Pool Toys That Will Keep Your Water Babies (And Big Kids) Busy For Hours

Lightweight, safe water guns that don’t look like, well, guns? We’re here for it. This pack of water blasters features cute characters and squirts up to 30 feet away. Plus, these “pistols” know no age limit so they’ll entertain kids from toddlers to teen—and adults! As one reviewer wrote, “We bought them for a backyard birthday party, all the kids loved them ranging from 18mo to 15years old. They were used all summer with no issues…”

Another pick that doubles as a bath or pool toy for kids, Green Toys’ bright seaplane has a spinning propeller, as well as a cockpit for figurines—excuse me, pilots—and it of course floats! Good for kids one year and older, this toddler toy will help develop fine motor and gross motor skills, is made of 100% recycled plastic, and it’s dishwasher safe. Check, check, and check!

Buy them for the pool, save them for the bath! A set of mini cars, squirter toy boats, and a ferry complete with a ramp (for loading the cars, obv) will keep your little water babe entertained in imaginative play. “Little people at our house love this in the shallow end of the pool,” according to one customer. Another’s son, “asks for bath time just to play with it!” Impressive.

Indulge their hoop dreams with an inflatable pool-ready option. Thick material with reinforced seams means this pick is durable, which is pretty important when you’re dealing with rambunctious ballers. It’s easy to inflate thanks to larger valves and comes with the ball included. This hoop can accommodate a standard-size basketball, as well—you know, just in case.

Inflatable pool balls are nothing new, but this one sure is. Fill it with water, not air, and it will sink to the bottom of the pool and float back up again due to near-neutral buoyancy (science!). Kids can dribble, pass, or kick it underwater, giving a whole new meaning to “water sports.” No wonder a reviewer described it as,”the best pool toy that we have ever had” that “kept the kids busy all afternoon.” Sold.

A sophisticated, hydrodynamic take on diving toys, these torpedoes each come with a different number value for scoring points—and they can glide up to 20 feet underwater. They’re easy to grip, recommended for kids five and up, and keep little swimmers busy (the dream!). So said one happy parent, “if you’re at a place where they are watched by a lifeguard or your spouse or whoever, these little torpedos will provide hours of diving and hunting activity without the annoyance of ‘Marco… Marco… Marco…’” *Adds to cart.*

What’s more exciting than hunting for treasure? A pirate’s chest filled with water toys is an ideal way to keep kids eight and up entertained and imaginative, and help them practice swimming at the same time. Booty includes faux jewels, coins, bones, sharks, and even seahorses (you never know what hides amongst the loot)—plus, the little mateys can play with it out of the pool, too, as one reviewer pointed out.

Including one “hungry hippo” net and four weighted diving toys, er, hippo snacks to catch with it, this set is ideal underwater entertainment for littles age three and up. They’re bright and easy to grip, help develop coordination skills, and according to happy reviewers, they’re also quite durable.

As a game or to hone underwater swimming skills, these rings deliver on aquatic entertainment wonderfully, according to one reviewer who “Used them to teach grandson how to swim below the surface of the pool. Also used them as targets for jumping through.” Adjustable air chambers mean you can change the underwater depth according to your kiddos abilities.

Unlike its inflatable floating counterparts, this basketball hoop sits poolside (with a water-weighted base) and is designed for in-ground pools. It comes with two inflatable water basketballs and a pump, features a sturdy backboard and rim. According to reviewers who sing its praises, this pool game is easy to set up and a win for both kids and adults!

For babies 9-24 months, this water float provides both entertainment and sun protection. A removable canopy offers UPF 50+, while the octopus (also removable) holds toys including a squeaker, stacking rings, rattle, and soft star. Plus, this pick folds up easily and comes in a carrying case, which means less schlepping and more splashing!