The best baby floats can make pool time more enjoyable for both you and your child. But there are so many out there. How do you find the best one? Well, you could check out every one of the hundreds that are available. Discard the ones that won’t last through an entire summer.
Reject the ones that are unsafe. Then pick the ten best that remain. After that, pick the one that you like the best. Do you want to save time? Then take advantage of the work that we did for you. We culled the herd, so all you have to do is choose from the ones that meet our strict quality standards.
Your baby wants to enjoy the pool. So let’s cut to the chase and find you your next baby float.
10 Best Baby Pool Floats:
1. SwimWays Baby Spring Float Sun Canopy – Green Fish
This two-chamber float has the best customer ratings of all pool floats. It is wide and sturdy. There’s a spring along the edge for enhanced stability in water. That’s great for babies who like to lean over the edge of the float.
There’s a small mesh-covered gap between the inner and outer rings that fill with pool water, Babies love to splash in it. You can also put small pool toys there for the little one to play with.
What Consumers are Saying
Customer reviews have made this the best baby pool float of this year. There are very few complaints, and most of them are about packaging. Parents really love this float, and they feel confident and safe when their children are in it.
Pros
- Stable
- Easy to inflate
- Includes removable sunshade
- Comfortable seat
- Carrying case included
Cons
- It is somewhat difficult to secure the sunshade due to the stiff buttons
2. SwimWays Baby Spring Float Activity Center
This is the best baby swim float for babies that love toys. Most kids will pay attention to the water and the other people playing in it, but some must-have toys to play with all the time. Kids like that will really enjoy this activity center. And parents like that it is safe and stable in water.
What Consumers are Saying
Everyone is impressed with the stability in the water, and they feel safe letting their baby play in this float. They also love the removable toys that are included. That saves people money, but the babies really like these fun toys. It keeps them occupied, and the parents like that they have time to have some fun too.
Pros
- Stable
- Comfortable for baby
- Easy to inflate
- Carrying case included
- Sunshade is removable
Cons
- Stiff buttons on the sunshade make it a bit difficult to remove
3. Free Swimming Baby Inflatable Float Ring
This is the best infant float for parents who are getting an early start on teaching their kids to swim. Babies can lean forward and kick their feet, so swimming is almost intuitive. But this design allows flipping, so you must stay with your baby for safety.
What Consumers are Saying
Parents like that their babies can lean forward to kick their feet. That helps them to learn how to swim. They also like how easy it is to inflate. Most people don’t even use a pump if they have one.
There have been some reports of the ring flipping over when larger babies reach over the sides. This is why most parents stay very close to their children while they’re in it.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Lets babies lean forward and kick
- Shoulder strap keeps baby from sinking to the bottom if the ring overturns
Cons
- This ring can flip – Close adult supervision is recommended
4. SwimSchool Original Deluxe TOT Swim Trainer For Kids
This one is more of a swim trainer than it is a baby flotation device. It features a vest that is attached to a thin tube. This keeps it in the perfect position to support the child in the water, while still allowing total leg and arm movement. It makes swim training so much easier for the parent and more comfortable for the kid.
What Consumers are Saying
Parents love the design of this trainer. They like that it stays put when they get it adjusted the way they want it. Kids love that too because it makes it comfortable. Another thing that parents like is the helpfulness during swim training. They don’t have to hold the kid. They can focus more on instruction than on holding their kid up in the water.
Pros
- Good for swim training
- Inflated easily
- Fits securely
Cons
- The vinyl material that the tube is made of is thin and offers no resistance to puncture
5. SwimSchool Deluxe Baby Boat – 6-24 Months – Baby Pool Float with Splash & Play Activity Center, Adjustable Sun Canopy, and Perfect-Fit Safety Seat – Navy/White
Here’s a cool baby float with a shade that’s shaped like a fish. Kids love it. It’ll probably be the only one in the pool that’s shaped like a big sea creature. Another thing that the little ones like is the play area in front. It has a mesh floor, so it fills with water. It keeps the toys from floating away, so you spend more time playing with your baby and no time chasing toys in the pool.
What Consumers are Saying
Parents like how unique this float is. After all, grown-ups like cool stuff too. They like the fun fish shape. They also comment frequently about how sturdy it is in the water. Their kids lean forward and side to side, but they don’t tip. Everyone likes that feeling of security.
Pros
- Wide and sturdy
- Water-filled play area in front of baby
- Sun shade moves back to make it easier to move baby in and out
Cons
- There have been complaints of these floats coming from the factory with a hole in them, making a return necessary
- The fabric sunscreen may fade in the sun or chlorinated pool water over time
6. Intex My Baby Float
This one has no complicated features. It is simply a good, stable, and safe float. This simplicity and the great value make it one of the best pool floats for kids. There is no sunscreen, so you’ll have to watch out for sun exposure. But the lack of sunscreen is one less thing to worry about when in the pool. You just blow it up, put your baby in and start having fun.
What Consumers are Saying
The two big words that come up when parents talk about this float are “simple” and “stable.” They like that it is so simple, and they feel safe with their babies in it because it doesn’t lean one way or another when the baby reaches over the sides.
Pros
- Very simple design
- Very stable, even in lakes with small waves and pools with splashing children
Cons
- No sun screen
7. SwimWays Infant Baby Spring Float with Adjustable Sun Canopy – Blue
This wide float is very sturdy in water, even if there are people splashing and making waves in the pool. That makes it pretty safe, but there is another safety feature that may make this one among the best floaties for 1-year-olds. It has handles on the side that let the grown-up keep the baby in tow. Your baby is safer when he is close by.
What Consumers are Saying
The thing that parents love most about this is the handles. That feature makes it easy to pull your baby behind you in the pool. It’s a lot safer, too. That way you can always have your kid with you, right in arm’s reach.
