Whenever there's a bout of good weather in the UK, it's like there's a bat signal in the sky shaped like a paddling pool. They're a must-have. As well as a way to cool the kids (and adults) down on hot days, they can keep the little ones entertained for hours at a time - and who doesn't want that? That's where the best splash pads come in...
While paddling pools are brilliant, they can take some time to inflate, fill, and empty, they can damage your grass, and aren't always suited to all ages in your household, so if you're looking for an alternative, let us introduce you to splash pads. You get all the hydration of a paddling pool but with a real energy-burning twist - sprinklers!
Not only are they quick and easy to set up, but they're also fun, feature educational patterns on them, and are easy to put away and store. It's a win-win.
To help you find the splash pad that's right for your family, we've rounded up the best-rated out there.
The best splash pads
Description
Featuring numbers and animals, this large sprinkler pad comes with five repair patches as a bonus.
Diameter: 172cm
Review: "I bought this as I wanted something quick that can be setup rather than waiting for the pool to fill up. Worked out great! It's also quite quick to empty and put away! My son loves it. He puts his slide at one end and slides into and through it onto the grass. The sprinklers managed to get to around 50-60cm. Seller is good, I had a query about the adaptor and they responded quickly."
Description
Featuring shapes, animals, numbers, and more, this splash pad will comfortably suit three or four toddlers.
Diameter: 170cm
Review: "Absolutely loved this! If you're looking for something to keep the kids entertained whilst you sunbathe and get yourself an English/Miami tan. This is the product! I have bought water slides with a sprinkler system before and it was disappointing. It was more of a trickle, so I was dubious about this... but it was fab! Really good quality. Does what it says! Hours of fun for kids and grownups alike."
Description
This square-shaped splash pad has a cool surfer dude motif and the sprinkler height can be adjusted via hose pressure.
Diameter: 170cm
Review: "My daughter loves this and has had some great times in it already. I like that I can control the water fountains and it holds just the right amount of water in the bottom for her to have loads of fun playing with water toys splashing about and sliding down her slide into it."
Description
This bright and colourful mat features an adorable rainbow and unicorn design, perfect for unicorn-mad tots. Ir provides plenty of room for at least two to three kids and has been praised by parents for being nice and easy to set-up and install.
Diameter: 172cm
Review: "With the weather so hot I thought this would be a great treat for the kids but seems even the adults loved it 🙂 It's very well made and was easy to install the hosepipe to it. As a lovely pattern on it. For the price, I was surprised to see how great the quality was. I thought it would be extremely sloppy with water on it too but didn't seem that way at all. Great edition to the summer this year 🙂 I highly recommend this item!"
Description
This splash pad will happily fit a family of four and features a map of the world as an extra educational bonus. It's a shallow water pool for baby, a wading pool, and a sprinkler all in one!
Diameter: 172cm
Review: "I bought this wonderful splash pad For my 5 & 7 yr old to beat the heatwave. The hose fills the outer layer, which in turn then provides the sprinklers. This was incredible and both children were in fits of giggles the whole time! The sprinkler height can be adjusted, by hose pressure. The pool in the middle also fills up as time goes on. My children have asked to go in the "sprinkler pool" every day since we have had it. I can see it being used a lot. I would thoroughly recommend it."
Description
There are four different designs and sizes available for this mat, but we particularly love this unique starfish-shaped splash pad with cute little marine animals swimming freely around the transparent outer ring.
Diameter: 68 inches
Review: "A reusable padding pool/sprinkler system…takes a few minutes to get going (bear with it!) but once it’s in full flight the kids really enjoyed it! Easy to empty and fold away for another time. Would really recommend it for the price."
Description
Want your kids to learn the alphabet while they play? This mat is covered with colours, animals, and letters and has a fun, unique, height-adjustable octopus sprinkler in the centre.
Diameter: 160cm
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Are splash pads safe?
Yes, splash pads are perfectly safe if you inflate them properly. You make sure children are supervised to play with the mat safely.
As with most water toys, there's always the safety concern of slippery surfaces, especially if excitable tots are running about. To minimise the risk, we recommend picking an option with a non-slip bottom. Make sure the water pressure isn't too high - this can usually be adjusted using the hose tap.
Are splash pads sanitary?
Yes, inflatable splash pads that you use at home are sanitary as you're using the same, completely clean water that you receive within the home. However, they can get a little dirty as kids hop on and off the grass, so you should make sure to clean the mat after every playtime to prevent diseases and germs.