Let’s be honest: splash pads are fun until your toddler gets toppled over by a sugar-rush six-year-old. If you’re after a safer, shallower water option, consider going to a Toronto baby spa or hitting up Toronto’s tot and outdoor wading pools. These low-depth city-run pools are specifically designed for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers (typically under age 6), offering a mellow, more manageable alternative to chaotic public swim hours.
Here’s a roundup of the best tot pools across North York, Scarborough, Riverside, Downtown, and the Annex, so you and your adorable sidekick can stay cool all summer.
1. Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre Tot Pool (Indoor)
Area: Regent Park (Dundas St E & Sumach)
If your kid enjoys swimming year-round, this indoor pool is a godsend. It’s heated, shallow, and beautifully maintained. Big family change rooms and stroller-accessible ramps make this a downtown favourite for rainy days, shoulder season, and babies with high splash demands.
2. Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre Tot Pool (Indoor)
Area: Riverside/Leslieville (Queen St E & Logan Ave)
Tucked into Leslieville, this tot pool is ideal for families doing the East End circuit. It’s along Queen and on the Queen TTC streetcar line. It’s also right beside a big park and in an area with cafés and ice cream nearby if you want a sweet treat afterwards.
3. Agincourt Recreation Centre Tot Pool (Indoor)
Area: Scarborough (Sheppard Ave E & Midland)
A Scarborough staple, Agincourt’s tot pool is shallow, relaxed, and has a little boat slide and alligator. There’s also a big pool with a larger slide for older kids which is fully separated from the tot pool. Parents love the easy parking and quieter vibe compared to downtown pools.
4. Wadsworth Park Tot Wading Pool (Outdoor)
📍 Area: West End (Dupont & Lansdowne)
A low-key west-end gem, Wadsworth has a small outdoor wading pond tucked inside a community park. It’s rarely crowded and perfect for quiet weekday mornings. There’s a playground next door, picnic benches under trees, and lots of open space for post-swim snack chaos. It’s a great spot for wading if you don’t want to fully get into a tot pool.
5. High Park Outdoor Pool Tot Wading Area (Outdoor)
📍 Area: High Park (Bloor West)
Toronto’s most iconic park has more than just trails and capybaras — the outdoor pool complex includes a wading area perfect for toddlers. It’s big enough to feel like a destination, with lots of families hanging out nearby. Bonus: snack carts and shady spots are plentiful, and the Bloor West strip is stroller paradise.
6. Christie Pits / Alex Duff Memorial Pool Tot Area (Outdoor)
📍 Area: Christie Pits (Bloor & Christie)
Right in the heart of the city, this outdoor pool includes a smaller shallow section great for babies and toddlers. There’s also a huge field for picnics in the pits and playground on the other side of the park. On sunny days it’s full of families, but the space is large enough to not be crowded. The surrounding park means you can make a day of it.
Pro Tips for Tot Pool Survival:
- Check the swim schedules — tot pools have limited hours that vary by location.
- Bring a sunhat, waterproof diapers, and a rashguard even for shady spots — UVs are sneaky.
- Bring a lock to store your items in the public lockers
- Don’t forget water shoes — they help with grip and keep tiny feet clean.
Toronto’s tot pools are one of the city’s best free summer perks — no bookings, no wristbands, just sunshine and a shallow splash zone where your little one can get tired enough to nap without an argument. Go early, bring backup snacks, and enjoy the sweet summer chaos.
Looking for more indoor mommy & baby activities?
Check out The Best Baby Spas in Toronto!
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