Getting some sprinklers for your kids may not be the top of your list, but, trust us, when the temperatures rise, you'll be glad you got yourself some. As the days get sunnier, children start to spend more time playing outside. However, the increasing temperatures can be a worry as you don't want your little ones overheating. This is where sprinklers for kids can really come in handy.
Similar to paddling pools, sprinklers for kids are great for a refreshing spray of water to keep your children nice and cool when it's warm outside - and not to mention they're fun too! They can spend hours dodging the water and then getting caught by the sprinkler. It's just good, simple fun.
The best sprinklers for kids come in all shapes and sizes, and you'll also find that they vary in cost. You'll one with features that work for your family, but also one that works for your outdoor space or garden - you don't want to accidentally spray the neighbours after all!
Editor's Choice
• Best kids sprinkler for entertainment: Summer Waves Octopus Toss Ring Sprinkler
• Best kids sprinkler for design: Float Joy Giant Inflatable Unicorn Sprinkler
• Best sprinkler for family fun: Bestway Limbo Sprinkler
Sprinklers for kids can be a truly splash-tastic addition to your garden, so if you've already snapped up a splash mat, paddling pool, and an inflatable, a sprinkler will round off the water toys in your collection. Check out all our favourites down below.
The best sprinklers for kids 2023
Best kids sprinkler for entertainment
www.argos.co.uk
Not only is the Summer Waves Octopus Toss Ring Sprinkler a wonderfully designed sprinkler, it also features a plethora of fun games, including a ring toss element. It has multiple built-in sprayers, so they can just go crazy with the water, and cool down effortlessly. We think this would be a fab option for birthday parties.
One reviewer said: "Works very well with our garden hose; sprouts water high and wide. My 3 year old nephew was very happy with it."
Another reviewer said: "Water goes so high! We use it too water out grass too in the evening, it goes that far."
Pros
- Connects to standard garden hoses
- Multi-sprinkler design
Cons
- It's hard to find any
| Dimensions: | 34 x 34 x 16.5 cm |
| Age: | 3 years + |
Best kids sprinkler for play dates
The classic game of hopscotch just got a wonderfully watery twist. Little ones will hop, skip and jump their way through the course while getting blasted with water to keep them cool in the heat of the summer. We love that the Wahu Hop Skip'n Splash comes at such an affordable price and unique design.
One reviewer said: "We love it, it’s quick and easy to set up."
Another reviewer said: "My grandson has had so much fun with this water game great for these hot summer days."
Pros
- A fun game that kids and adults will enjoy
- Easy to set up
Cons
- Not as much water spray as other sprinklers for kids
| Dimensions: | 5 x 22 x 30 cm |
| Age: | 5-10 years |
Best small sprinkler for kids
A great option for those looking for a small sprinkler that will make a big impact. The top of the octopus spins to spray water in all directions, plus it's easy to connect to a water supply. This water spray sprinkler would be perfect for those with a smaller outdoor space, but it's a lot of fun regardless of the size.
One reviewer said: "Aww I think this is such a fun little garden toy, for the price, I’m really happy with it! Great fun for my toddler while the weather is so nice."
Pros
- Compact but powerful
- High water coverage
Cons
- Customers have reported it is smaller than expected
| Dimensions: | 15.4 x 14.7 x 11.6 cm |
| Age: | 3 years + |
Best kids sprinkler for design
Your children will have a magical time with this Float Joy Giant Inflatable Unicorn Sprinkler. It squirts water out of its horn, promising hours of joy, plus it stands at 5ft tall, making it an impressive summertime companion for your little ones. We love that it comes with stakes so that it won't accidentally blow away.
One reviewer said: "I got this for my niece, I was really surprised the quality. It’s not the cheap flimsy plastic you’d expect, but not quite the heavy duty raft material you see sometimes. Stands up on its own in the house. We had it staked down in the back yard with the little stakes provided and it stood just fine despite being a breezy day. If you have grass to spike it into, you’re golden, but even if you don’t, as long as it’s not windy, I bet you’d be ok. The sprinkler part works great, my nieces love it."
