11 hours ago
24 Products You'll Want If Your Kid Is Half Fish
A spacious inflatable pool so they can enjoy a refreshing dip to stretch their fins, even if you don't have an in-ground pool. But honestly, who needs to deal with the upkeep of that if you can just whip this bad boy out whenever you please?!
Or, a splurge-worthy above-ground pool because you don't have the space or moolah to put in a traditional pool, but you still want your kiddo to have a place to swim that doesn't require a car trip and lugging a bajillion things to the community pool.
A pack of pool noodles perfect for floating, making rafts, or having (harmless) sword fights.
Promising review: "At first, I thought, who would review pool noodles? Then I realized - because no one does, you don't realize how magnificent these pool noodles are. Over the past few weeks, I have really put these to the test. First, they float like nobody's business. You can't ask for better floating foam noodles. Even when you try to sink them, they float right back up. They never give up. But then, the real test — mock sword battles. I was the terror of the household. I could not be defeated. It was like I *WAS* the Immortal. There can be only one, and it is me. (cue Queen music now). But the most amazing thing of all is that after that — THEY STILL FLOAT! They just bob along the top of the water, waiting for their next assignment. I have used them to lie on, sit on, you name it. They just float and don't give up. So if you really want pool noodles that float, get these. You will not regret it, and your neighbors will want to be you." —N. Tara SmithGet five from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in 12 different color combinations).
Some goggles with a click-open clasp and mirrored lenses, because it's 2025, and someone finally invented a version that doesn't fog up or pull your hair out when you take 'em off. Gone are the days of fighting your kiddo to get out of the pool just to have to wrestle their goggles off, yanking their hair in the process, and making an already grumpy kid grumpier. Those wails will never be heard again.
Or a pair of Frogglez that have fully redesigned the goggle game. Like, seriously, who thought it was a good idea to make the strap a piece of plastic that gets wrapped around your hair and then rips HUGE clumps out when you take them off?! These are made with a neoprene strap and have adjustable Velcro so they can actually fit each kiddo's head comfortably.
A one-piece swimsuit rash guard with a zipper that goes the entire length of the bathing suit 'cause there's nothing worse than trying to wrestle a soggy baby to change their diaper or get them into dry clothes and having to pull off their bathing suit. That's basically like a giant finger trap, but with their entire body. Struggles, begone!
It's also UPF 50+! UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) is a measure of how much UV radiation reaches your skin through a fabric. UPF 50 means it's designed to block 98% of the sun's review: "I absolutely love this long-sleeve UPF 50+ swimsuit for my 2-year-old daughter! The flower print is so cute, and the full-coverage design is exactly what I was looking for. It even has longer legs that go past her knees, which is a huge bonus. Living in Hawaii, I'm very aware of the risks of sun damage and skin cancer, so having a suit like this gives me peace of mind. I don't have to use as much sunscreen, and she stays protected while still being comfortable and stylish. Fits true to size, and she moves around easily in it. Highly recommend for any parent who wants a cute and functional suit for sun safety!" —Lauren Day | Hawaii Mom LifeGet it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in six sizes and 19 patterns).
A four-pack of Toypedo Bandits, which are like the main toy I can remember playing with my whole childhood. These bad boys can glide for up to 20 feet so your little one can have fun chasing them all around.
For ages 5+.Promising review: "Really fun for the kids — keeps them in the pool longer, and I like that these sink quickly and move a bit from where they enter the water so kids have to look around a bit for them they aren't just literally right below where tossed in. That can be tricky for little kids just learning to dive for stuff because they may travel deeper than intended, but I'd say for 7+ these are super, and good for 5–6 if experienced in swimming underwater/diving for toys." —MeeeeeeeeGet it from Target for $5.
An easy-to-pack, UPF 50+ wide-brim bucket hat to help shield their face when they refuse to get out of the pool to reapply sunscreen on time. This way, you'll know they are shaded from the hot sun while they're in the pool, turning into a prune for hours on end.
A pre-swim hair cream that can help protect their hair from the damaging chlorine while they're swimming laps or playing mermaids. This stuff will help prevent their strands from getting dry and brittle and can save anyone with blonde locks from the dreaded greenish tint that sometimes makes an appearance in the summer.
An inflatable basketball hoop set so they can practice their game without getting out of the water. It even comes with the ball so you're ready to get dunking right away.
Promising review: "This was by far the hit of my child's pool party. The kids played with it for hours. It stayed inflated throughout the summer. The basketball that comes with it is heavy enough to bounce on the pool deck and also easy and light enough to shoot when swimming in the pool. I hope it reinflates without any issues next summer. That said, I will happily buy another one if it doesn't — it was that much fun." —NEReviewerGet it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in two colors).
Huggies Little Swimmers diapers with easy-to-open sides so you can whip them off when you're in a hurry to change them into clothes when they finally agree to come out of the water.
An underwater search and find game equipped with 64 colorful gems and cards so your fish (ahem, I mean kid) can memorize the card, dive down, and rush to be the first to find the correct combination of gems. This will help them learn how to dive down and hold their breath!
