5 Best Kid Sprinklers — Reviews and Buying Guide

Our selection of the best kid sprinklers that are perfect for hot summer days.
By
Daniel
Daniel
Writer
Daniel is among our most talented writers: based on the dull expert reports he's able to make up a comprehensive, reader-friendly article which anyone can benefit from. Also read more
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Reviewed By
Tom
Tom
Tom
Expert Consultant
Initially being an engineering specialist, Tom has never stopped learning and acquiring other knowledge and skills. Now he’s involved in technical support for a well-known read more
Last updated: August 14, 2023
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Imagine the summertime, when the weather is hot, and it’s hard to keep little ones cool and entertained at the same time. One solution to this problem is buying a kid sprinkler! Kids come running over, clothes soaked through in seconds, shrieking with joy as they get sprayed from head to toe.

We researched and tested more than 15 different models to determine the 5 best kid sprinklers put there. There are a few things you should look for in a decent model. One is the recommended age, to ensure your child is able to move around the sprinkler properly without getting hurt. Another is the material used to make the sprinkler, because, when kids are around, even things that may seem durable may end up breaking fast. As a result, we’ve chosen the Tidal Storm Hydro Swirl Spinning Sprinkler to be our Editor’s Choice.

Quick Summary

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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 3623 people in the past 30 days
9.9
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.6
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.4
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.8
9.9
Features
  • Recommended age: 4+
  • Material: plastic
  • Weight: 1 lbs.
  • Dimensions: 4 x 8.75 x 7.5 inches

More features: fast wiggle tubes; swirl water spout

This fun little product is one of the best kid sprinkler toys there is. It is bright and colorful, so it catches your little one’s attention right from the start. You can hook it up easily, using a standard garden hose.

Once it’s hooked up, it squirts the water out in a couple different ways. One is through the top section. This piece spins, spraying water up and around in a cool spiral. There are also six wiggle straws in varying colors. The water pressure makes these straws move around, spraying the water in all directions, so your kids never know where it will go.

Though this sprinkler can be used with lower pressure, you need higher water pressure to get the middle part spinning properly. This shoots the water up higher as well, which is great for taller kids who want to join in the fun.

This colorful product is made of durable plastic materials, which hold together without adding too much weight. This not only helps it last all summer long but makes it easy to move around the yard or take with you when visiting friends or family. It also has a compact size that takes up very little space on your lawn or anywhere you plan to store it when the weather turns chilly. The Hydro Swirl also has a great price that will fit into any budget.

    What do we love it for?
  • Bright colors
  • Spinning middle and six straws for multiple sprays
  • Very durable
  • Great low price
    What were we disappointed with?
  • Needs high water pressure
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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 2235 people in the past 30 days
9.7
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.6
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.4
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.6
9.7
Features
  • Recommended age: 3+
  • Material: heavy-duty plastic
  • Weight: 12.4 0z.
  • Dimensions: 75 x 7 x 7 inches

More features: sprays up to 10 feet high & 16 feet wide

This may be the perfect outdoor product to help your kids beat the heat of summer. The Henry the Hydrant Water Sprinkler for Kids can be attached to any standard garden hose. It can project a spray that’s 10 feet high and 16 feet wide for plenty of fun water coverage. This sprinkler is simple to set up, it’s 10.75” high and 7” wide and it can spray water in a wide arce. Kids will  have a lot of fun getting soaked in one place or running around to escape the water.

The Henry Hydrant Water Sprinkler is made of red heavy duty plastic that will be durable enough to withstand the hot outdoor summer temperatures. The bright red and yellow colors make the sprinkler stand out against the grass to reduce the risk of tripping. Because this sprinkler stands upright you can use it on any surface as long as you have a standard hose available. So. you can use this sprinkler in the backyard, at the beach, as a party favor, at the lake or anywhere else with an outdoor faucet.

This kids sprinkler is designed for ages 3 and up, but in reality it can be fun for the entire family. The Henry Hydrant Water Sprinkler for Kids is larger than most other similar products and it will take a few minutes to fill before the water starts up. This is a very affordable and fun sprinkler that will make a great summer gift for the entire family.

    Why are we impressed?
  • The bright colors
    What negatives must you be aware of?
  • It does take a little time to fill before starting to sprinkle
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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 8831 people in the past 30 days
9.6
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.1
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.4
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.4
9.6
Features
  • Recommended age: not specified
  • Material: die cast metal base
  • Weight: 0.9 lbs.
  • Dimensions: 12 x 12 x 12 inches

More features: 9 water patterns; six colors available; lifetime guarantee

Though this sprinkler isn’t actually designed for children, it is still a great option for some water play in the backyard. It is well-built, with a durable metal base that can handle some rough use. The Dramm ColorStorm Turret comes in six attractive colors, so you can pick your child’s favorite or get one that matches the outdoor décor of your yard.

There are nine different spray patterns to choose from, giving you shorter or longer sprays as needed, plus some that work well for oddly shaped areas. These also come in handy when trying to entertain the children since you can adapt it to how many of them there are trying to play under the spray.

