Sunny afternoons are the perfect opportunity to disconnect from devices and head outside for some well-deserved family time. Whether you’re hitting the beach or chilling poolside this summer, it’s a good idea to invest in some water toys for toddlers. Why? Water toys are a great way to keep little hands busy and help tots develop a love for the great outdoors. Plus, they’re pretty darn fun!
So what exactly is a water toy? Pool and beach all fall under the umbrella of water toys for toddlers. (Think: inflatable floats , kiddie pool toys and even bath toys !) The best water toys for kids will spark creativity, help build confidence around water and stimulate their senses to aid development.
Before you browse our list of the top water toys for toddlers, it’s important to note that children must always be supervised near water. Although water toys are great at engaging tots, they won’t necessarily keep them safe, so water safety should always be a priority while at the pool or beach.
Ready to discover the best water toys on the market? Shop our favorites for tons of splashing fun below.
Our top picks: Inflatable pool raft Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Inflatable Pool Raft By PoolCandy at Maisonette, $29.99 Jump to Review Best water table Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table at Walmart, $79.99 Jump to Review Best splash pad SplashEZ Splash Pad at Walmart, $24.99 Jump to Review Best sprinkler water toy Melissa & Doug Splash Patrol Sprinkler at Melissa & Doug, $24.99 Jump to Review Best bucket set Skip Hop Baby Bath Toy, Zoo Stack & Pour Buckets at Target, $9.99 Jump to Review Best pop-up kiddie pool HearthSong SunShade Pop-Up Pool at HearthSong, $49.98 Jump to Review Four-in-one pool toy Quut Triplet at Amazon, $24.56 Jump to Review Best boat toy Green Toys Tugboat at Walmart, $16.09 Jump to Review Best rain water toy Plui Rainball by MOLUK at Fat Brain Toys, $13.95 Jump to Review Best fishing toy KarberDark Fishing Floating Squirts Toy and Water Scoop with Organizer Bag at Amazon, $13.95 Jump to Review In this article: How we chose the best water toys for toddlers Best water toys for toddlers to shop
How We Chose the Best Water Toys for Toddlers
There are a lot of water toys for toddlers out there, which can make it hard to find the best options for your one-of-a-kind kiddo. To streamline your search, we’ve done the hard work for you. Keep reading to learn more about how we selected parent-approved kiddy pool toys.
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We considered a list of criteria when sourcing water toys for toddlers, including age suitability, durability, entertainment value, ease of cleaning, portability and storage options and, of course, safety.
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We conducted exhaustive market research, scouring forums and message boards and reading user reviews to find out what parents across the country looked when shopping for water-based playthings and kiddie pool toys.
Editorial integrity is at the heart of everything we publish. Read about how The Bump develops and reviews all articles , including product reviews.
Best Water Toys for Toddlers to Shop
Inflatable pool raft
Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Inflatable Pool Raft By PoolCandy Image: Maisonette Buying Options Maisonette | $29.99 Walmart | $29.99 Amazon | $18.98 What We Love- Cute car design
- Moving steering wheel and horn that beeps
- Built-in sun canopy
- Touch supervision required
Take a trip down memory lane with this toddler pool float designed to look like the iconic Cozy Coupe ride-on toy. Your little one will love cruising around in this pool toy as they steer the inflatable wheel and beep the working horn—and you’ll love how it offers shade and is equipped with air safety valves for added protection.
Age rating: 12+ months
Buy NowBest water table
Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table Image: Walmart Buying Options Walmart | $79.99 Target | $79.99 Amazon | $79.99 What We Love- Waterfall feature
- Drain plug
- Sturdy yet lightweight base
- No pre-drilled holes
No water toys roundup would be complete without a standout water table . This parent-approved pick has thousands of glowing reviews, and it’s easy to see why. The interactive table is full of ramps, sprinklers, buckets and maze pieces for your little one to discover. Your tot will love creating waterfalls over and over again, teaching them about cause and effect. While this pick probably won’t be joining you on your trips to the beach or pool, this water toy is sure to be a backyard favorite! “It's great even if you don't want to put them in a full on swimsuit but are /[still] outside playing. Yeah they may get a bit wet but it's nice to have something she can play with water in without having to worry that it's too cold or having to get her in a suit every time,” explains one member of The Bump forum .
Age rating: 18+ months
Buy NowBest splash pad
SplashEZ Splash Pad Image: Walmart Buying Options Walmart | $24.99 Amazon | $19.98 What We Love- Easy set up
- Adjustable water pressure
- Toddlers love the sprinkler effect
- Some people reported that the seams split
Splash pads are a great choice for younger tots who love to splash, of course! Get ready for plenty of smiles from your little one as they play with the sprinkler features and sit in the shallow pool. This water toy can be enjoyed by toddlers who are 12 months or older and can even accommodate multiple kiddos at once. Another cute detail: It features animal illustrations and the letters of the alphabet, so your curious kiddo can learn as they play.
Age rating: 12+ months
Buy NowBest sprinkler water toy
Melissa & Doug Splash Patrol Sprinkler Image: Melissa & Doug Buying Options Melissa & Doug | $24.99 Amazon | $9.96 What We Love- Fun and interactive
- Good for kids that are scared of water
- Water only sprays 1 foot off the ground
If you’re searching for a backyard water toy, you can’t go wrong with this pick from Melissa & Doug. Just attach it to your hose and watch as water bursts out of the colorful wriggly worm design. This versatile plaything can be enjoyed by several children at once and is crafted from durable materials to withstand plenty of summers to come.
