7 Best Kiddie Pools | The Ultimate Guide To The Best Pools For Kids
If you’re looking for the best kiddie pools for your child available on the market in 2018, you’ve come to the right place. In this ultimate guide to the best pools for kids, we go over our 7 favorite inflatable kiddie pools—one of more of which your child is sure to love. You’ll be able to see our rankings and how each kiddie pool stacks up against one another.
Also, along the way you will learn how to take care of your kiddie pool to ensure it lasts for a long time without needing to be replaced, including where to place your kiddie pool and much more. Most importantly, however, you will be able to see how valuable each one is to you personally as we break each one down by various factors, including:
- Price
- Design
- Size
- Comfort
- Extra features
- Ease of installation and use
- Durability
We combine all factors listed above to provide an overall recommendation. You can check out our quick-view list below:
While all seven options on this list are fantastic, no two inflatable kiddie pools are the same. Allow us to highlight what makes each one great and then rank them accordingly for you to quickly and easily review. Ultimately, you will learn how to make the best possible kiddie pool decision to help your child get outside and have fun. But first…
Why Is Having a Quality Kiddie Pool Important?
Unlike large adult swimming pools, which are expensive and dangerous for children, kiddie pools are a great way to introduce your child to water. That way, when they are older, they will have a head start on knowing how to properly swim and have fun in a pool.
It is possible to teach your child to swim in a large adult swimming pool, but it can be more dangerous to do so. It can also be intimidating to the child. With a kiddie pool, however, your child will be safer and feel more comfortable. Also, kiddie pools are relatively inexpensive. While an in-ground swimming pool can cost upwards of $20,000 thousand dollars to install. Rest assured, the best kiddie pools cost under one hundred dollars.
Related: Best Pool Cleaner
Even if you currently have an adult swimming pool at your house, your child will still love having a child kiddie pool. As previously mentioned, large adult swimming pools can be very dangerous and intimidating to a young child, and they, in most cases, feel far more comfortable in a smaller kiddie pool. Not only will a kiddie pool help keep kids safe, but it will also help them have more fun in the water as they won’t be as scared. Allowing children to gain experience in a kiddie pool before moving on to an adult sized pool is a great option. It lets your child have fun in the water at a young age while gaining confidence in their ability to swim and be around water safely.
What Ages Are Kiddie Pools Suitable For?
Most kiddie pools are designed for children two or younger. However, every kiddie pool is different and some, which we will show you in this guide, are suitable for children up to age five.
To determine if your child is too old for a kiddie pool, you should consider both the size and weight capacity of the pool. For example, if your child is far less than one hundred pounds and the kiddie pool in question has a weight capacity of one hundred and fifty pounds and is large enough for him to move around and have fun, then your child shouldn’t have any problem with the kiddie pool. With that said, if you plan to use the kiddie pool for two children at the same time, then you might want to find one with a larger size and capacity for weight.
The larger your child is, the larger the kiddie pool should be. However, a large kiddie pool may be too big for your child if your child is under two years of age. In many cases, children under the age of two prefer smaller kiddie pools as it helps them feel secure and they may become overwhelmed when placed in a larger kiddie pool that is not recommended for children under the age of two.
What Makes a Kiddie Pool Great?
If you’ve never used a kiddie pool with your children before, then you are probably skeptical and asking yourself if your child will enjoy it. The short answer is, more than likely, yes. However, the longer answer is: it depends on the kiddie pool you are using.
In order to choose the right kiddie pool for your child, you need to find out not what you think would be good for him, but instead what he actually wants. If your child is more creative and enjoys shiny, cool toys, then the design will matter more than anything else. However, if your child is more active and cares more about having space to play and move around, the size and additional features may matter more.
Regardless, determining the best kiddie pool for your child is extremely important. Otherwise, you run the risk of your child not enjoying the inflatable kiddie pool as much as they probably should. With that said, however, if you know how to choose the best kiddie pool for your child, you will get to see your son or daughter have fun playing and learn to be around water at a young age.
