Best Pool Float With Canopy: SwimWays Baby Spring Float Activity Center with Canopy

We tried out 10 of the most popular floats for babies and toddlers with actual kids to see which ones were best. Which were most fun? Had the best sun protection? The best value?

Important safety reminder: pool floats are not life-saving devices. An adult must be in the pool and supervising a baby using a float at all times. Pool floats don’t teach babies how to swim, nor are they life jackets. Pool floats are just for fun!

For the best baby pool float with canopy, we thought SwimWays’ Baby Spring Float Activity Center was the top choice. It combined fun (toys, stacking rings) with decent sun protection—great for babies aged 9 to 24 months. Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Sun protection canopy is 50 UPF and has both nylon and mesh for air flow. Remember: a sun canopy isn’t a substitute for sunscreen, protective clothing, hat and sunglasses.

• Toys! This activity center comes with a removable octopus toy as well as fish toy, star toy, stacking rings and squeaker fish.

• Mesh seat is comfortable.

• Canopy is removable.

• Very cute.

• Extended use. You can use this pool float up to 30 lbs. or 24 months of age.

What Needs Work

• Seat may be too deep for smallest babies. We liked the mesh seat, but we noticed smaller infants can sink too deep—where the water comes up to their faces. The maker says babies should be at least nine months old to use this float.

• Takes some effort to inflate. It would be nice if this float included a small air pump—alas, no.

• Could be easier to break down and repack. 

Best Simple Baby Pool Float: Free Swimming Baby Inflatable Float Ring

This inflatable float ring positions baby on their stomach and is fun, colorful and well designed. We like that this float comes in three different sizes, for babies as young as three months up to kids age 5. That’s nice for infants, since most other pool floats are recommended for babies 9 months and up.

Based on our tests, we thought this was a good simple baby float that works well for most folks.

What We Liked

• Baby lies down at angle, with the float’s front raised to keep baby’s face out of water. This float is probably best for less-active floaters. If your baby or toddler is more active, the mesh seat baby float recommended earlier is probably a better bet.

• Safety harness goes over shoulders and waist.

• Wide for stability.

• Built-in bells. These were a hit with our testers!

What Needs Work

• No sun protection. Your baby or toddler will need a hat, sunglasses and protective clothing to use this float. Babies over six months should use sunscreen.

• Can tip over. Yes, the width of this helps keep the float stable—but that doesn’t mean it can’t tip over. As with any pool float, an adult must be with a child in the pool at all times.

• Kids sometimes slip out the back. Yes, there is a crotch strap with this float, but we see reports that some kids can still slip out the back. We didn’t find that in our testing, but it is a good reminder that you have to be in the pool with baby at all times!

• Have to be careful not to overinflate. The maker suggests filling the air chambers 80% to 90%.

Best Budget-Friendly: Swimways Baby Spring Float Sun Canopy

This baby pool float is exactly like the top pick at the top of this article—it just omits the toys. If you have your own pool toys, then this choice is easier on the wallet.

We do love how comfortable this float is, but it does take some effort to inflate. And be careful of the canopy, which snaps to the float. We see reports that the snaps can break. That said, this is still a great choice: lightweight, fun and great for travel.

Cutest Pool Float: SwimSchool Blue Fun Fish Fabric Baby Pool Float

We know—a pool float is the background for a zillion pictures of baby in the pool. Why not make it cute? When looking for quality pool floats to recommend, we thought SwimSchool’s Blue Fun Fish float hit the mark: well made and super cute.

What We Liked

• Mesh seat is comfortable.

• Sun protection canopy retracts and is removable. The coated canopy is UPF 50.

• Good for travel. This float is lightweight and comes with a carry bag.

What’s Needs Work

• Pricey.

• Hard to fold. We wish it was easier to fold up this float to get it back in the carry bag.

• Challenging to inflate. It takes a good amount of effort! We wish there was an included air pump. Alas, no.

• “Fin” on the canopy can weigh it down. We didn’t have a problem with this, but we see reports that extra weight on the canopy can make it harder for it to stay up

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability. When we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money. 

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!