Best for Little Ones: Melissa & Doug Splash Patrol Sprinkler

So cute! Our kid testers loved this sprinkler with worm characters in red fire fighter hats—attach a hose and it turns into a sprinkler! For ages 3 to 6 years.

What We Liked

• Fun! Gender neutral design.

• Great for kids who don’t like running through regular sprinklers.

• Cute!

• Affordable.

What Needs Work

• Doesn’t move or spin. 

Best Splash+Sprinkler: QPAU Sprinkler for Kids

For younger kiddos, having a combo sprinkler and splash pad is most fun. They can run through it or just sit in a couple of inches of water and splash.

Here’s how it works: you attach a hose and the water inflates this sprinkler, spraying out of a dozen holes on the perimeter. Hint: turn up the water slowly. If there is too much water pressure, the sprinkler will aim outside the pad—which isn’t the goal.

What We Liked

• Large 68″ wide pad works well for multiple kids.

• Can sit or run through sprinkler. Our testers like that flexibility—younger kids liked sitting and splashing, while other ones could be more active.

•  Easy to set up.

• The more water pressure, the higher the sprinkler goes! Of course, you don’t want to over do it, as you could split the vinyl.

What Needs Work

• Seams can split under high water pressure. We didn’t have a problem with this in our testing, but we’d advise slowly raising water pressure—and keep it from going full blast if you have high water pressure at your home.

• Takes some effort to drain. Since water is inside the splash pad, you need to make sure it is drained completely for storage. On the plus side, this sprinkler folds up into a small space for storage.

Best Wacky Fun: CHUCHIK Outdoor Water Spray Sprinkler for Kids and Toddlers

This one is a kid favorite—and who wouldn’t love a sprinkler that swirls in wild and wacky ways? Our testers thought it was great. And it’s easy on the wallet.

What We Liked

• Fun! Small tubes wave the water around!

• Easy to set up.

• Bonus: pets love it too.

What Needs Work

• Probably best for older kiddos. Younger toddlers may be surprised by the wild nature of this sprinkler. It may be better suited to older kids.

Best Double Use: Kadaon Garden Sprinkler

Who says you have to buy a toy sprinkler for kids? Why not use a regular garden sprinkler that swirls and spins? We liked Kadaon’s Garden Sprinkler as a good dual use sprinkler—fun for kids, but also effective for watering the lawn!

What We Liked

• Fun for older kids who run through it!

• Easy to use.

• Spin + swirl motion!

• Great for parties. This sprinkler sprays 1000 square feet—good for multiple kids or parties.

• Affordable.

What Needs Work

• Plastic spike can break. The spike that anchors this sprinkler to the ground is make of plastic—and that can break if the ground is hard.

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing gear for children, families and the home since 1994. We do hands-on testing—we buy the products with our own money and evaluate with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

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!

Photo credit at top of article: Mi Pham