While this guide does not specifically address reviews and ease of installation, these are important factors to consider when choosing the best kiddie pool for your child. If a kiddie pool has poor reviews, which none that we will present will have, you should be skeptical of purchasing. Also, if you don’t feel like taking several days to properly install the kiddie pool, you should stay away from kiddie pools that require highly complex installations.
How to Take Care of Your Kiddie Pool
Taking care of your child’s kiddie pool is also very important. Otherwise, you risk having the pool float begin to deflate faster than it should and need replacement long before it is due. While some inflatable kiddie pools are more durable by nature than others, there are certain preventive techniques you can, and should, do to ensure longevity with your child’s kiddie pool.
First and foremost, you should keep your child’s kiddie pool put up and out of harm’s way when it is not in use. If you have extra space in your garage, a storage shed, or a pool equipment room, you can easily pick up and place the kiddie pool in there. This keeps it out of bad weather and away from harmful UV rays that’ll only damage your kiddie pool.
Related: Best Pool Floats
Also, it is highly beneficial to clean your float once or twice a month. While it may seem counter-intuitive, cleaning your inflatable pool keeps dirt and nasty particles from it. No one wants their child playing in a dirty pool float. Cleaning your kiddie pool regularly can also keep harmful chemicals from fading the color if you plan to place the kiddie pool around a pool that uses chlorine or any other form of pool chemicals.
With that said, if you keep your child’s pool float put up when not in use and clean it once or twice a month, you should ensure its longevity. That way, your child can enjoy it for years to come.
Where to Use Your Kiddie Pool?
Technically, you can place your child’s kiddie pool just about anywhere and it will work. However, there are some recommended guidelines to follow to make sure your child gets the most out of the experience and the float lasts for a long time without going flat and needing to be replaced.
The most important thing to keep in mind when determining where to place your child’s new kiddie pool is to keep it away from anything that can put a hole in it, such as a place where you’ve recently used nails. Or, a deck that is used for cooking out and other activities.
Also, if you have a full-size pool at your home, then you should try to keep the kiddie pool away from the adult pool as much as possible. By doing so, you can minimize the risk of your child attempting to migrate over to the big pool, which as we all know can turn disastrous.
Related: Best Pool Toys
Lastly, be sure to keep your child’s kiddie pool away from any steep hills, unsturdy decks or any other potentially dangerous areas. Preferably, it is best to keep your child’s kiddy pool on a clean surface area either on cement or in low cut grass.
Ranking and Reviewing the Best Kiddie Pools in 2018
Without further ado, let’s reveal the details of the seven best kiddie pools on the market right now. For each kiddie pool, we will give a detailed explanation of what makes it unique.
Here are the eight factors that look at with each kiddie pool: price, design, size, comfort, additional features, ease of installation and use, durability, and an overall combination of all factors. All these inflatable kiddie pools have their own strengths, many of them also have their own limitations and drawbacks. Instead of ignoring these weaknesses, we will highlight them as well. That way, you can make the most informed kiddie pool purchasing decision possible.
While reviews aren’t specifically discussed, we will take the reviews and overall customer satisfaction into account. Also, making note of the quality and quantity of reviews when it is relevant to do so.
1. Step2 Play and Shade Pool
The Step2 Play and Shade Pool is perfect for children under the age of two who enjoy being in the water and don’t require much space to move around. Due to specific features designed for children under the age of two, and the additional umbrella that comes with it, it is a fantastic option that young children are sure to love.
Price
The Step2 Play and Shade Pool is the second most expensive kiddie pool on this guide, but the price doesn’t come without quality. With this kiddie pool, your children under the age of two will have an exciting learning experience as they explore and learn how to be around water the right, safe way.
Design
Although the design seems basic, it is the features that make this kiddie pool so appealing. We will go into depth on that in just a second. Another great part about the construction of this kiddie pool is the ease for young children to get in and out of it safely.
