We're about to melt in this mini heat wave and are looking to buy a backyard inflatable pool for our four year old. We'd like it to be big enough to accommodate several children. I'd love brand suggestions - or pools to stay away from. Thanks for your ideas!
Thanks so much for your suggestions, moms!
We just bought a big inflatable rectangle pool at Target for about $30. I guess it depends what you are exactly looking for. My 4 year old and his friends use it just fine. There are usually 3 to 4 at a time at least.
DON'T trust the picture on the box!! Most times they are photoshopped to look larger than they are. Make sure to actually look at the dimentions listed.
Intex. Definitely Intex.
We have had intex for well over 10 years. We love them! We upgraded to a 18x48 a couple of summers ago. This year we got a sand filter. We have the bubble ring. The only way you can fall out is if you reach all the way to the ground, to get a ball or something. Our kids know not to do that and we are always out there. If they lean too far we are there to remind them. My husband and i lay back on the bubble all of the time to relax. (i have never heard of the burrito thing, maybe the ring was not full enough?)
My only negative was the filters. They are a little weak. That is why we finally invested in a huge sand filter. You also need to make sure that you level your ground. I would love to answer any questions if you have any.
Intex is good I worry about the ones that have the circle tube of air around the top. But there are a lot of stories online about how if they get the least bit unbalanced, like a child or adult leaning on the circle on top, and it starts rolling up and the person gets rolled up too, like a burrito. I got rid of ours. I won't set it up again.
I do like the one that has the steel poles and they are set up in just a little while.
They are very sturdy and last for a very very long time. My friend has one and it has lasted from the time her kids were 2 and 5 until now, they are 8 and 11.
They have moved and set it up again. They put a layer of sand under it and that makes it feel better on the feet when pushing off the bottom. It also, for some unknown reason stays a lot cleaner that the one I had. I don't know if it's the way the sides on the air one slopes or what, but her pool hardly ever had to be cleaned. They used less chemicals than I did too.
They come in all price ranges too.
http://www.intexcorp.com/index.php/home/above-ground-pool...
3 of my neighbors use the Intex pool that you set up every season (frame, liner, etc.) They have all had them for at least 3 summers and have pool parties all the time.
I have had good luck with intex products. The smaller pools are harder to maintain but all small pools are harder to maintain.
Intex.
Hint: Buy the filter system for the next size up.
