Whether you're heading to the local lido, jetting off abroad, or using a paddling pool in your back garden, baby swimming rings are fantastic swimming aids for building infants' confidence in the water.
Pool rings, floats and swim seats will help turn your little one into a water baby in no time, as they not only keep them above the water but also encourage them to splash their little legs below the surface too, giving them that all-important introduction to swimming.
The best baby swimming rings at a glance:
•Best for babies: Speedo Turtle Swim Seat - Buy now from Speedo
•Best for easy inflation: Zoggs Baby Swim Seat - Buy now from Argos•Best for a canopy: mciskin Flamingo Baby Pool Float - Buy now from Amazon
•Best with handles: Nabaiji Baby's Inflatable Pool Ring - Buy now from Decathlon
If you're wondering which products are the safest or most practical to use, we've put together this comprehensive guide; check it out below.
Best baby swimming rings to buy
Best novelty option
Designed for infants learning how to kick and swim, this inflatable baby swimming float provides hours of fun in any pool. Parents will be pleased to know that it's easy to inflate, deflate and carry on the go.
One reviewer said: "Used for my four-month-old. She loved it. Great for first-time swimming. We pushed her around in it. She even started kicking her legs. She fitted in well, she's average size for her age. Looking forward to using it again."
Pros
- Cute design
- Highly portable
Cons
- Not overly comfortable
Best for babies
www.speedo.com
Turtles are amazing underwater creatures that date back over 200 million years ago. Help your little one be a natural in the water with this turtle-inspired swim seat from Speedo. Featuring high-quality PVC with safety valves, this is brilliant for any kid aged 0-12 months.
One reviewer said: "This is absolutely excellent for giving them confidence in the water at a young age, it makes it fun too."
Pros
- High-quality PVC with safety valves
- Safe and stable
Cons
- Children must be under supervision when using this product
Best for easy inflation
www.argos.co.uk
Made from heavy-duty Vylux that won't easily tear or puncture and available in two sizes to suit little swimmers, this swimming ring from Zoggs has been designed to help your little one sit comfortably and confidently in the water. They can float freely, and you'll have no risk of losing them with the vibrant orange and green colours.
One reviewer said: "This swim seat looks really comfortable for the little ones. It looks more durable than others I've seen. This is why I purchased this and the quality is really good."
Pros
- Easy Inflate valves
- Stable, secure seat with pillow back for comfort
Cons
- Quite big
Best for support
With over 7,000 reviews on Amazon, this Intex baby float is a go-to swimming aid for any new parents. Unlike traditional swimming rings, this number features a nappy-style seat with leg holes. What's so great about this feature? Well, it provides extra support for bubbas aged six to 12 months.
One reviewer said: "Useful for babies who cannot swim or are not confident in the water. My baby is a slim 15-month-old, and I would say she can make use of this for at least six more months. It is blown up through four separate chambers, which I think makes it feel safer. If it punctures in one part, only that chamber will deflate, the remaining three should stay inflated. Easy to blow up manually - took about 10 minutes. Overall for the price, it's very good."
Pros
- Chambers with double-valves
- Diaper-style seat with smooth leg holes.
Cons
- The yellow dye can run
Best for a canopy
Are you looking for an extraordinary swimming ring for your baby? Well, you're looking at it. This adorable flamingo float is unlike anything we've ever seen. Suitable for children aged six months to four years, this will have tots excited to get in the pool for years to come.
One reviewer said: "Really great. My one-year-old baby loved it but was also used by a six-year-old and still going strong. Easy to inflate and put together and the canopy is so useful."
Pros
- Great design
- Made of durable eco-friendly PVC material
Cons
- Takes a while to blow up
Best with handles
www.decathlon.co.uk
As your baby is constantly growing, you may find that they quickly outgrow a swimming ring. Luckily, Nabaiji Baby's Inflatable Pool Ring is here to save the day, as they've created an option that allows you to adjust the seat according to the baby's size. Amazing!
One reviewer said: "I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS PRODUCT! Bought this for my six month old nephew and this is such a great investment! Really smart design and super innovative for parents with young children. He's now one years old and he still fits because the seat can adjust!"
Pros
- Inflate and deflate the ring quickly thanks to the 3 easy valves
- Rounded handles suitable for even very little ones, making them easy to grip
Cons
- Quite small fitting
Best for style
www.scandiborn.co.uk
Available in fun designs on the Scandiborn website, the Baloo Swim Ring from Liewood is a fun way to encourage children to start swimming. At 13 x 45cm, this isn't the largest product on this list, but it is easy to clean and is made from 100 per cent PVC, which is BPA-free. What's not to like?
One reviewer said: "Quick to inflate, it's such a lovely colour, and our Emily loved the print. It's smaller than expected but the perfect size for her to have fun in the paddling pool."
Pros
- BPA free eco-friendly PVC
- Great for toddlers
Cons
- Lightly coloured, could get dirty easily
Best for toddlers
www.childsplayclothing.co.uk
Any mini mermaid fans aged three and over will love playing in the paddling pool with this inflatable ring from SUNNYLIFE. Complete with sparkles and a shell-shaped 'tail', this is exactly what you want from a swimming float. Plus, it's easy to inflate - how magical!
One reviewer said: "I bought this ring for a holiday and the little one had great fun. It feels so safe and durable."
Pros
- Cute glitter design
- Shell back for comfort
Cons
- Smaller than expected
Best age for babies to go swimming
Are you considering taking your mini-me for swimming lessons? From disposable swim nappies for your water baby to baby changing bags and, of course, the best baby swimming rings, there are so many things to consider when going swimming with your kids. One thing you don't need to worry about is the best age for babies to go swimming.
According to the NHS, "You can take your baby swimming at any age, both before and after they have been vaccinated. It does not matter if they have not yet completed their course of vaccinations."
Advice for making your child feel comfortable in water
Most baby pools have big steps that go straight into the water, so it's easy to carry your baby into the pool. When you go down the steps, hold them in a sitting position with their chest against yours, and supporting the bum with one hand and, if they're really little, their head and neck with the other. Just treat it the same as carrying them downstairs at home.
Don't forget that children must always be supervised when playing in the water, even when using swimming rings, floats and armbands.
For more information and tips on swimming, check out our guide to baby swimming with advice from Rebecca Adlington.
How to choose the best baby swimming ring
Not sure what to look for when buying a baby swim ring? Here at Mother&Baby, we've pulled together a detailed list of recommendations for the best baby swimming rings and the best children's swimming rings, so you don't have to spend hours researching.
Here are five things to look for before purchasing a baby swimming ring:
Size: The size of a baby swimming ring will give you a better understanding if it's suitable for your little one. Often websites will list age recommendations, which will indicate if a swimming ring is right or not.
Reviews: Before investing in any swimming aid for your youngster, we'd recommend finding out what other parents thought of the product. The best way that you can do this is by taking the time to read reviews.
Safety features: Before hitting that shop button, make sure that the baby swimming ring has all the safety feature boxes ticked. Look for things like dual air chambers and durable materials.
How easy is it to inflate: The last thing you want to be doing is spending half an hour blowing into the floating device in a changing room, pick a swimming ring that is effortless to blow up.
Make sure that it's fun: If your bubba gets distracted easily, choose a swimming ring that will capture their attention. There will be lots of things going on at a pool or in a garden, so bright colours are best.
Now that you're ready to take a dip with your little one, here are our top picks of the best baby swimming rings for splashing around in the swimming or paddling pool.
Lily Anderson is a Deputy Commercial Content Editor at Bauer Media, where she writes about and reviews products for titles like Mother&Baby, Heat, Closer, What's the Best and Yours.