Childhood is all about magic, wonder, fantasy and mythical creatures, which is probably why mermaid toys have become so popular. Much like unicorn toys and llama toys, mermaids are one of the main choices when it comes to kids toys, birthday parties and gifts.
Toys for boys and girls are a great way to nurture your child's imagination, with a bright and colourful toy they will dream the day away with. Much like many toys on the market, mermaid toys are creative and colourful, sparking off a streak of imaginative play sessions. With Disney's latest live action offering, The Little Mermaid, there's even a whole new world of The Little Mermaid merchandise to collect. There's hours of mermaid fun to be had with some of the paint, dress-up and LEGO options below.
Editor's Choice
• Best mermaid toy for creativity: Glitter Mermaid Mould and Paint
• Best mermaid toy for painting: The Little Mermaid Suncatcher Paint Set
• Best mermaid doll with accessories: Fisher-Price Shimmer and Shine Rainbow Zahramay Mermaid Shimmer
• Best mermaid LEGO set: LEGO DUPLO Disney Princess Ariel's Undersea Castle Toy
From classic Ariel toys from Disney, to fun mermaid slime, we've done our research to find the best mermaid-inspired toys that we think your tot will love.
Best mermaid toy for creativity
If your little one loves getting stuck into an arts and crafts project, this is an ideal choice. Not only will they be able to mix their own plaster and pour it into each mould, they'll also get to decorate each model once dry. It can then be used as a fridge magnet or even a badge.
One reviewer said: "Great for rainy days or school holidays. easy to use. good fun. This was good value for money and a good starter set for those of us not well used to crafts - Dads could use this no probs."
Pros
- Six designs
- Creative play
Cons
- Careful with the glitter
Best mermaid fidget toy
www.ebay.co.uk
Any parent will know how popular these fidget toys are currently, and we love this mermaid-themed pop toy. It's bright and colourful, plus it's perfect for entertaining them when you're out and about or in the car. These kinds of toys are also brilliant for kids with ADD or ADHD and OCD.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Colourful design
Cons
- No reviews yet
Best unique mermaid toy
www.notonthehighstreet.com
This cute little growing set is not only perfect for mini mermaid lovers, it'll also encourage your little one to get outdoors and learn more about the nature around them, as they watch their magic beans grow into stalks. This would make a lovely gift for fans of the ocean too.
Pros
- Beautifully packaged
- Comes with easy instructions
Cons
- Take patience
Best mermaid bag
Ideal as an overnight bag or for swimming stuff, this fun and dazzling drawstring bag features a reversible sequin design which your little one will love. It also features adjustable straps to fit most toddlers and kids. If they're a fan of all things sparkles, they'll be obsessed with this pick.
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One reviewer said:** "Bought as a birthday gift for my great niece. Great size for ballet swimming etc… I purchased the larger one. She started playing with the sequinned outer right away. Loved it."
Pros
- 5 colour options
- Lightweight
Cons
- May be too small for some
Best mermaid home décor
We love this enchanting mermaid-inspired night light from Amazon. It features a huge range of different coloured light effects and brightness modes to suit all children and their preferred lighting mode and colour. To create a more magical atmosphere in their room, you can't go wrong with this fantastic pick.
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One reviewer said:** "Bought for my 5yr old granddaughter, she absolutely loves it. She loves being able to change the colours and being able to dim and brighten the colours. Fantastic value for money."
Pros
- Multiple modes
- Easy to use
Cons
- None
Best mermaid slime
www.etsy.com
We apologise in advance for this one, but there is no denying how much our kids love some themed slime! This mermaid-inspired slime is coloured with beautiful purple and turquoise shades as well as pearls, gems and a mermaid tail for that finishing touch. They'll hopefully find this as magical as we do.
One reviewer said: "My girls absolutely loved this slime. Susannah is such a lovely lady! There was a few issues with postage (completely out of Susannah’s control) and she responded to my messages quickly and answered all my queries and it was sorted quickly. Will definitely be putting in an order for Christmas!"
Pros
- Unique design
- High-quality
Cons
- Could get messy
Best mermaid toy for painting
www.shopdisney.co.uk
With four different suncatcher designs featuring Ariel, Flounder, Sebastian, and seahorses, plus nine lovely paint colours to decorate with, these fabulous suncatchers can be attached to windows once dried with the suction cups provided. Mini Disney fans are bound to fall in love with this one (because we definitely have).
Pros
- Beautiful designs
- Comes with paint options
Cons
- Paint brush not included
Best mermaid toy for design
www.ebay.co.uk
These squishy and colourful shells are hiding a cool mermaid surprise inside. All your child needs to do is squeeze the clam shell to make the magic happen. These are a fab example of a simple oh so effective mermaid toy that can entertain them for ages if you're lucky.