Age rating: 3 to 5 years
Buy NowBest bucket set
Skip Hop Baby Bath Toy, Zoo Stack & Pour Buckets Image: Skip Hop Buying Options Target | $9.99 Skip Hop | $9 Amazon | $9.99 What We Love- Three sprinkle effects
- Stackable
- Cute animal designs
- Small in size
Bring these stack-and-pour buckets on your next vacation for guaranteed fun in the sun. Kids will love the colorful characters painted on the buckets, just as much as the three different sprinkle features. Meanwhile, parents will appreciate the fact that the buckets can be stacked inside one another for easy transportation. Water toys for toddlers that you can bring along anywhere? Sign us up.
Age rating: 9+ months
Buy NowBest pop-up kiddie pool
HearthSong SunShade Pop-Up Pool Image: HearthSong Buying Options HearthSong | $49.98 What We Love- Built-in sun canopy
- Lightweight and portable
- Drain plug
- Limited reviews
Next up on our list of the best water toys for toddlers is this handy pop-up pool. The portable design can be brought to the beach and assembled or taken down in a matter of seconds. No mess, no fuss. Better yet, it comes with a built-in UV-protected sun canopy to keep your little one safe when the weather heats up. Bonus: This multifunctional toy can also be used as a ball pit or a sandbox .
Age rating: 9+ months
Buy NowFour-in-one pool toy
Quut Triplet Image: Amazon Buying Options Amazon | $24.56 What We Love- Ergonomic design
- Encourages open-ended play
- Suitable for pool, bath, beach and garden
- Limited reviews
Some of the best pool toys for toddlers are the simplest. Take this innovative toy, for instance. The ergonomic tool works as a shovel, sieve, rake and water or sand funnel. It has an easy-to-hold handle designed with tiny hands in mind and can be used to build sand castles or experiment with water in the pool. How fun!
Age rating: 12+ months
Buy NowBest boat toy
Green Toys Tugboat Image: Walmart Buying Options Walmart | $16.09 Amazon | $13.03 What We Love- Floats on water
- Durable design
- Made from recycled plastic
- Can become water-logged
Mini boats are classic water toys for kids. Your toddler will have a ball filling the hull of this tugboat up with water and pouring it out the front spout. Plus, it has a convenient handle, making it easy to carry to whatever destination you have in mind. Another standout feature: The durable design is made entirely of recycled milk jugs.
Age rating: 6 months to 3 years old
Buy NowBest rain water toy
Plui Rainball by MOLUK Image: Amazon Buying Options Fat Brain Toys | $13.95 Amazon | $6.98 What We Love- Comes apart for easy cleaning and drying
- Encourages independent play
- Offers sensory stimulation
- Slow to fill with water
Engage your kid’s senses with this cute rain water toy. This sensory pool toy for toddlers is simple yet effective (not to mention fun). Little ones will love plunging it into the water to fill it up, before lifting it out to make it rain. Bonus: It works as a bath toy too!
Age rating: 2+ years
Buy NowBest fishing toy
KarberDark Fishing Floating Squirts Toy and Water Scoop with Organizer Bag Image: Amazon Buying Options Amazon | $13.95 What We Love- Storage bag included
- Easy to grasp fishing rod
- Bath toys may grow mold over time
KarberDark Fishing Floating Squirts Toy and Water Scoop with Organizer Bag This fishing set is one of the best water toys for toddlers we’ve seen. It comes with a fishing rod, a net, two scoop toys and three floating squirt toys. Phew! All that for under $15? Now that’s a bargain.
Age rating: 18+ months
Buy NowBest pool ball
Edushape Sensory Balls for Baby Mega Pack Image: Amazon Buying Options Amazon | $29.95 What We Love- Lightweight
- Textured surface is easy to grip
- Multiple sizes
- Expensive
Okay, so this next pick isn’t technically a water toy. However, beach balls are a classic toddler beach toy , so we figured they’ve earned a spot on this list. Each of these four inflatable balls has a knobbly texture that’ll fascinate toddlers. Bring them on summer excursions for a kickaround, a game of catch or to splash around in the water.
Age rating: 6+ months
Buy NowBest pool toy gift set
Green Toys Tide Pool Baby Toy Gift Set Image: Walmart Buying Options Walmart | $19.95 Amazon | $19.95 What We Love- Durable
- No sharp edges
- Easy to clean and dry
- Some people say pouring holes aren't big enough
We’re big fans of Green Toys—and their outdoor toys are a perfect example of why. This seven-piece set, made from 100 percent recycled plastic milk jugs, is super-cute and practical. Each sea-themed design interacts with and pours water in a different way. Plus, the palm-sized water toys are designed for little hands and can be packed away into the seaweed-patterned storage bag when it’s time to head home.
Age rating: 6+ months
Buy Now >Plus, more from The Bump: > Best Kiddie Pools for Babies and Toddlers > Awesome Outdoor Toys for Toddlers > Summer Safety 101
