water
• Leave the pool to air dry after use

If your little one gets sick or soils themselves in the pool (with or without a swim diaper), it’s important to clean it out as soon as possible. If any poop or vomit is floating around, you’ll want to put on gloves and use a bag or a filter to scoop all of the particles out before cleansing the rest of the area. In general, it’s best to “keep sick kids out of a kiddie pool,” says Cody.

About the writer:
As a Senior Content Writer at The Bump, Emily Bagg has a deep knowledge of the latest trends in everything from baby names to on-trend matching family swimwear and splashing kiddie pools, which helps to inform her passionate approach to helping parents (and parents-to-be) find the best products for their families and themselves.