Size
The dimensions of the Step2 Play and Shade Pool are 37.5” in length x 37.5” in width. While some may see the smaller size as a con, it could be a pro for really young and small children. Larger kiddie pools can be intimidating to tiny tots. As a result, this is the perfect size for young children to adjust to the feeling of being in a pool.
Comfort
Although it isn’t inflatable, which means the surface will be harder, this kiddie pool is very comfortable for young children due to the molded-in seats. Unlike most kiddie pools, the Step2 Play and Shade Pool offers a seat designed into it for kids to comfortably sit on.
Features
As previously mentioned, the coolest feature is the molded-in seats that allow young children to sit down and play in the water in a comfortable manner. This kiddie pool also comes with an umbrella, three funnel cups and a spinning wheel that easily attaches to the umbrella post.
Ease of Use
Because the Step2 Play and Shade Pool isn’t inflatable, it comes ready to use right out of the box. It may take some time to attach the umbrella and all the other cool features, but this kiddie pool can still be ready to go for your child within minutes.
Durability
Because it isn’t inflatable, you won’t have to worry about holes deflating this kiddie pool and ruining a fun afternoon in the sun. Due to this, the Step2 Play and Shade Pool is ranked the most durable kiddie pool on this guide to the best inflatable pools for kids.
Overall
Overall, this is a fantastic, reliable kiddie pool for children under the age of two. With that said, it may not be big enough for children over the age of two and therefore isn’t a realistic and practical option for them. However, this is a great kiddie pool for really young children.
2. Intex Swim Center Family Inflatable Pool
While the Intex Swim Center Family Inflatable Pool doesn’t stand out with a ton of crazy features or an extravagant design, it is a very reliable inflatable kiddie pool. It is sure to provide your child with plenty of room to play. Plus, it is arguably the most practical kiddie pool on this list.
Price
This kiddie pool is reasonably priced at $30.99. It’s very rare to find an inflatable pool of this size and quality for such a low price. While there are kiddie pools with more features, they are higher in price. There are also inflatable kiddie pools at lower price points, but we don’t think they offer the same quality as the Intex Swim Center. The Intex Swim center is the best of both worlds.
Design
The Intex Swim Center doesn’t have an extravagant design, but it is well constructed to provide for ample amount of space. Plus, it looks very attractive to children with a cool dark and light blue color scheme. This kiddie pool is an excellent choice for children learning how to interact in the water.
Size
This kiddie pool is the second largest on this guide. It is 122” in length by 72” in width, which allows children to move around and have fun. It is also 22” in height, which is tall enough to keep the water in but not so tall that it poses increased dangers to children.
Comfort
If you’re looking for affordable comfort, this is one of the best kiddie pools for your child. Its inflatable design allows for a soft bottom, so your child doesn’t’ have to worry about banging their leg or getting scraped against a hard surface.
Features
The only drawback of the Intex Swim Center is that it isn’t rich in fascinating features. Still, it is absolutely perfect for any child who is simply adjusting to the water and doesn’t care about additional features, it isn’t as good of an option for children who want to play in various ways.
Ease of Use
The Intex Swim Center is arguably the easiest kiddie pool to install and use. It comes with three air chambers, each with double intake and free flow exhaust valves and a drain plug to easily drain the pool and store it when finished using it.
Durability
As one of the more durable kiddie pools available in 2018, the Intex Swim Center Family Inflatable Pool should last for a long time. But, only if you properly protect it from harmful weather, potentially dangerous tools, and harmful water chemicals. This kiddie pool has 1,321 reviews, most of which are good, for a reason.
Overall
Overall, this is the best kiddie pool you can buy when considering both price and quality. If price isn’t an issue, then you may be able to find a kiddie pool, which we will show you some options in just a second, that are richer in features and overall quality. However, this inflatable kiddie pool offers quality at a very affordable price.
