It is a common fact that children of any age love to play with water. Children are always fascinated by water, and they can spend their entire day splashing with water. Water tables are a perfect toy through which babies and toddlers can enjoy playing with water. There are many water table options, but you need to make sure that you choose the best water table for your baby.
Table of Contents
- Why do you need water tables?
- Features to look for in a water table – A buyer’s guide
- Top 8 Baby Water Tables Reviewed
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Which age is suitable for playing with water tables?
- How to clean water tables?
- What to put under a water or sand table?
- Can we add our accessories to the water table?
- Any precautions to take while playing in a water table?
- Conclusion
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Your baby can also have a lot of fun with a splash pad for toddlers
Why do you need water tables?
Some may think that water tables are only for fun and keep children busy for some time. But there is also another essential purpose of having water tables for kids. Water tables help children to develop social and communication skills when they are playing in a group. Playing with water polishes fine motor skills and is part of sensory play.
As they play with water, they learn about the mechanics of water and how it moves or pours. It further helps in the development of problem-solving skills. And these water tables come with many movable parts, which helps in hand-eye coordination.
This kind of play activity encourages them to be more creative and independent. Water tables are built with safe material and are not low enough for children to belly up. Your kids will get wet playing with water, but the advantages are far more significant.
Features to look for in a water table – A buyer’s guide
Water tables are available in different styles and sizes. Some are more complex with many accessories, while some are simple and easy to play. Let us look at some of the features that you should be considering before buying a water table for your kids.
- Age
The age of your child matters the most before introducing him or her to a new product. Ensure that the water table you have chosen is within the recommended age bracket given by the manufacturer.
- Storage space
Water tables are for outdoor play sessions, so space will not be an issue if you have enough outdoor area. But the size of the water table matters if you need to share your outdoor space with others or live in an apartment. Some water tables need more space to set up while others are more compact and take up less space.
- Accessories
A water table helps children to stay engaged with its different accessories. Some water tables have mazes, water wheels or spinners, diving boards, and buckets. If you want to add your toys, you can choose water tables with few amenities. But if you have older kids, then you can select those with more amenities and features.
- Multiple or Individual players
You need to consider the fact about whether you need a water table just for a single kid or a bunch of them. It would not be easy to let many children play in a water table that fits only two kids. If you are someone who loves to have play dates or have cousins coming over all the time, bigger water tables would be more fun.
Top 8 Baby Water Tables Reviewed
Here, we have compiled a list to give you an idea about the best water table for toddlers.
1. Splish Splash Seas Water Table for Baby
The Splish Splash Seas water table is a beautiful product for toddlers and is perfect for outdoor fun. Its open design provides an excellent opportunity for playing in a group, and they learn sharing and excellent communication skills.
This water table also protects your child from sunburns by providing an umbrella that is essential for outdoors. Of course, it cannot be a substitute for wearing sunscreen, but the umbrella can still give them protection up to some extent.
This water table also has a diving board, a moving carousel, a raining palm tree, and a water slide. The ten accessories included in the water table set will keep toddlers busy and engaged. With the island lagoon and whirlpool spinner, children get to role-play their favorite pirate characters. And once they are done playing, you can drain out the water by pulling the plug.
2. Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table for Babies
This water table is a beautiful and innovative toy that toddlers will love to play. It has two tiers-children that can pour water on the first tier, which falls as rain on the bottom tray. As the rain falls, ramps and spinners create a cascading waterfall. This setup comes with 13 accessories that include exciting things like squirters, maze pieces, a flipper, and a bucket.
The different arrangements of the maze pieces will help to create custom waterfalls with realistic waterfall sounds. The design of this water table can accommodate many children simultaneously, perfect for a group play. As children play with their friends, they get to develop social and motor skills as well. I like that this water table can be used for kids from 18 months to 8 years.
3. Babies Tropical Rainforest Water Table
As the name suggests, this Tropical Rainforest water table has a tropical theme with matching accessories. It has a rainforest canopy in the first tier. Kids will have lots of fun as they pour water in the canopy and watch the waterfall down as rain to the bottom tray.
The accessories include 13 items, such as a bucket, scoop, squishy fish toys, and many other things. The tropical theme is made alive by having a toucan and a tree frog. All these accessories will surely keep your kids engaged in the play and help them in independent play sessions.
Children can easily play in a group using the open design of the water table and have interactive play dates. The water spinner on the side of the playset will help children to learn about its water effect.
One thing that I like about this water table is that it is also appropriate for children as old as ten years. So, you can keep your toddler as well as the older kids busy with this water table.
4. Cascading Cove Sand and Baby Water Table
The Cascading water table is an excellent combination of two favorite play things-sand and water. Kids can play with water on one side and build sandcastles on the other side with sand. This fantastic feature of having sand and water together will allow children to learn about the dynamics of both water and sand.
