Gear

The Best Ball Pits for Kids and Toddlers

Because rolling around in a pool of plastic balls is, for some reason, pure joy.

by Donna Freydkin
A ball pit for kids, in this case our pick for the best one, set against a purple backdrop

There are a few ways to witness pure toddler joy in action: You can put your kid in an outdoor swing and let them soar through the air and kick their pudgy little legs around. You can let them, oh, say, play with pretend butter, or thanks to the latest brilliant trend in sensory play, you can also let them roll around in a baby ball pit full of… well, plastic balls. In a world crowded with STEM toys and others that make big claims about development, the best ball pits for kids are a refreshingly simple way for toddlers and preschoolers to experience what play really means: letting go and having fun.

But before you invest in a ball pit for kids, there are a few things you must keep in mind: Make sure your child can sit up on her own before using it. Unless you have tons of floor space, you’ll want a ball pit that folds up and keeps the balls contained. And you want balls you can clean. The reason for that shouldn’t need any further explanation.

Ball Pit by Morinome

We love this see-through ball pit because of its design: Rather than wondering what your child is up to, you can literally view him or her in realtime through its mesh sides. It also includes a small basketball hoop and soccer goal. Granted, some may not have the room for this model, which is 92 inches long and 51 inches wide, but there's a smaller version available for tight spaces.

$99
100-Piece Ball Pit Set by Bestway

And this is the other side of the coin: You've got the pit, but where do you buy the balls? Bestway's set is durable and cleanable, and they're air-filled so you don't pull a muscle lugging them around the house. The sealing seam is smooth so it won't abrade delicate skin.

$24
Turtle Baby Ball Pit for Kids by Melissa & Doug
$71.98
Toddler Ball Pit by Wonder Space
$89.99
Pop-a-Balls Drop and Pop Ball Pit for Kids by VTech
$88.60
Toddler Ball Pit by little dove
$94.99
Inflatable Toddler Ball Pit by Wonder & Wise

How absolutely genius if you don't have much space. You inflate the ball pit (which has a self-inflater), fill it with balls, and the rest takes care of itself. And then you deflate it and put it into a storage bag. Balls sold separately.

$109
Toddler Ball Pit by Asweets

The brand known for its intricate play tents delivers again, this time with this sweet baby ball pit. The exterior is made from heavyweight heathered cotton jersey; it takes 300 balls to fill it, and — downside — the balls are, in fact, sold separately and cost extra. However, if aesthetics are important — you may be looking at this thing a lot — this one is very easy on the eyes.

$180

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