The Best Pool Floats and Toys for Grandparents and Grandkids

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Summer is almost here, and you know who is already counting the days? Your grandkids. The ones who have been asking their parents since March when they get to go to grandma and grandpa’s pool. You could set a clock by it.

So this summer, why not surprise them a little?

Picture their faces when they walk into the backyard and the pool is stocked with floats and inflatables they have never seen before.

The giant flamingo. The pizza slice. The float that looks like a donut the size of a car tire. You know the look I mean. Eyes wide, mouth open, already running toward the water before anyone can say put on sunscreen.

That is the kind of summer afternoon that sticks. The kind they talk about at school in September.

I put together this list with both sides of the pool in mind.

Floats that are comfortable for adults who want to enjoy the water without climbing onto something designed for a twenty-year-old.

Inflatables that will keep grandkids busy, happy, and coming back to your house every chance they get.

And….

…inflatable toys that go directly in the pool that will make your grandchildren “Where did you get thiiiiiiiiis!!!”

Without further ado, here is my list of cool pool floats and toys for both grandparents and grandkids. Enjoy.

Comfortable Floats for Grandparents

A good adult float does two things: it supports your back, and it is easy to get on and off. That second part gets left out of most product descriptions, but it matters. Nobody wants to wrestle their way onto a float in front of an audience of grandchildren.

Look for floats with mesh seating that sits you in the water rather than on top of it, built-in backrests, and frames that hold their shape without overinflating. Something like this one – click here.

If you plan to spend a few hours in the pool, a headrest and cup holder go from nice extras to essentials very quickly. Something like this float shown below. Click here to find out more.

Floats and Inflatables for Young Grandkids

For little ones, the float has to be stable and it has to have something for them to hold onto. Fun shapes are a bonus, but safety comes first. A wide base, leg holes for toddlers, and a canopy for sun protection are the things to look for.

None of these replace watching them. They just make the watching more relaxed because the float is doing some of the work for you.

I have yet to test any of these pool floats for younger kids, but I will for sure update the list once I found the best one.

Floats for Older Grandkids and Teenagers

Once grandkids hit about eight or nine, they do not want to sit on a float. They want to climb it, fall off it, fight over it, and then do the whole thing again. The float becomes the activity.

The giant animal ride-ons, the novelty food shapes, the floats that connect together so they can build a raft with their cousins. That is what keeps older kids in the pool for three hours straight while you sit comfortably on your own float and enjoy the peace.

For boys you should consider pool floats in the shape of dinosaurs or sharks. Bonus point if they have a water squirt gun like this one from Amazon.

…and glow in the dark animal floats for girls

For granddaughters pick fancy animal pool floats that glow in the dark like this flamingo one or this zebra one.

Or pool float toys for all your grandchildren

If you are looking for an evergreen inflatable pool toy like Tic Tac Toe, then click here.

For inflatable volleyball and basketball set click here.

For inflatable pool dart board in the cute frog shape click here.

For different inflatable ring toss games click here.

And for cute inflatable flamingo hats that act as a ring toss game, click here.

A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Buy

• Check the weight limits, especially on floats that will be shared between adults and bigger kids. Most are rated for around 200 to 250 pounds, but cheaper options sometimes fall short.
• Buy a pump. A small electric one or even a manual foot pump saves you real effort. Inflating a large float by mouth in the sun is nobody’s idea of a good time.
• Rinse everything after each use if the pool is chlorinated, and store your floats deflated and out of the sun. It makes a surprising difference to how long they last.
• And if you are putting together a gift for the grandkids, a float with a bottle of sunscreen and a pair of goggles in a pool bag is a simple combination that covers everything they need for the day.

What does pool day look like at your house when the grandkids come over? I would love to hear what works for your family.