Buy Intex Swim Center Family Inflatable Pool
3. Intex Kiddie Pool – Kid’s Summer Sunset Glow Design
Intex is one of the more popular kiddie pool brands, and this is one the better Intex kiddie pools available on the market today. Similar to Intex Swim Center Inflatable Pool, this isn’t a pool rich in cool features, but it is a great deal when considering both the quality and the price.
Price
This Intex Kiddie Pool is the most affordable kiddie pool on this list and one of the most affordable in general. At the low price of $14.25, you will get a great deal with this kiddie pool. Unlike most that are available at such a low price, the Intex Kiddie Pool is of great quality.
Design
The coolest part of the design is the three colorful rings. While this inflatable pool may seem basic, it has a very inviting construction to children. Due to its colorful, unique design, your child will love spending time in the Intex Kiddie Pool.
Size
The Intex Kiddie Pool is 58” by 13.” This isn’t huge, and it won’t support multiple children at once. But, it is a great option for children under the age of two who are looking to learn what it’s like to be in and around the water. Due to its smaller size, you can feel comfortable knowing your child is safer.
Comfort
This is one of the more comfortable options available today. With its inflatable vinyl construction, it is very soft for young children to sit on for extended amounts of time without getting scraped, bruised or banged up by a hard surface.
Features
The main reason this inflatable pool for kids is so inexpensive is because of the lack of extravagant features. With that said, it does have a 12” wall of colorful, attractive rings that invite children into a fun experience in the water.
Ease of Use
The Intex Kiddie Pool is one of the easiest floats to inflate and is extremely easy for children to get in and out of and enjoy. Due to its smaller size, this unique inflatable kiddie pool is also easy to drain and store. Storing it properly ensures it lasts for a long time without wearing down.
Durability
In many cases, low price means low durability. However, that is not the case with the Intex Kiddie Pool. Instead, you are sure to get a great, long lasting kiddie pool with this purchase. It has over 800 reviews that are mostly positive, which suggests there is little reason to doubt the quality.
Overall
While the Intex Swim Center takes the number one ranking in this guide, the Intex Kiddie Pool isn’t far behind. The combination of quality, practicality and affordability makes this the best kiddie pool for children under the age of two. While it may be a little dull for older children, very young kids are sure to love how easy this kiddie pool is to use.
Buy Intex Kiddie Pool – Kid’s Summer Sunset Glow Design
4. Homelux Dinoland Play Center
If your child likes cool features and unique, large designs, then they will love this very interesting dinosaur-themed kiddie pool. The Intex Dinoland Play Center has a more interesting design, more features, and more room to play than any other pool on this list.
Price
Quality doesn’t come without a cost. While the Intex Dinoland Play Center, which is available anywhere from $62 to $114 dollars, is by far more expensive than all other floats on this list. Still, we believe it is worth the cost when considering the size, features and durability of this very unique inflatable kiddie pool.
Design
As previously mentioned, the Intex Dinoland Play Center has the most interesting design. It is much larger and taller than almost every kiddie pool available on the market. Plus, it comes with inflatable animals and trees which make for a very friendly environment for children.
Size
The Intex Dinoland Play Center is 131” in length, 90” in width and 44” in height. To put this into perspective, it is taller than every child under the age of two and can fit and hold multiple children at once.
Comfort
Although the Intex dinoland Play Center isn’t the type of kiddie pool that children usually sit down and relax in, it can comfortably be used for that purpose if desired. The main function of this cool kiddie pool is to provide a fun, entertaining atmosphere for young children. Additionally, it has a very comfortable sitting surface if your child would rather just sit in the water and cool off.
Features
This kiddie pool has an extensive list of cool features, including a soft slide, landing pad and dino-arch water spray that easily attaches to a water hose. It also comes with some cool inflatable dinosaur animals to surround the kiddie pool. Feel free to get creative and come up with fun games for your child to play because the Intex Dinoland Play Center allows for just about anything.