Another reason this is one of the best kid’s sprinkler models for outdoor fun is that it is easy to use, even for little ones. Just plug in your hose, set your spray, and turn on the water. If the kiddies want to change the pattern, they can do so themselves, though they may get a bit wet in the process.

When the day is over and it is time to put this handy sprinkler away, there is a molded hook on the side opposite the hose connection. This allows you to hang your sprinkler anywhere you like, keeping it safe and out of the way. For added convenience, this model comes with a lifetime guarantee.

    What are its best features?
  • Six attractive colors
  • 9 water patterns
  • Well-built
  • Easy to use
    What could be improved?
  • Spray isn’t always uniform
  • Some patterns don’t cover large areas
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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 4630 people in the past 30 days
9.4
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
8.9
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.1
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.2
9.4
4
Best Kid’s Sprinkler for Safety

Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Blossom Bright Sprinkler

Features
  • Recommended age: 3+
  • Material: plastic
  • Weight: 1 lbs.
  • Dimensions: 9.25 x 6.25 x 4.75 inches

More features: stationary flowers; can be used for garden watering as well

The Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Blossom Bright Sprinkler has an adorable design that will look perfect in any backyard. It is made of plastic, but it is rubberized so that if your child trips and falls on this sprinkler as they play they will not be injured. It connects to a standard garden hose as well, so it only takes seconds to set up before the fun can start.

There are numerous flowers sticking up, all of which squirt water in the direction they are pointing. Because there are so many of them, though, you need to have decent water pressure to ensure it will spray to a decent height. These multiple flowers also don’t move, so the water will land in the same place, creating puddles. This means you may want to move it around your yard to distribute the water as your kids play.

Another benefit of this sprinkler is that it is not just one of the best kid’s water sprinkler for play time. When the little ones get bored or tired, you can place it in your garden to water your flowers or vegetables. You can lower the stream as well to avoid overwatering or raise it to get the job done faster.

This sprinkler is perfect for kids over three, who have the mobility to dance and play around it, moving easily on the slippery grass.

    What makes it stand out?
  • Plastic is soft and bendable
  • Decent price
  • Cute flower design
  • Attaches to any standard garden hose
    Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?
  • Needs high water pressure
  • Flowers don’t move, so puddles form quickly
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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 6789 people in the past 30 days
9.3
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.0
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
8.8
Features & Benefits
Product Review
8.8
9.3
Features
  • Recommended age: 18 months+
  • Material: PVC
  • Weight: 0.65 lbs.
  • Dimensions: 9.75 H x 54 inches in diameter

More features: water-filled sprinkler mat; attaches to any garden hose

he Banzai play mat is perfect for little ones who love to splash. It is a circular mat with a ring around the edge. To get the water flowing, all you need to do is hook up the hose and turn it on. Then the water fully inflates the ring, pushing it out through the sprinkler holes around sides. The water also collects in the middle play area, so your baby can splash in a mini pool.

The design is eye-catching, with fish, starfish, turtles, an octopus, and a seahorse swimming around on the play mat. The bright colors attract your baby’s attention as they splash in the water. You can set the water’s stream to your desired speed, though if you run it too slow the outer ring won’t fill up and the sprinkler holes won’t spray.

This little sprinkler play mat is easy to set up. Just remove it from the box, lay it flat, and hook up the water. Because the plastic is a bit thin and the mat gets slippery once it is wet, it is best to place it on grass or some other soft surface. This will help prevent injuries to your child and tears in the PVC material.

The Banzai mat is easy to store. Just drain the water and hang it to dry. Then fold or roll it up and place it somewhere out of the sun.

    What are its best features?
  • Low price
  • Adorable design
  • Easy to store
  • Kids can sit or lie on it
    What could be improved?
  • A bit slippery
  • Plastic is a bit thin


Things to Consider

Summer is hot and uncomfortable if you don’t have the right equipment to keep you cool. For little ones, a sprinkler is a must-have item for comfort and summer fun. There are numerous types of sprinklers, with different designs and features to compare. You need to check these out, plus make sure it will be a good option for your child’s age in order to ensure it will get plenty of use.

What benefits can a sprinkler bring to you and your kids?

There are many different ways a sprinkler can benefit you and your children. First, they offer a ton of entertainment as your kids run around under the spray. Summer is hot as well and having a sprinkler running in your backyard can keep you and your little ones cool on those extra warm days.

While the sprinkler is running, it is watering your lawn at the same time, keeping it lush and green. Even when the kids playing with it, you can use it for this purpose, moving it around your yard and garden to help everything grow.

These little sprinklers are also compact, so they fit in even small yards, plus store easily at the end of the season.

Features to consider while choosing a kid sprinkler

If you’re in the market for a sprinkler, there are few features to consider before you buy. This will make sure you have a decent product that will be right for your child.
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Recommended age

Many of the best sprinklers for kids have an age recommendation listed on the box. These are there for a reason, to ensure the child using the sprinkler can do so properly without getting hurt.

For instance, the BANZAI 54in-Diameter Sprinkle and Splash Play Mat is designed for kids 18 months and older. This is because babies don’t have the mobility to run around a sprinkler, so the play mat lets them sit in the middle of the spray and splash in the collected water.

