It can be difficult to find things to do with a baby on any normal given day. But when the sun is blazing hot, your options are even more limited. Enter kiddie pools. The absolute best way to pass the time with a young child during the summer heat is to have them spend all their energy splashing around safely in a pool that is just their size. Kiddie pools are a magical thing and you probably have your own memories of splashing around in one yourself. So what are the best baby pools on the market now? Here are some of my favorites and their best features.
If you want to read a review of these 5 best baby pools individually, you can read them at the following links below.
TURNMEON Baby Beach Tent with Pool
Poolmaster Monkey Swimming Pool
Intex Sunset Glow Baby Pool
Click Here for the Best Price on the Intex Sunset Glow Baby Pool
Size
The Intex Sunset Glow Baby Pool is your typical baby pool. It comes in two sizes, but the smaller baby size is 34 inches by 10 inches while inflated. It holds 18 gallons of water, which makes it to about 6 inches of water height.
This is the perfect size for one or two babies, but an adult would only be able to dip their feet in at most. This is a pool that parents would be able to supervise but not necessarily join in the fun. Though you can always splash around with your baby from the outside.
Set-Up
The setup for the Intex Sunset Glow is pretty standard for an inflatable kiddie pool. It is small enough that you won’t blow out your lungs blowing it up by mouth. But if you want it to be a little easier, you can always use an air mattress pump instead.
Once the pool is all the way inflated, you can start filling it with water until it reaches about 6 inches of water height. That will leave about a 4-inch rim around the top to avoid spilling too much and to keep it at a safer height for children.
Take Down
Taking this pool down is just as easy as setting up. Since it only holds about 18 gallons of water you could potentially lift one of the sides to start spilling the water out. Though it is easier to deflate it a little bit and push one of the sides in and let it spill out that way.
If you want to be eco-conscious and also do what’s best for your yard, you could fill buckets and use them to water your plants before you just spill it all in one place.
Sun Protection
The Intex Sunset Glow baby pool does not offer any shade from the actual pool structure. Sometimes this is a nice thing since it gives you a bit more freedom as the parent to decide just how much shade and sunshine the pool gets. You can position the pool in the sunshine to warm up the water or you can move it to a more shady spot to offer more sun protection for your little one.
It doesn’t give your child the same sun protection that some pools do, but you don’t have to blow up as much area and the pool is more versatile.
As I mentioned in my review of the pool that you can find here, you can use this pool indoors easily during the winter months filled with tactile water beads or ball pit balls. Indoors, the shade option would only get in the way.
Extra Benefits
The Intex Sunset Glow pool is a pretty basic model. It has everything you need and nothing that you don’t. One thing that I appreciate from the Intex company is that they give you an extra vinyl repair patch just in case of a hole. Best case scenario: you won’t need it, but if you do, you have it.
Defining Feature
The thing that I appreciate the most about this particular pool is that it has an inflatable bottom. This is a step up from the typical flat bottomed pool. It might not be a necessary feature in older kid pools or family pools, but for little children, it is a great addition. Young children can have a hard time standing for long periods of time and falling over is second nature. So it is nice to have the extra protection for their little bums.
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Intex Mushroom Baby Pool
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Size
The Intex Mushroom baby pool is similar to the Sunset Glow in size though the Mushroom one is a bit smaller. This pool does have a sunshade so the dimensions are 35 inches by 40 inches.
This pool allows for 5 inches of water height and holds about 12 gallons of water.
Set-Up
Again, the Intex Mushroom pool is similar to the Sunset Glow pool and you can easily inflate it with just your lung capacity. However, an air mattress pump will make the job faster. Then, just fill it up with the hose and you’re done!
I would suggest filling it in the morning so that the water can heat up as the day gets warmer. Jumping into cold hose water can be pretty shocking, especially for babies.
Sun Protection
The Intex Mushroom pool has a built-in inflatable sunshade that will give your baby an extra layer of protection from the sun. It has some clear vinyl that allows a little bit of sun to get through. Just enough to keep it bright and warm in the pool.
The extra shade gives parents a little more confidence to let their child be outside, especially before they start putting sunscreen on their babies.
Extra Benefits
Like all the Intex pools on this list, the Intex Mushroom pool has an extra vinyl patch included, should any holes appear.
Defining Feature
In my opinion, the Intex Mushroom pool has several defining features. The Mushroom shade is both a protection for the babies and it is also a fun little feature for the kids to play with. They can gaze up at the Mushroom top and it can even be a source of fun imaginative play for children who are slightly on the older end of the age range. There is also a fun little mini mushroom that babies can explore with their eyes, hands, and mouth.
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Intex Snapset Pool
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Size
The Intex Snapset Pool is by far the largest kiddie pool on this review and the last of the Intex brand that I reviewed. This pool folds out to be 8 feet by 18 inches. This allows for about 17 inches of water, which ends up being about 565 gallons of water capacity.
Set-Up
The set-up of the Intex Snapset pool is pretty simple but can be a bit challenging with only one person. This pool is not inflatable, so you will need to hold the wall up until the pool reaches about 3 inches in height. That will be enough water to make sure that the walls don’t collapse and the water leaks out.
You don’t have to make sure that it is perfectly wrinkle-free when you initially pour the water in because once it is at the 3-inch mark you can stretch it out a bit more. Before filling it with water, look for sharp rocks or sticks in the area that you will be setting in up in. If you are picking an asphalt area, put down a tarp as an extra layer of protection before setting it out.