Ease of Use
Due to its complex design and numerous amounts of intriguing features, the Intex Dinoland Play Center can be challenging to inflate and get used to. There have also been problems with inflating the kiddie pool. However, once everything is set up and ready to go, your child can easily get in and out and have fun splashing around.
Durability
More space means more chances the kiddie pool gets a hole. In order to prevent this from happening, be sure to keep it on a flat surface away from anything that can potentially poke holes in the kiddie pool.
Overall
If price isn’t an issue, this is the best kiddie pool for children above the age of two. However, all the additional features and extravagant design can be far more than what is needed for children under the age of two.
Buy Homolux Dinoland Play Center
5. Sun Shade Inflatable Pool for Ages 2 Plus
Another great Intex kiddie pool, the Sun Shade Inflatable Pool is the perfect water hangout spot for young children. With a neat design and some interestingly unique features, this kiddie pool is sure to get your child active outdoors on a hot summer day.
Price
The Sun Shade Inflatable Pool is the second least expensive kiddie pool on this list, which is surprising given all its cool features and extravagant design. At a low price of $24.68, this kiddie pool is a steal when considering the quality and uniqueness of the design.
Design
While the base of the sun shade inflatable pool is simple, it comes with an inflatable sun shade roof to keep your child from being exposed to the sun on hot days. Due to the unique design, your child can stay protected from the sun while still being outside in the water.
Size
This inflatable kiddie pool is 62” by 62” by 48”, which is large enough to comfortably fit and hold two children at once. Although it may seem rather large to children under the age of two, children over two years old are sure to love the extra space provided by this kiddie pool.
Comfort
Not only is the Sun Shade Inflatable Pool comfortable to sit in, but the sun shade roof provided along with the kiddie pool makes for an even more comfortable experience. It also features a comfortable side railing for children to lean against.
Features
The Sun Shade Inflatable Pool for Kids does not come with a lot of additional features other than the inflatable roof. However, it is still a great hangout spot for children to relax and enjoy the water. It can even be paired beside another inflatable kiddie pool, such as the Dinoland Play Center, to make it even more intriguing.
Ease of Use
This inflatable kiddie pool is extremely easy to set up and use. It comes with a drain plug and a repair to make deflating it for storage very easy. Also, it has a 74-gallon capacity, so you don’t have to worry about it suddenly deflating without warning.
Durability
The Sun Shade Inflatable Pool for Ages 2 Plus has over 800 great reviews, in large part due to its durability. Because it isn’t designed for heavy, intense activity, it should last you and your child at least a couple summers without becoming defective and needing to be replaced.
Overall
Overall, this is another fantastic kiddie pool designed by Intex. Although it doesn’t have a bunch of unique features, it is one of the better deals when considering both the price, durability and quality. Many children whose parents purchased this kiddie pool have thoroughly enjoyed it, and your child will likely love it as well.
Buy Sun Shade Inflatable Pool for Ages 2 Plus
6. Intex Fantasy Castle Inflatable Play Center
This a child’s dream kiddie pool castle. It is rich in castle features, such as dragons, lance and shields, and, of course, a castle. Although it is ideal for children over the age of two, the Intex Fantasy Castle Inflatable Play Center is great for young children of any age.
Price
At first glance, you’d probably expect this extravagant looking kiddie pool to be much more expensive than other kiddie pools. However, this fantasy castle inflatable kiddie pool is very reasonably priced at $33.67. That’s a steal given the high quality and additional features.
Design
The design is the best part of this kiddie pool. When children play in the Intex Fantasy Castle, they can truly pretend they are in a real castle. While also getting the advantage of being outdoors and in the water. With its creative construction, your child is sure to love this really cool castle-themed kiddie pool.
Size
It’s a castle, so of course it is going to be larger than average! The Intex Fantasy Castle is 73” in length, 60” in width and 42” in height, which is much larger than the average kiddie pool. It also has a weight capacity of 178 pounds, so it can fit multiple small children without risking the pool deflating.