Pros
- Squishy texture
- Easy to use
Cons
- No reviews yet
Best mermaid costume
www.shopdisney.co.uk
No dressing up costume collection, big or small, is complete without a fabulous and dazzling mermaid costume, right? We love this stunning Little Mermaid costume from the Disney Store, inspired by Ariel in the latest live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. All they need is a sparkly headband, and they're good to go.
One reviewer said: "Beautiful dress, very happy little mermaid on her 4th birthday!"
Pros
- Stretchy back for comfort
- Sequin-embellishments
Cons
- Limited size range
Best mermaid doll with accessories
Your mermaid loving toddler will fall in love with this Fisher Price Shine Magic Mermaid. Inspired by a popular TV show, just pop her in the bath and watch her hair change colour. She has a beautiful sparkly tail that moves, and comes with a glittery comb and a cute little seahorse friend. A lovely little toy, and great value, too.
One reviewer said: "So, so pretty! The kids are absolutely going mad for shimmer and shine dolls recently .. and I can see why!"
Pros
- Comes with accessories
- Beautiful design
Cons
- Careful with the small accessories
Best mermaid baby doll
This adorable mermaid transforms from a baby to a mermaid in the swish of a tail. She can be used in and out of water, so can keep your little one entertained all day long. She comes with her very own bottle and even wets her nappy, just like a real baby. What toddler doesn’t love playing mums and dads with their very own doll? The fact that she turns into a mermaid makes playing even more magical.
One reviewer said: "Good for the money granddaughter loved it."
Another said: "Great buy and great value. My 3 year old loves this baby."
Pros
- Designed for easy use
- Accessories included
Cons
- One reviewer was disappointed that it doesn't actually swim
Best mermaid LEGO set
You can’t go wrong with some LEGO DUPLO. Team it with the popular Disney movie, The Little Mermaid, and you’re onto a winner. This lovely Disney Princess Ariel’s Undersea Castle Toy is the perfect toy to encourage imaginative role-play for your mermaid loving tot. It comes with Ariel and Flounder figures, a carousel, a treasure chest, a xylophone, and other lovely magical trinkets. Let their imaginations run wild.
One reviewer said: "My grand-daughter (age 2) was delighted with this. Her big sister helped build it … and then the birthday girl instantly took it apart again! But very pleased nevertheless."
Pros
- Great for motor skills
- Fun design
Cons
- Careful with smaller pieces
Best personalised mermaid toy
www.etsy.com
How adorable are these mermaid dolls? Made from plush and soft cotton, your toddler will cuddle up and befriend these cute little rag doll mermaids. They can even be personalised with your little one’s name, using high quality glitter lettering. This would be perfect as a fun birthday gift, too.
One reviewer said: "Absolutely gorgeous, my niece loved it, thank you so much."
Another said: "Super cute, really lovely product. The name is an iron on transfer, I thought it was stitched but it's still great."
Pros
- Super soft
- Personalised
Cons
- Name ironed on, not sewn
Where did mermaids come from for kids?
Originally mermaids were a part of Greek mythology - they were sirens that were half-woman half-bird, but then later on it became half-woman and half-fish instead. They were more likely to be a mysterious villain in the story than a cute character. It wasn't until more popular iterations of mermaids, like Disney's The Little Mermaid, came about that we started thinking of them as fun and magical mythical creatures. That's why things like Little Mermaid dolls and mermaid-themed parties are now so popular with kids.
What to consider when choosing a mermaid toy for your child?
When it comes to mermaid toys, make sure that your child is keen on the design and type of toy, plus, most importantly, ensure that they're a fan of mermaids to start with. Nothing worse than getting them a mermaid toy and realising they're more into unicorns.
As long as it's appropriate for their age and easy for them to play with, a mermaid toy should be an instant winner but, if you are unsure, you can always ask them to see if that's what they actually want. If they are a fan of mermaids, you can take it to the next level and add mermaid home décor like mermaid lamps and mermaid duvets to their set-up.
How we test and choose recommended products
Our product recommendations are based on a combination of real-world testing from our burgeoning army of mum testers and the extensive knowledge of our experienced editorial team and product specialists. Where we can, we also consult experts who specialise in that field to ensure you get the right advice along with the right product, and we listen to what you say as well.
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For essential products, our annual Mother&Baby Awards shortlist the top products tested. Full reviews from our mum testers can be found on our product pages. The winners and runners-up for each category will also appear in our top picks article for that product, along with other products that were rated highly by our team.
Emily Gilbert is a Digital Writer for Mother&Baby and has written for the website and previously the magazine for six years. Specialising in product reviews, Emily is the first to know about all the exciting new releases in the parenting industry.