Pros
- Quick inflation and deflation
- Secure, sealed design
Cons
- May be too large for some gardens
| Dimensions: | 180 x 100 x 17 cm |
| Age: | 3-10 years |
Best light spray sprinkler for kids
www.argos.co.uk
Standing at an impressive 6ft, the Chad Valley inflatable rainbow will certainly stand out in your garden, and would make a lovely addition to any summer party where kids will be attending. Little ones will love the refreshing spray of water as they run underneath it, plus it's so easy to you, which means you'll love it too.
One reviewer said: "So glad we got this in time for the scorching weather! It’s bigger than I thought it’d be! The kids love it and it keeps them entertained! They’ve been riding their Step2 rollercoaster underneath it too!"
Pros
- Lightly sprays water for younger children
- Folds flat for storage
Cons
- Multiple areas to inflate, which can take time without an electric pump
| Dimensions: | 190 x 251 x 79 cm |
| Age: | 3 years + |
Best kids sprinklers for ocean fanatics
www.whsmith.co.uk
Jumping through the jaws of this shark-themed sprinkler will be a great way for children to cool down this summer. The Splashmania Shark has a truly unique design, that will provides lots of fun ideas for time outside in the summer. Just inflate and connect your hose for hours of fun for little (and big!) kids.
One reviewer said: "Bought this in time for summer and I am so glad I did! Nearly half the price of other retailers and 100 % better! Super easy to set up and the kids had fun for hours, playing games in the sun all day. Perfect for the price, we encourage you to get one too!"
Pros
- Creates an arch of lightly sprayed water
- Amazing value
Cons
- Can take time to inflate
| Dimensions: | 230 x 140 cm |
| Age: | 3 years + |
Best sprinkler for family fun
Best for family fun
See how low you can go with the Bestway limbo sprinkler. Just like the original game, the pole can be moved to different difficulty levels so your kiddos can battle it out to be the winner. The only difference is that you'll get splashed with water as you go through, making it the ideal game to play on a hot summer's day.
One reviewer said: "Well couldn't have chosen a better item due to the hot weather both children and adults had fun with this."
Another reviewer said: "Love this. Very popular at my son's party. We'll get a lot of use from this in the summer if the weather is kind!"
Pros
- Fun for kids and adults
- Made from durable and strong vinyl
Cons
- Can be difficult to get back into the box after it's been used
| Dimensions: | 10 x 29.8 x 29.2 cm |
| Age: | 3 years + |
Best spinning sprinkler for kids
www.smythstoys.com
Flinging water in all directions is this fantastic fire hydrant water sprinkler. It has 14 jets for lots of water spray - on top of that it spins around all at once, so your little ones are definitely in for a soaking during playtime. We love that you can attach this to any common garden hose, making it a convenient option.
One reviewer said: "We brought the water hydrant and it didn't disappoint. The children loved it and kept them amused for hours. We attached it to a garden hose and the water hydrant spun round spraying water everywhere. We would highly recommend it."
Pros
- Water shoots up high
- Easy to attach to any garden hose
Cons
- Some customers have commented that it is slightly smaller than they expected
| Dimensions: | 2.5 x 12 x 20 cm |
| Age: | 3 years + |
Benefits of sprinklers for kids
We know that it can be difficult as a parent to find ways of keeping your little ones entertained during the summer holiday, and these sprinkler for kids outdoor toys will be the perfect distraction from boredom. They will love splishing and splashing around in the water, getting drenched as they run through a jet, and watching each other get sprayed as they play.
Of course, a sprinkler for kids doesn't just promise fun for little ones. We're sure adults will also appreciate a drizzle to cool off from the summer sun.
Is it easy to install a sprinkler for kids?
It shouldn't be too difficult to install a sprinkler for kids as they are designed to be straightforward to set up. Each sprinkler will have its own set of instructions for you to follow, but for the most part, you should just need to connect it to the hosepipe in your garden to supply it with water.
Worried about whether or not your chosen sprinkler will fit your hosepipe? You don't need to be! You'll find many of the sprinklers in our list come with universal adaptors so that they can connect to most hosepipes.
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.
Our thriving mum community on our Facebook group #mumtribe consistently provides great insights into which products mums like best and why, helping us highlight the products that will meet your needs. 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.
Rosie Floyd is a Commercial Content Writer at Bauer Media, working across a number of brands including Yours, Mother&Baby and What’s The Best.