Comfort
Similar to the Dinoland Play Center, the Intex Fantasy Castle isn’t designed for comfort, but it just so happens to offer exactly that. The pool has a sprayer that children can sit under and enjoy the cooling water while relaxing in their water castle.
Features
The features of the Intex Fantasy Castle Inflatable Play Center include a built-in water sprayer, inflatable lance and shield, water slide, soft landing mat, drain plug and repair patch. In other words, it’s easy for children to find fun activities to do while splashing around in the Intex Fantasy Castle.
Ease of Use
Due to the massive amounts of unique features, installation and use can take some time to figure out. For children under the age of two, this kiddie pool might be a bit too much to take in and might be more well suited for a smaller kiddie pool. With that said, the more difficult installation is more than worth it for parents who have children over the age of two.
Durability
As with kiddie pool with a larger size and more features, this inflatable kiddie pool is at a higher risk of getting a hole or losing air. Therefore, it is important to keep it on a flat surface away from anything that could puncture a hole in the pool. The pool does come with a repair patch incase an accident occurs.
Overall
Overall, this is one of the most fun kiddie pools for children over the age of two. The castle-like design keeps things fun and creates an imaginative environment for children. There are few floats, if any, that offer the quality and features at such a reasonable price.
Buy Intex Fantasy Castle Inflatable Play Center
7. Intex Dinosaur Play Center
The Intex Dinosaur Play Center is a fun, interactive kiddie pool that is rich in cool features and has a very creative design. Although it might not be the best option for children younger than two, it is a great option for children over two years of age.
Price
At $51.99, the Intex Dinosaur Play Center is one of the more expensive kiddie pools on this guide to the best pools for kids. However, the price is understandable and reasonable when taking into consideration the features and overall quality of this unique kiddie pool.
Design
The design of the Intex Dinosaur Play Center is very advanced and is constructed for massive amounts of fun. It consists of cool artwork displayed on the colorful sides of the pool, including an inflatable shark and flowers. Plus, there’s a slide surrounding the play area.
Size
At 96” by 75,” this kiddie pool is the perfect size for some fun in the sun. It is large enough to easily hold multiple children at one time but not so large it becomes difficult to store when not in use.
Comfort
While it is constructed for children to play, slide and jump around in, it is also a comfortable kiddie pool for simply relaxing and enjoying a nice day outside. Children can play until they get tired, and then relax and catch their breath sitting comfortably in the nice, cool playing area.
Features
The features of the Intex Dinosaur Play Center include a landing mat for extra padding, a palm tree sprayer, and a waterfall. It also comes with a drain plug in the floor and a repair patch just in case an accident occurs.
Ease of Use
Since it is larger than the average kiddie pool, it is more difficult to install and get used to than many other kiddie pools. However, after the installation process is over, your child is sure to love their new, fun play center.
Durability
It is important to keep the Intex Dinosaur Play Center in an area where it won’t be exposed to harmful objects that may damage or puncture the inflatable pool. With that said, this kiddie pool has over 650 reviews, most of which are positive, in large part due to its quality of construction and durability.
Overall
For children over the age of two, you can’t go wrong with the Intex Dinosaur Play Center. However, it can be slightly dangerous and require more supervision for younger children as they may slip and fall on wet surfaces.
Buy Intex Dinosaur Play Center
Things to Remember
Well, there you have it. We feel confident that you will find all seven of these kiddie pools to be of high quality and make for great purchasing options. It’s important, however, that you pick the one that is best for your child’s own personal preference.
Related: Best Above Ground Pool
Once again, the most important considerations to make are: the design, comfort, ease of use, durability, and available features. While price should certainly be a consideration when purchasing anything, you should also weigh the cost over time. In other words, simply because a float is cheaper doesn’t mean you will save money if you must replace it after one or two summers. Happy swimming!
