What to consider when shopping for pool toys
With so many pool toys to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start, here are some things to consider when selecting the right pool toy for you and your family:
Age appropriateness - What age is the pool toy suitable for? Pool toys will vary depending on both your child’s age and their swimming ability. If your child has only recently learnt to swim without buoyancy aids, you should stick to pool toys that can be played above the water. On the other hand, if your child is already a confident swimmer, diving toys and toys that encourage your child to head underwater offer a fun experience and challenge.
Portability - How big is the toy? Is it lightweight and easy to carry to and from the pool? Does it fold flat? How much space will it take up in your swimming bag?
Safety - Is the beach toy made from non toxic BPA plastic? Are there any sharp edges? You should also consider any safety rules of the pools you are visiting, as some venues have strict policies on the pool toys they will allow to be used in a shared pool.
Durability - How durable and hard wearing is the pool toy? With pool toys likely to experience some regular use, will they stand the test of time?
Shared experiences - Is the pool toy suitable for the whole family to play together? Toys and games that can be played with a parent and child can make a fun bonding experience in the pool.
Cost - How much are you willing to spend? Some pool toys are really affordable, whilst you may need to pay a little more to get branded toys or toys that are more closely aligned with the swimming curriculum. Consider how long your child will play with it compared to the price and whether the toy can be shared with siblings or other family members.
What’s the best pool toy to buy?
It’s fair to say there are some great pool toys on the market, but the ToyPedo Bandits take our top spot for the best pool toy you can buy today. A fun and affordable pool toy that can be played with by the whole family, they’re a great way to improve your child’s confidence, learn to hold their breath, dive underwater and take on the challenge of scooping them up from the bottom of the pool.
How we chose our recommendations
Recommendations from real Mumsnet users
Mumsnet users have a wealth of experience when it comes to spending time at the pool, whether that be family holidays, family fun at their local leisure centres or Saturday morning swim lessons with the kids.
First, we sought out the trusted opinions of Mumsnet users, to get their feedback on the pool toys that had proved to be a hit with their children and that they would recommend to others. We sought out pool toys that Mumsnet users found to be engaging, challenging and improved their child’s confidence in the water.
We also looked out for any negative reviews, where Mumsetters highlighted products that they felt were poor quality, overpriced or simply failed to bring the fun factor.
Expert opinions
Next up, we considered reviews and feedback from trusted industry experts. We want to be confident that the products we recommend are fit for purpose, so we looked out for award-winning products or those that were well regarded in the marketplace.
Authentic consumer reviews
Finally, to bring you our definitive list of the best pool toys on the market, we thoroughly investigated genuine, in-depth customer reviews on retailer sites such as Amazon, Argos and John Lewis to get wider consumer experiences regarding the products on our shortlist.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust and we spend hours scouring the Mumsnet forums and online bestseller lists to find products that real parents rate.
Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about where we find our recommendations. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their own friends and family.
About the author
Lucy Cotterill is a mum of two and Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in baby/child and lifestyle product reviews and round-ups. Having written product reviews on her own blog Real Mum Reviews since 2012, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of baby products, scrutinising reviews and consumer feedback to help parents make confident purchases that benefit their families.
Originally from a HR background with a degree in Business Studies, Lucy developed a real passion for blogging and writing when her children were young, going on to write for several online publications including US parenting site Pregistry and the Evening Standard. When she’s not manically tapping the keys of her laptop, Lucy loves nothing more than to cosy up with her Kindle and enjoy the latest thriller, or compete in Nintendo Switch rallies with her daughters aged six and 10.