The open design of this water table can allow children to play in a group and engage actively. It also has an umbrella that can keep your little ones safe from the sun. Another cool feature is that this water table comes with an easy to use the plastic cover with elastic straps.
This cover keeps any debris out of the sand and protects the toys from being blown away. The cover also has engraved roadways that children can use to ride their mini toy vehicles.
It can hold up to 10lbs of sand and 3 gallons of water. The accessories include a shovel, a cup, two boats, and water slides. The age group advisable for this water table is 18 months to 5 years.
5. Paw Patrol Babies Water Table
The Paw Patrol Water Table is based on the theme of Paw Patrol, which means your kids are going to love it. The playset has three Paw Patrol figurines that are great to initiate role-play and imagination. These figures are also water squirters. It also has a water filter, a water cup, and a table springboard.
This water table has a circular design that can allow three to four toddlers to play simultaneously. The circular spinner in the center of the pool helps spin the water and create a whirlpool effect.
The recommended age group of children is 18 months to 5 years. The structure and design of this water table make it sturdy and takes up less space after setting up.
6. Lazy Maze River Run Water Table
The Lazy Maze River Run Water Table is a great option to keep your kids busy and have fun on a hot summer day. This playset includes ten accessories, such as six colorful balls, two flippers, and two pouring cups. What makes this water table interesting are the two towers in the center. Kids will love to put their balls on the top of one tower and fill up the other tower with water. As the water gets high, the balls spill down to the bottom pool.
It’s a great way to let a bunch of toddlers has fun playing with this water table as they learn how to socialize. It is great for children up to 10 years of age, which can be a bonus for many families who have more kids.
7. Little Tikes Spiralin’ Seas Waterpark Water Table
The Little Tikes Spiralin’ Seas Waterpark water table is worth every penny, and your kids will love playing with it. It can be used for kids from 2-year-olds to 6 years old. This means toddlers, as well as older kids, can still have fun with it.
This water table can hold almost 7 gallons of water. The accessories include one water cup and five ball-shaped squirting toys.
The size of this water table is not too wide, so it won’t occupy much space, which is beneficial if you have limited space at home. It can accommodate two to three toddlers, playing at one time so that they can have more fun.
This water table has a spiral tower where kids can put in the squishy toys and watch them spiral down to the bottom tray. Meanwhile, a wheel on the side helps keep the water moving in the tray, fascinating children. I also love the fact that these squishy balls can be picked and placed on the wheels.
As your toddlers play, they will learn about the mechanics of the wheel and its effect on the water.
8. Sand Water Toy Set Summer Deluxe Water Table
The summer deluxe water table is a perfect way to let your child have fun with friends or siblings. This rectangular shaped water table will comfortably accommodate three to four toddlers as they have fun playing with water.
The water table includes a bucket, toy boat, shovel, sandcastle molds, and other accessories for keeping your tots busy and engaged. This sturdy water table works both as a sand and water table. The mill at the corner of the table will fascinate children as they learn how to spin the handle to move the water.
All in all, this is the right product for children as it serves two purposes-playing with sand and water.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which age is suitable for playing with water tables?
Water tables are safe, so children who are more than 18 months old can quickly start playing with water tables. At this age, they can begin developing fine motor skills and learning communication skills if they play with other kids. Water tables are usually for children up to 5 years of age, but some are appropriate even for ten-year-olds. As long as children are happy and having fun, age should not be an issue. But for very young kids, make sure they play under parents’ supervision.
How to clean water tables?
Most of the water tables come with a plug that helps to dispose of the water. To keep it germ-free, you can use a solution of bleach and water to rinse it. After a few minutes, rinse the table and wipe it dry. Leave the water table to air dry. And when you store it make sure, it is away from any moisture.
What to put under a water or sand table?
Playing with water or sand can be messy for the kids. If you are placing your water table out in the backyard, it is okay if water or sand spills out. But if you plan to put the water table on the porch, you can use a mat under the table. Waterproof aprons can also save your child from water splashes. And you shouldn’t fill the water table up to the brim with water or sand.
Can we add our accessories to the water table?
Yes, you have the liberty to add your accessories and toys to your child’s water table. All water tables come with different toys and accessories to make it more fun for the kids. You can always add a few extra accessories so that your toddler can be more engaged in his playtime. It can be sponges, colored balls, squishy toys, or figurines. And more accessories come in handy when two or three toddlers are playing at the same water table.
Any precautions to take while playing in a water table?
A water table is pretty safe because it does not have any depth to drown the kid. The height of water tables is such that babies cannot belly up to it. You can keep an eye on the toys that children play with. Ensure that none of the toys or accessories is small so that the kids won’t swallow them.
Conclusion
A water table is a perfect option for your child to develop sensory and fine motor skills as they play with water. They will also enhance communication and social skills. And the amount of fun that your kids will have playing with water is limitless.