The Tidal Storm Hydro Swirl Spinning Sprinkler has a recommendation of four years old and up, because the spray is more advanced, requiring the kids to run around it. This means they need to be steady on their feet to avoid injury.

Material

The material used for a kids sprinkler needs to be durable, yet safe for the children to use. Plastic is quite common because it holds up well under the pressure of the water. Many of the products we’ve reviewed, like the Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Blossom Bright Sprinkler, use rubberized plastic, which will bend and fold if the child slips and falls on it. This keeps it from breaking and prevents any injuries at the same time. Some models also use metal in some areas, like the base, but you need to make sure this is dried very well when you’re done with it to keep it from rusting.

Another thing to look at is the hose connections. These need to be well-made, no matter what material is used for them, or it won’t connect properly. This could lead to leaking, which affects the pressure of the water going through the sprinkler.

Weight

B1evAfKJPaS._SL1500_The weight of a sprinkler matters for a few reasons. Though a lightweight model is easy to move around your yard, it may not be able to stand up under the pressure of the water. These sprinklers may have features that help keep it in place, like the Matty’s Toy Stop Henry the Hydrant Water Sprinkler, which fills with water as it sprays so that the whole construction could stay upright. If your sprinkler keeps falling over, you may need to secure it to the ground with pegs or stakes. Heavier models don’t have this issue, staying put wherever you place them.

Another reason the weight matters is for moving the sprinkler. If your kids are playing with it for long periods of time, you may want to move it around your yard to keep from flooding one area. This is also true if you’re using it to water your yard or garden when the children are inside.

Dimensions

The sprinkler’s dimensions matter more if you have limited space than if you have a huge yard to use it in. Smaller yards won’t have a huge area to play in, so the smaller the sprinkler, the easier it will be to set up and use.

Warranty

The warranty on any product must be decent, but for kid’s stuff, it needs to be extra good. This is because kids are a bit rougher on their things than a grown-up would be, so it needs to be built to last and be covered for any damage that they didn’t cause. Unfortunately, most of the sprinklers on our list don’t have any warranty information listed. The exception is the sturdy-made Dramm ColorStorm Turret 9-Pattern Sprinkler, which has a lifetime guarantee, so you know it is built to last as long as you need it.

Extra features

5 Best Kid Sprinklers — Reviews and Buying GuideWhen it comes to extra features, there are a few to look for to ensure it will attract your child’s attention and keep them well entertained. First is the color of the sprinkler. These usually come in a variety of adorable and bright colors, all of which a child would love. The design is another thing to look at. A normal lawn sprinkler can be fun, but the design of the products above are meant specifically for children, with happy faces, bright flowers, or colorful animals on them. This shows the child that the sprinkler is meant specifically for them. The patterns of the spray are also something to look at. A simple spray will get boring after a while, but varying sprays, like the spinning middle and the wiggle straws of the Tidal Storm Hydro Swirl Spinning Sprinkler will keep them entertained for hours.

FAQ

Can I also use a kid sprinkler for garden watering?

Yes, you can use a kid sprinkler for watering a garden or a lawn, though not all are suitable. The crazy spray of the Tidal Storm Hydro Swirl Spinning Sprinkler will be uneven in its watering pattern, but the Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Blossom Bright Sprinkler has an even spray that will water everything effectively. The latter model even has a design that will blend right in with the veggies and flowers of your garden.

How are these models different from a regular lawn sprinkler?

These models are different from a regular lawn sprinkler in their design. They have bright colors, flowers, or animals that will attract a child. The spray patterns are also a little more random on some of them, which isn’t great for use as a lawn sprinkler. The materials are bendable plastic, making them lighter than normal sprinklers, plus they won’t cause an injury if the child should slip and fall on them.

Can high water pressure break a kid sprinkler?

Despite the lighter materials of a kid sprinkler, they are meant to handle some higher water pressure. This is even a necessity for some of them, helping the water shoot higher in the air and spinning pieces around for random sprays. The exception may be the BANZAI 54in-Diameter Sprinkle and Splash Play Mat, which has a ring around the edge with small holes that send water into the air. Too much pressure may cause it to fill too fast and split at the seams.

Our verdict

Sprinklers are great toys for keeping children entertained and cool when the weather outside is hot. There are many different types to choose from, but some have a bit more to offer than other models.

The Tidal Storm Hydro Swirl Spinning Sprinkler is the best kid sprinkler on our list, due to the spinning middle and wiggle straws that keep kids on their toes. It is lightweight, with bright colors, plus has a great low price.

In second place is the Matty’s Toy Stop Henry the Hydrant Water Sprinkler, which is made of bright red plastic that will be durable enough to withstand the hot outdoor summer temperatures. You can use this sprinkler on any surface.

Though not technically a kid sprinkler, the Dramm ColorStorm Turret 9-Pattern Sprinkler comes in third. It has six color options, all with nine spray patterns to choose from with different ranges. It is also durable, easy to store, and can be used for watering your garden at the same time.

9,9
Total Score
Tidal Storm Hydro Swirl Spinning Sprinkler - Editor’s Choice
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