Is the Swimways Spring Float Paddler Inflatable Seat (for ages 9–24 months) worth buying?

If you have a baby and a pool, this float is the purchase that keeps everyone a little calmer and a lot happier. There you have it — ten pool toys that actually got used this summer, one honest ‘skip it,’ and a whole lot of wet dad shoes to show for the research. If I had to give one piece of practical advice, it’s this: resist the urge to buy everything at once. Start with dive sticks, a pump squirt gun, and a bag of pool noodles, and see what your kid actually gravitates toward before loading up on the bigger-ticket stuff. Kids are remarkably good at making fun out of almost nothing — and remarkably good at ignoring the thing you spent $40 on. Rosie has already started a list for next summer. It involves ‘a real waterslide, Dad, like a big one.’ So. That’ll be a fun budget conversation in about eight months. In the meantime, I’d love to hear what pool toys worked (or didn’t) for your family — drop a comment below and let me know what I’m missing. We’re always looking for an excuse to add to the pile.

Note W000311. Filed.