Neutrogena Beach Defense Water Resistant Sunscreen to help prevent sunburn with 70 SPF. It's also water resistant for up to 80 minutes so they can enjoy much more time jumping in the waves or off the diving board.
A long-sleeve, UPF 50+ kids zipper rash guard swim shirt that might help prevent sunburns without having to reapply sunscreen every hour and ruining all the fun they're having splashing around. The full zipper also makes it way easier to get it on and off.
Promising review: "I've bought two of these so far as my kid has gotten older and will likely continue to buy a new one annually. My toddler wears his every day to the beach; no sunburns yet! The zipper is essential — it makes it so easy to take it on and off when wet. The fit is fairly true to size, but you may as well size up so it'll fit for longer (you can always roll up the sleeves). I've also tried hooded sun shirts but have found the hood to be too much trouble when wet; this version paired with a sun hat and some sun leggings is a good compromise." —TulipGet it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in sizes 0 months–14 years and 29 colors).
A Melissa & Doug "Louie Lobster" claw catcher pool toy, which is not only a super fun and unique game, but also helps them work on their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. This is great if you're ~in a pinch~ and forgot all your other toys 'cause it'll keep them entertained for a looong time.
For ages 5+.Promising review: "My 3-year-old is obsessed with this toy. LOL, worth every penny!" —JpoGet it from Target for $10.89.
A three-pack of inflatable pool floats smaller than traditional floats so they're the perfect size for your little ones. Plus, they come in a variety of ~delicious~ designs that make them even more fun.
For ages 9+.Promising review: "I bought these not expecting much from them. I thought they'd just be some cheap rings that I'd have to throw after a single the are awesome. The material is very strong, and the rings [are] big enough for an adult. Easy to inflate and very strong. The colors and patterns are vibrant as well. No complaints. I would purchase them again! Definitely!" —JoshuaGet them from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in five designs).
A pop-up beach tent with a cutie lil' built-in "pool" area so your tiny, aquatic-loving kiddo can feel the refreshing water without you panic holding them the whole time. It even has UPF 50+ protection so you can feel good knowing your bebe is shielded from the sun while they play in the sand (and water).
A six-pack of "Max Liquidator" water blasters to really elevate the pool or ocean to a whole new level. Turn it into an intense game of tag and see who can avoid getting sprayed the longest!
Promising review: "I got these for my kids to play in the pool with, and they most certainly didn't disappoint. The maximum range on these (around 30 feet with a little elbow grease put into it) surpasses any Super-Soaker that I've ever tried, and they're extremely easy to use. Granted, they have no water reservoir, so you have to use them in the pool, lake, ocean, etc., for them to be effective, but aside from that, they are a fantastic water toy. Plus, they're brightly colored and float on the surface of the water so almost impossible to lose." —iEspressoGet them from Amazon for $20.14.
A set of three collapsible swim-thru rings so they can practice their mermaid skills without requiring you to stand with your legs spread apart while they try to swim through.
Promising review: "I got these for my 5-year-old son who just learned to swim this summer, so he can practice holding his breath and swimming underwater. I love that you don't need any extra tools to inflate or deflate. What you need is what you get. Very easy to inflate and deflate, and they actually work very well at different depths. We have a 10-foot deep end, and I was able to keep them 1-foot above the bottom and have my son swim through. My son is a fish now, surprised at how well he is able to swim after only learning a couple of months ago. Good purchase and keeps the kids busy." —AndrewGet them from Amazon for $19.47.
A floating cornhole game that'll let them enjoy the classic backyard game while still making sure they don't turn into a fish out of water. Just be warned, the floating aspect might make this a biiit more challenging.
It comes with the inflatable corn-hole game board, eight waterproof buoyant bean bags (four yellow and four blue), and a mesh carrying review: "I bought this for the Fourth of July as a fun pool game. It didn't take long to inflate with the little hand pump we had. No issues at all with the actual bean bags themselves. They float, which is great. The fact that the game itself floats and moves around adds a nice challenge element. Great price and I'd say I got my money's worth for the fun we had." —Lauren P. Get it from Amazon for $25.99.
A mini sprinkler pool for your kiddos to splash around in and cool off without having to dump what seems like two TONS of water out of a kiddie pool when the fun is over.
A deck of waterproof cards so they don't have to choose between a rousing game of hearts and taking a dip in the pool. The card competition is gonna heat up while they still get to cool off.
A giant inflatable dinosaur sprinkler that sprays water out of its nose and is a DINO-mite way to cool off when it's so hot outside you feel like your skin could start melting off at any moment. Perfect for your fishy kids who may not be able to actually visit a pool every single day, but still need to make sure they don't dry out being on land without water for too long.
A waterproof baby wrap so you can enjoy the pool without worrying about holding on to your kiddo for dear life. This is also great for anyone watching two little ones because you can be hands free and ready to play with the older one. Now, if you have to have your baby attached to your body, it can at least be while you're cooling off in the pool instead of just having your two sticky, hot, and sweaty bodies smushed together.