Take Down
I mention in my review of this pool that some people keep this pool up throughout the summer. 565 gallons of water is a lot to only use for one day and then dump out. If you are planning on doing it this way, then you will want to invest in a chlorine floater to keep your water fresh and clean. You will also need to skim it as needed.
Sun Protection
This pool does not come with sun protection, though you can always add your own by putting it partially under a tree or adding an umbrella to the side. However, 565 gallons of water is a lot of water to heat through the sun, so you might want to have full sun on it to keep it above an uncomfortable temperature.
Extra Benefits
Like the other Intex pools, this pool comes with a patch repair kit.
Defining Feature
One of the great things about this pool is that it isn’t inflatable. This means that it is much easier to set up since you can skip a step. Of course, it is tricky to fill it initially, but once you’re past the first three inches, it should be fairly easy.
The sheer size of this pool is also a great feature. Kids and adults alike will be able to play and cool off in this pool. You can put floaties in and splash around
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TURNMEON Baby Beach Tent With Pool
Click Here for the Best Price on the TURNMEON Baby Tent with Pool
Size
The TURNMEON baby beach tent with a pool can pop up to be 42x 32x 24 inches, but the pool portion is only 27 by 21 inches. The depth of the pool depends on how you dig the hole below, but it will likely only get to hip depth while your baby is sitting down.
This tent is a pop-up tent and can fold down to be about the size of a windshield sun cover. It folds down similarly to a sun cover also, so if you have a hard time figuring those out, make sure to practice a couple of times before taking it out so you don’t get too frustrated while packing up.
Set-Up
The setup of the TURNMEON baby beach tent with pool is one of the easiest on this list. All it takes is to get the tent out of its carrying case and let it go. It should pop up like a tent. You can use the stakes to hold it down to the ground, which will be helpful on windy beach days.
This pool is meant to go down into the sand, so if you aren’t at a beach and are on a flat surface, it won’t work. You will need to dig a shallow indentation into the sand for the pool to expand in. Then fill it up with some of the water at the beach.
Sun Protection
The TURNMEON beach tent with a pool offers pretty extensive sun protection. This pool has a three-sided tent with an additional roof. This will keep your baby protected from the sun as well as the blowing sand.
The material is made of a special fabric that offers over 50 SPF protection. So on the beach, where your baby is the absolute most vulnerable to the sun’s rays, they should be completely protected. Of course, use sunblock and protective swimsuits as well, but the shade is a great addition.
Extra Benefits
The TURNMEON beach tent with a pool has a special feature, which is love, and it is the peekaboo window in the back shade. You have the option of rolling up the blind so your baby can have more views of what is going on around them or you can leave it down if the wind is blowing the sand hard.
Defining Feature
One of the best things about this TURNMEON beach tent with pool is that it is easily portable and the easiest pool to set up. All it takes is taking it out of the package and filling it up. It comes with a carrying case.
However, there is one thing about this tent that makes me wary. Just that is that it is difficult to put away if you’re not used to it. It will take a little bit of practice. But once you have it down, it will be a breeze. Check out some of the pictures in the comments on the Amazon link down below!
Click Here for the Best Price on the TURNMEON Baby Tent with Pool
Poolmaster Monkey Swimming Pool
Click Here for the Best Price on the Poolmaster Go Bananas Monkey Swimming Pool
Size
The Poolmaster Monkey Swimming Pool is similar to the Intex Mushroom baby pool in that it has a tall suspended shade above a small swimming pool. So this size and shape are very similar to the Mushroom pool. The Poolmaster Monkey Swimming Pool is 42 inches by 23 inches and the shade reaches about 3 feet when inflated.
This pool is part of the “Learn to Swim” line from Poolmaster. You can see what kinds of products fit into this line in the video below.
Set-Up
The setup of the Poolmaster Monkey Swimming pool is similar to any of the other inflatable pools on this list. It will take a while to fill it by blowing it up yourself. Alternatively, you could use an air mattress pump that will go much faster. Then fill with water and you’re done!
There is an additional blow-up monkey that squeaks that you will need to blow up as well for your child to play with.
Sun Protection
The Poolmaster Monkey swimming pool is one of the pools on this list that offers sun protection. It has a shade on the top that will guard your child against the sun if it is at the right angle. If you want full sun protection, you will need some sunscreen and swimsuit cover-ups or hats. Alternatively, you can also set the pool under the shade of a tree or something.
Extra Benefits
This pool comes with an inflatable monkey that squeaks. It is a fun toy for the babies and might just keep them interested in the pool for longer than they normally would be.
Defining Feature
The feature that sets this pool apart from the rest is that it has a monkey theme which is fun for kids. It also has an inflatable bottom like the Intex Sunset Glow and the Intex Mushroom pool. This will keep babies safe and comfortable for the longest amount of time possible.
Click Here for the Best Price on the Poolmaster Go Bananas Monkey Swimming Pool
Conclusion
Overall, of the five best baby pools that I reviewed, there isn’t necessarily a “best” one. They all serve different purposes and fulfill different needs. Here is my breakdown of each pool and which ones were the best for different reasons:
Intex Sunset Glow Baby Pool
Best Basic Pool
Intex Mushroom Baby Pool
Best Pool With Shade
Intex Snapset Pool
Best Big Pool
TURNMEON Baby Beach Tent With Pool
Best Portable Beach Pool
Poolmaster Monkey Swimming Pool
Best Interactive Pool
Some pools you can use throughout the seasons indoors as a ball pit or outdoors as a pool. Others can only be used on a sandy beach. These pools are all the best at something. So whatever kind of kiddie pool you are looking for, you are sure to find one that works the best for you and your family.