9 Best Baby Ball Pits For Babies And Toddlers

Becky Gamester-Newton
Dec 22, 2023 By Becky Gamester-Newton
Originally Published on Jul 05, 2021
Baby laughing in a sensory ball pit min
Age: 0-3
Read time: 5.7 Min

Not only are ball pits great fun - they're a brilliant way to develop babies' fine motor skills.

Grabbing and catching the balls will work towards fine tuning those skills, while they can also learn other social skills, like sharing, if they play with other kids. Baby ball pits are also an ideal place to start introducing those primary colours that are often to your child.

Some ball pits are designed for older children, so always check the recommended age of the ball pit before purchasing.

Babies and young children will love a ball pit at home, so if you want to recreate some of the soft play centre and keep them busy indoors, read on to discover our best ball pits for kids.

Kidadl's Top Pick

All our ball pits for kids are highly recommended, but if you're after a ball pit that has both style and substance then we reckon the KiddyMoon model is the best of the bunch.

1. KiddyMoon Ball Pit

KiddyMoon Ball Pit.
Image © KiddyMoon

If you want a stylish play area that the kids will love, this KiddyMoon ball pit is the one for you. Made of top quality, non-toxic foam, your child can play safely in this fabric ball pit. KiddyMoon is hugely popular for their foam ball pits and that's because they're both soft and sturdy enough for children to have fun. Plus, if you don't want your home decor to be overrun with plastic toys and bright colours, this stylish ball pit for babies can be matched with your choice of ball colours.

Main Features

  • Price: £59.99
  • Non-toxic cover
  • Different ball colours available to choose from

Best For Early Years

2. Bright Starts 5 In 1 Ball Activity Play Gym

Bright Starts 5 In 1 Ball Activity Play Gym.
Image © Bright Starts

A play gym is one of the essential toys for a baby, and the bonus of this one from Bright Starts is that it has several different functions including a ball pit. We love the bright colours and the cute sensory baby toys that are included, and the ball pit is a great size for babies. Note that the bottom layer is quite thin, so we'd only use this indoors on a carpet.

Main Features

  • Price: £60
  • Suitable from birth
  • 5 ways to play:Play gym, tummy time (with prop pillow), jumbo mat (with walls up), jumbo mat (with walls down), and ball pit
  • Includes 35 balls

Best For Under 5s

3. Knorrtoys Play Tent Pirate Boat‍

Knorrtoys Play Tent Pirate Boat.
Image © Knorrtoys

This play tent isn't strictly marketed as a ball pit, but there's no reason that it can't be used as one. Toddlers will love playing dress up and hide and seek, and putting toys in the front and back compartments of the ship. It can take some time to assemble, so perhaps wait until your child is in bed to put it together.

Main Features

  • Price: £32.70
  • Suitable for age 3 and over
  • Balls need to be bought separately

Best For Families On A Budget

4. Chad Valley Pop Up Ball Pit‍

Chad Valley Pop Up Ball Pit.
Image © Chad Valley

We love this ball pit for kids and it's an amazing price. It's super easy to pop up and then fold away for storage, and comes in bright colours to entice younger children. It can take up to 450 balls; these aren't included, but you can't really complain with this price tag.

Main Features

  • Price: £8
  • Pop-up ball pit
  • Suitable for six months and over
  • Balls need to be bought separately

Best For Indoors And Outdoors

5. Worlds Apart GetGo A-Zebra Pop Up Ball Pit

Worlds Apart GetGo A-Zebra Pop Up Ball Pit.
Image © Worlds Apart

This is one of the better pop-up ball pits around and it works well in the garden too. As well as being easy to put up and fold away, we love the little holes for babies to post the included balls and bean-bag toys through. The bean bags also make sounds which babies will enjoy exploring. This kids' ball pit is perfect for taking away for holidays, as well as using at home.

Main Features

  • Price: £32.99
  • Suitable for six months and over
  • Comes with 30 balls and sensory bean bags

Best Large Ball Pit

6. vidaXL Play Tent XXL‍

vidaXL Play Tent XXL.
Image © vidaXL

If you're on the lookout for ball pits for kids who like a bit more space, we think they'll have bags of fun in this ball pit-tent. It may not be exactly like the soft play ball pits you see out of the home but it's definitely the best of the bunch if your child wants a large tent to have fun in. It's fairly easy to put up and surprisingly sturdy once assembled.

Main Features

  • Price: £34.99
  • Comes with a carry bag and 300 balls
  • Can be used indoors and outdoors
  • Suitable for ages three and over

Best Ball Pit And Play Tent

7. Tectake Play Tent‍

Tectake Play Tent.
Image © Tectake

We love the cute castle-like design of this kids' ball pit and play tent. It's big enough for playdates with other children, and if you want to use it outside, it has mosquito nets on the windows to keep bugs away. This tent also comes in pink if you're looking for a traditional baby girl ball pit.

Main Features

  • Price: £26.99
  • Comes with 100 balls and storage bag
  • Suitable for age three and over

Best Ball Pit And Activity Centre

8. Maikehigh Play Tunnel And Play Tent‍

Kids playing in the Maikehigh Play Tunnel And Play Tent.
Image © Maikehigh

Kids should be entertained for hours with this roomy play tent. It's the largest of the pop-up ball pits we found, and even comes with a hoop so your child can practise those first slam dunks. It's easy to put up, but can be a bit tricky to fold back together so you'll need to read the instructions carefully.

Main Features

  • Price: £29.99
  • Can be used indoors and outdoors
  • Includes ball pit, play house and tunnel
  • Balls need to be bought separately

Best Ball Pit With Hoop

9. SKL Ball Pool Pop Up Tent‍

SKL Ball Pool Pop Up Tent.
Image © SKL

Babies will love the bright characters on this kids' ball pit, while the hoop gives them more entertainment. The size is nice and compact for smaller indoor spaces, and the pop-up design means it's easy to assemble and put away. A great option for babies and younger toddlers.

Main Features

  • Price: £19.66
  • Suitable for ages one and over
  • Comes with storage bag
  • Balls need to be bought separately

Kidadl Best Buys selects the top parent-recommended products across the web for families of all ages. If you liked our suggestions of baby ball pits then why not take a look at these baby sensory toys, or for something different take a look at these kids' slippers.

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Written by Becky Gamester-Newton

Bachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism

Becky Gamester-Newton picture

Becky Gamester-NewtonBachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism

A countryside lover at heart, Becky grew up in the Yorkshire Dales and now resides in West Sussex with her family. She has been living in London for more than 10 years, where she pursued her journalism career before relocating to the countryside in 2019. In her free time, she enjoys watching live sports and drinking tea while being entertained by her chatty toddler and middle-aged cat. She has a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Central Lancashire.

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