14 Best Kid’s Beach Towels To Wrap 'Em Up After Splashing Around

For water babies who fantasize about becoming a mermaid, the Athaelay Hooded Mermaid Towel will make their dreams come true. It’s made of 100% long-staple cotton so it’s ultra soft and absorbent, plus it’s Oeko-Tex Certified, meaning it’s free of harmful chemicals or dyes (which gives you peace of mind as you wrap your child in it). It’s also UPF 50+ to provide sun protection , which is especially beneficial between sunscreen applications. But perhaps the coolest part about this imaginative towel is that it’s designed like a poncho so your kiddo can keep playing as they dry off — smart!  Reviewers say that this lightweight towel is perfect for drying and wearing, plus their kids enjoy using it, too (perhaps that means less fighting when it’s time to leave the pool?) “I like the over-the-head style and two simple side snaps for easy wearing,” one reviewer says. “This towel weight is excellent for hands-free beach, pool, or out-of-the-bathtub wrap.”

If your baby shark (doo-doo, doo-doo-doo-doo) loves splashin’ around, this sweet towel is just for them! Featuring the famed viral character and his beloved family members, this Amazon best selling hooded towel is soft and absorbent and made with 100% cotton. And thanks to that hood, plus pockets in the corners for hands, your kid can zoom around while wearing it like a cape for accelerated air-drying. “This towel is amazing!” says one customers. “I thought for the price it would be scratchy and not really the best quality, but my son loves baby shark. “Super soft, absorbs well. The colors have not faded in the washer either at this point. My son loved it and wore it around the house for an entire day. The hood is perfect size, little hand pockets are great too. Overall a great buy!”

Ok, we had to. Isn’t this hooded towel the sweetest thing? If Baby is just beginning to dip their little toes in the water — maybe they’ve just been introduced to the beach or they’re livin’ the good life in a canopied pool float — you’ll want to dry them off in the warmest, snuggliest, towel possible. When it comes to pieces you’ll keep for years, this darling hooded towel by Mini Mori will be a beach and bath favorite until your little one can’t fit in it anymore. It’s made from ultra soft 100% organic micro cotton, and even has a fringe and antenna detail for the full “Hungry Caterpillar” effect. 

Pottery Barn meets Pixar … could anything be cuter? Your Finding Nemo fan will love toweling off with Dory, Nemo and gang, and you’ll love that it’s Oeko-Tex certified for safety. A tight cotton weave and velour finish makes it extra snuggly while remaining comfortably breathable, so don’t be surprised if your water bug falls asleep in this towel after hours of splashing. The good news (in addition to the fact that your rowdy kid is now fast asleep) is that you can rest assured knowing that it’s UPF 50+ to help prevent burns. If your youngster has a Dory-like tendency of misplacing things, consider getting this towel monogrammed so there’s no question it’s theirs. And if you can’t get enough PB/Disney magic, be sure to check out their Disney Princess, Toy Story, and Moana monogram towel choices, as well.

This pink and yellow striped beach towel is easy to spot from a mile away! Ideal for kids, teenagers, and heck, us adults, the Kaufman towel is 100% cotton and wonderfully plush. It comes in over 15 other patterns and colors, and when you personalize it, you can pick the font and thread colors, as well. Above all else, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a customized towel for a better price (the monogramming is no extra charge!), so go ahead and grab one for everyone in the family — they make great gifts, too! Us moms appreciate the quality of the towels, plus the vivid colors and accurate and clean embroidering. “I bought 3 of these towels – different designs – for my grandchildren. They LOVE them!!! Personalized is always nice, but the designs I chose suited each of them as well. Win Win!!!” one reviewer raves.

Maybe you’ve already accepted that your kid’s beach towel will inevitably be lost/stolen/destroyed before the end of summer. In which case, you’re probably looking to spend as little as possible on this poolside essential. Mama, we hear you. That’s why we love Walmart’s PAW Patrol beach towel, which reached best seller status on the store’s site. It’s 100% cotton and stars the show’s adorable pups, but what we appreciate most is that it comes in with a hood too to keep them extra dry and cozy.

Make things easier for yourself by buying in bulk. This 4-pack of striped towels features nostalgic, gender-neutral colors that are perfect for the entire family. Made from woven cotton, they’re plush, absorbent, lightweight, and big enough for both kids and adults (they measure 30 inches by 60 inches). Thanks to a budget-friendly price point and over 1,100 5-star reviews, you really can’t go wrong with this towel set … even if one or two don’t make it through the entire summer. “I was skeptical about buying at first but decided to take a risk,” says a reviewer. “I have been looking for good towels within my budget and have read hundreds of reviews on different sites. These towels are absolutely perfect for me. I washed them in warm water before the first use and they have been washed twice since then. The colors remained very vibrant. The colors didn’t run nor did they shrink on high heat in the dryer.” Sold!

Frozen fans need this towel — trust us! It’s made of 100% cotton and is ultra-absorbent. Want to know our favorite part about this beach towel? It’s fade-resistant! Even though all of the direct sun and machine washing, it’ll be sure to last.

When your kiddo spends a day in the sun, they’d love to have this adorable version on their towel too. Whether they’re at the beach or at the pool, this hooded towel will dry them ASAP with the absorbent cotton velour material. For an additional cost, you can personalize this towel too. Score!

If your kiddo loses this towel at the pool, at least they’ll have a good chance of having it returned. Reviewers rave about how fast drying and lightweight the towel is — perfect for a little kid hitting the water! Some were even shocked by the quality, saying, “The towel was delivered quickly and looks really nice. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the towel. It is actually a very good towel in addition to the great job at customization. I highly recommend this product.”

Whether your family had a day at the beach, the pool, or are just finishing up bath time – your magical little one won’t ever oppose being wrapped up in this Narwhal Hooded Towel from Gap. Reviews rave about how soft it is and the vibrant color. Sounds like it’s perfect for the summertime!