Pros
- Stable
- Easy to inflate
- Removable sun screen
- Handles for pulling
Cons
- As with other SwimWays floats, this one has stiff buttons on the sunscreen, which may make it hard to remove the screen
7. Paradix Whale Baby Swim Float With Sun Shade
This toddler swim float is one of the most fun on the market this year. Kids love the whale shape. And parents like the whale’s fins because it adds stability to the sides. Another thing that both kids and parents like are the extras you get with the purchase. The sun hat help protect the baby from UV rays. And you get really fun sand molds for fun at the beach.
To add, we recommend paying attention to the list of reviews on the best kiddie pools.
What Consumers are Saying
Parents really like all the extras that they get with this float. The sun hat is a big hit. And they talk about how fun it looks. Adults like fun-looking toys. It makes the pool look more inviting. Many reviews mention how solid this float feels in the water.
Pros
- Doesn’t flop around too much on the water
- Comes with a sun hat and toys
- Inflatable sun screen can be removed easily
Cons
- The compartment that the baby sits in is rather large for smaller tots, which may let them lean about too much and cause stability issues
9. Intex Kiddie Float
The best swim floaties for toddlers are stable enough to not tip with very active kids in them. The square shape of this float makes it among the most stable. It is almost tip-proof. The canopy is integral to the float, meaning that it is all one piece.
That keeps it from getting lost. It’s actually more like a roof. There are toy balls attached to a bar right in front of the baby. That’s great because kids can get bored even while swimming.
Furthermore, you can also choose the best pool floats for tanning yourself.
What Consumers are Saying
Parents frequently talk about how safe they feel when their kid is in this float. Many say how their bouncy baby can’t tip it over no matter how hard they try. A few have even commented that their three and four-year-old kids like it and use it with no problem. That’s a testament to the stability of this one.
Pros
- Incredibly stable
- Extra toys hold baby’s attention
- Inflatable canopy doesn’t move the way removable sun shades can
Cons
- It’s a bit bulky when deflated and will take up a bit of storage room
10. V Convey Mambobaby Float With Canopy
This baby pool float with a canopy is made to last. It can never go flat because it’s made of solid foam with a fabric covering it on the outside. Some foam floats can tip easily, but this one has a removable tail that makes it much more stable. Even heavier kids who like to thrash around a lot will have trouble topping this one.
What Consumers are Saying
Parents like that this float cannot go flat and sink. And they love the fact that their kids can learn to backstroke and breaststroke. Most floats don’t allow that. Many parents that we’ve talked to say the best feature is the removable tail. It adds stability all around the float.
Pros
- Highly stable
- Solid foam
- Comfortable
Cons
- Pretty expensive compared to inflatable floats
Factors To Consider When Shopping For A Baby Float
The capacity of the float
One of the most important things to consider is the size of your kid versus the capacity of the float. All kid’s swimming floats have limits. Some express this limit as a weight, while some go with age. Either way, make sure that your child will be within the provided limits through at least the end of the swimming season.
Stability
Stability is another safety factor that you must consider. Square floats are the most stable. As far as roundish floats go, those with dual rings are typically wider, and thus more stable.
Mechanism
You also have to look at the mechanism that holds the baby. For small babies, you want a harness-type restraint so the baby can’t fall out. Older kids do well with simple leg holes. No one knows your baby better than you do. Check the seat and think about how safe your baby will be in it. A swim-safe float doesn’t necessarily need restraints. You just want to make sure the baby can’t slip out the bottom or tip the float over easily.
Sunscreens
Some floats have sunscreens, which are sometimes called canopies. They are good for blocking harsh sunlight. But they do make it harder for you to put the baby in and take him out of the float. Removable sunscreens are great. They give you the best of both worlds. Sunscreens are unnecessary for indoor pools.
FAQ
Are Floats Made Of Toxic Materials?
None of the floats we reviewed are made of any materials that are considered toxic. There are numerous chemicals that plastic products are commonly made of that are linked to health problems in children. Most of these chemicals have a very strong smell, so you should avoid floats that have a strong chemical smell.
If you’re shopping online, check the reviews. And check out this list of toxic chemicals that are sometimes found in plastic toys. Make sure none of them are in the float you buy. We were very diligent during our research to be sure that none of the babies floats that we reviewed contained any of these chemicals.
Can Floats Tip In The Water?
No float is 100 percent immune to tipping. To avoid this, get a float that is the right size for your baby. Also keep in mind that the wider it is, the more stable it is. But most importantly, never leave your baby unattended in a pool.
How Do I Store Baby Pool Floats?
Proper storage will prevent mold. Mix up some cleaner with one gallon of water, 125 ml of vinegar, and one cup of baking soda. Use this mixture to clean the float with a soft sponge or rag. Then let it dry completely. When dry, fully deflate it. Store it in its original packaging if possible, or in a small box to protect it from being punctured.
Are Foam Or Inflatable Baby Floats Better?
It depends. Inflatable floats are usually cheaper, and they take up less room in storage. They’re also easier to pack to take on trips. Foam floats are more expensive and bulkier because they can’t be deflated or folded. But they cannot go flat.
Are Pool Floats Made Of Latex?
No, they are not. Inflatable floats are made of various types of vinyl, the most common being PVC.
Conclusion
Safety should be your top concern when shopping for a float for your baby. The best baby float on our list is probably the Mambobaby by V Convey. It can’t lose air or sink because it isn’t inflatable. And it is very stable due to its size.
If you’re teaching a toddler to swim, the SwimSchool Original Deluxe TOT Swim Trainer may be a better choice. It’s not a toy. It’s an actual swim training float.
Regardless of your child’s age, never leave him or her in the pool without supervision. No float can prevent drowning, and an accident can happen in just seconds.