Inflatable swimming pools for backyards provide a place to have fun and cool off during warm months. Inflatable swimming pools are not just for toddlers. College students often purchase the relatively inexpensive swimming pools to cool off and enjoy during social gatherings. Large inflatable pools are often 2 feet deep and offer enough space for two or three adults to sit comfortably. Pools of this size hold between 500 and 800 gallons of water, which must be treated with pool chemicals or emptied after several days of usage. Inflating the pools will require an air pump and will take approximately two to three hours to fill with a standard garden hose. Large inflatable pools are designed for upper-elementary age children to play in and exit safely.
Infant- and toddler-size inflatable pools are typically 8 to 10 inches deep. When a baby or several toddlers sit in the swimming pool the water does not go far above their legs or lower waist. Baby pools are also commonly available with inflatable water slides or squirting water spouts as added play features. The pool sides can be inflated by blowing air from the mouth or with an air pump. The small pools can be emptied easily after use by pushing the inflatable sides down to allow water to pour away, followed by tipping the pool upside down to remove the remaining water.
Kindergarten and early elementary age children can romp and play in backyard inflatable pools designed for durability. Though children of this age can enjoy the freedom of movement a large pool brings, they should do so only under adult supervision. The pools are typically shallow enough that children can stand up easily and exit the pool on their own. Water levels in moderate-size inflatable swimming pools typically reach a 5- to 8-year-old's midsection when seated.
Although inflatable swimming pools are not as deep as the more-expensive frame or in-ground pools, they can still be deadly. Infants and toddlers can easily push the inflated pool sides down enough to fall in and drown. The time it takes for a young child to wander into danger undetected is unfortunately all too quick. Safety experts suggest putting a self-latching gate around backyard inflatable swimming pools, even if they contain water less than 1 foot deep.
