Collection: Kids Paddling Pools Review

It’s not very often a heatwave hits Ireland or the UK, but when it does, you can keep your kids entertained and cool with a fun inflatable pool.

Summer temperatures can be very unpredictable, but it pays to be prepared.

Whether you’ve got toddlers or young children, a paddling pool should be in your arsenal.

You won’t have to worry about a long drive to the beach, and it’s much cheaper than taking them to your local swimming pool.

But with so many to choose from, where should you start?

Paddling pools have come on in leaps and bounds in the last few years, and we’ve made a list of our top 10 favourites.

Lots of activity in one paddling pool is what sets this apart from your traditional paddling pool.

Not only does it offer water fun, but it’s also an inflatable playground with a sprinkler, slide, and a ball pit.

The size of the slide lends itself to toddler entertainment rather than older children.

Dimensions: 76cm x 146cm x 259cm
Capacity: 109 litres of water

Pros
Quick to set up
Sprinkler feature allows you to attach a hose to the tree/flower
Comes with its own repair kit

Cons
Only comes with three balls, so you’d need to buy more if you want to use it as a ball pit

A paddling pool that’s big enough for the whole family, this Summer Escapes Octagonal Pool easily fits two adults and three children.

You can inflate it in 15 minutes, and it only takes 20 minutes to fill, which means you won’t have to miss out when the sun comes out from behind the clouds.

Dimensions: 279cm x 279cm x 56cm
Capacity: 1806 litres

Pros
Quick to inflate and fill
Sturdy and holds its shape well
Big enough for two adults and three kids

Cons
Possibly not much fun if you’ve got young children

This paddling pool is aimed at families with very young children.

It’s completely portable so you can take it to the park, a friend’s house, or on holiday.

You can also use it as a shaded outdoor ball pit or toy play area.

Dimensions: 96.5cm circle

Pros
Tough construction with UPF 50+ protection
Folds into a 40cm carry bag when not in use
Instant assembly

Cons
The sunshade is smaller than you think

If you’ve got a dinosaur lover in the family, this play centre will keep them entertained for hours. It delivers very well on the water-fun front and is big enough for several little ones to splash around.

Dimensions: 333cm x 229cm x 112cm
Capacity: 209 litres

Pros
Lots of water fun provided by the movable diplodocus arch sprayer and volcano shute
Big enough for a few kids to play in at the same time
Comes with six balls, three hoops, and a repair patch

Cons
Takes a while to inflate, and you will need a pump

This colourful water play area from Chad Valley provides hours of entertainment for your little ones. Not only is it a paddling pool. It also features a sprinkler, slide, and ball pit.

Dimensions: 76cm x 146cm x 259cm
Capacity: 109 litres

Pros
Easy to pump up with a pump
Folds away flat when not in use

Low price

Cons
Challenging to inflate due to the position of the caps

If you’ve got tweens or teens in the family, this staycation pool from Bestway will be more suitable.

There’s enough room for them to lie down and relax and have a drink close to hand in the cupholder.

Dimensions: 234cm x 48cm x 278cm

Pros
Easy to blow up
Lounge part is perfectly comfortable
Can be used by all the family

Cons
Hard to clean under the lounge mattress, which means it could attract mould

Bring theme park action to your back garden with this Fun Zone Drop Zone pool from Little Tikes.

You get double the fun for your money by attaching a water hose to the dual waterfall.

Colourful balls are supplied for added entertainment.

Rather than pack it away in the winter, take this paddling pool inside for ball pit fun.

Dimensions: 152cm diameter

Pros
Doubles up as a ball pit when the weather is suitable for water fun
Easy to blow up
Great value for money

Cons
Ball drop not quite so easy to assemble

If you want a paddling pool for all the family to enjoy, this family lounge pool has plenty of room for everyone. It has four built-in seats and two cup holders.

Dimensions: 229cm x 229cm x 66cm
Capacity: 990 litres

Pros
Includes four comfy in-built seats
Easy to store for next season
Ten gauge seats for added durability and comfort

Cons
Problems with pool not holding air for longer than a couple of hours

This two-in-one paddling pool is excellent for children aged three to eight.

If you want to tire your kids out before bedtime, inflate this bouncy castle/pool combo in your back garden.

Dimensions: 180cm x 173cm x 170cm

Pros
Bouncy castle and pool in one
Good value for money
Great for physical development and active play

Cons
You have to buy the pool separately

If you want a larger pool to cool off in, this portable swimming pool is big enough for kids and adults to swim in or use it for relaxing.

Dimensions: 300cm x 300cm x 75cm
Capacity: 800 gallons of water

Pros
Metal supports coated with a rust-resistant coating for ultimate stability
Super tough laminated walls
One of a range of paddling pools from Intex

Cons
The pool needs to be mounted to prevent small stones from puncturing the very thin vinyl.

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