With hot days and free time ahead, the ease of installing a pool on a roof, on a patio, or in a sliver of backyard with just a few pumps (or blows) of air remains as appealing as ever, whether you’re looking for something to fill kids’ days with activities and entertainment without turning to screens or you’re looking to cool off with a friend or two. The best inflatable pools are easy and quick to set up and use, can be deflated and stored away on a shelf, and are robust enough to provide hours of entertainment day after day and even summer after summer.
To find the best inflatable pools to suit your kids and home (and maybe even yourself), we sought the advice of interior designers and home-décor experts. And because even a shallow inflatable kids’ pool can present safety concerns — drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for kids ages 1 to 4, per the CDC — we also spoke to educators, experts in children’s wellness and safety, a pediatrician, and a children’s survival swim-school instructor to get their thoughts on what to look for in the best kids’ inflatable pools.
If you’re shopping for a pool for children to stay cool this summer, you’ll want a model that can accommodate as many kids as you’re likely to have playing at once, keeping in mind that a kids’ pool can be too big — and with smaller kids, you’ll want to make sure to avoid water that’s too deep.
