7 Best play sprinklers for kids, according to an expert
Kids sprinklers are a fun and safe way to help your child forget about trips to the waterpark. Shop our favorite options.
Jessica Migala
Jessica Migala
Stake this large, inflatable watermelon-shaped sprinkler into the ground and let kids run around it. The sprinkler doesn’t have attachments that can hurt their feet, making it a safe option for day-long fun. It’s also easy to blow up with a pump or even a hair dryer.
This splash pad has an inflatable ring at the edge and its bottom slightly inflates for a soft landing. Water shoots out around the ring of this dinosaur sprinkler. Keep in mind that water collects at the bottom. That’s certainly fun (more splashes), but it also requires adult supervision for little kids. As little as a half-inch of water that collects can pose a risk of drowning to little ones. Just as you’d monitor them in a pool, keep an eye on them with a splash pad-type sprinkler.
This happy unicorn inflatable sprinkler stands at more than six feet tall. The water shoots out of her horn, which means that it sprays from the top (rather than the ground), making it unique among standard sprinklers. It connects to a regular garden hose for easy set-up and also comes in other shapes, like a snake and a pink elephant.
The rainbow is 5-and-a-half feet tall and sprays water under the arch, so kids can take turns running through it — you can buy the electric air pump separately if you don’t have one for easy install. When filled with sand or water, the clouds at the base help the sprinkler stay put.
Just hook up the hose and the caterpillars will get to work squirting water around. It’s lightweight (just one pound), has a small profile so it won’t take up much space in the yard and you can set it so that it sprays low or high — it’s designed for kids ages 3 to 6.
The sprinkler may stand at just under 11-inches tall but it’s got some power to it, spraying up to 10 feet high and 16 feet on the sides. The spray is adjustable, too, so you can tone it down to make it less intimidating for little kids.
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