Image: MomJunction Design Team
The best shark toys are the perfect companions for little ones. Sharks have long captured the interest of humans and are well-represented in fables, movies, books, and children’s toys. They are often projected as evil and murderous water animals that prey on any living thing they can find. However, there is more to sharks than this image.
Quality, tried-and-tested shark toys introduce your little one to a friendly version of this ruthless animal. Whether it is made of soft and fluffy materials or hard materials, a shark toy should intrigue your little one. In this post, we have compiled a list of the best shark toys for you to bring home to your child.
Top Picks
11 Best Shark Toys To Add To Your Child’s Collection In 2024
1. Best For Bath Time: WowWee Pinkfong Baby Shark Bath Squirt Toy
Make your little one’s bath time fun with this WowWee Pinkfong baby shark toy that is designed for sprouting water when squeezed while your child plays in the bath. It comes in a pack of four shark-shaped toys designed as a family in different sizes, entertaining your baby during bath time. The family represents characters from the popular children’s song, ‘Baby Shark.’
Easy to hold for infants, these shark collectible toys are made of child-safe BPA material and can be the perfect gift for toddlers above two years. Your baby can also play with this shark playset on the floor. Here’s a brief video you can watch to help your baby make the most out of this toy.
Pros
- Floating toy
- Doubles as decor
- Helps in building color recognition skills
- Comes in attractive colors
Cons
- May develop mold
- May not be dishwasher-safe
"These toy sharks' different sizes and expressions allow my child to be more creative with storytelling. Drying them out after each use is tedious but a necessary step. Nevertheless, they have proven durable and float pretty well."
Do remember2. Best For The Bathtub: Playmaker Rubber Shark Family Floating Bathtub Toy
If you’re looking to get an eye-catching, child-friendly, affordable gift for your kids, this shark toy set has it all. The lightweight rubber toys are made for floating in the bathtub and come in an attractive gray color. This pack contains one mother shark that can float and hold three baby shark toys. They are designed to squirt, making it fun for kids to play with the sharks in the water. These vinyl toys are phthalate-free and entirely safe for children.
Pros
- Burr-free edges
- Ideal for pool time
- Has great detailing
- Comes in a mesh wrap for easy storing
Cons
- May be a bit hard to drain the water out of the toy completely
- Mother shark may be smaller than expected
"This unique and sturdy mama and baby shark set is currently my child’s favorite pool toy. He enjoys using the smaller sharks to spray water on everyone in the family. While the set is fun and sturdy, I recommend gluing the small holes to prevent mold."
3. Best Attractive: Boley Soft Plastic Shark Toys
Boley’s eight-pack shark toys are redesigned uniquely with fun colors to make them attractive for children. Suitable for children of three years, these safety-tested ten-inch sharks allow them to discover the underwater world, including the great white shark, hammerhead, blacktip reef shark, blue and whale sharks. The realistic details on these shark-shaped toys make them exciting and interactive, inviting curiosity among children to learn.
Pros
- Made of soft, non-toxic plastic
- Names engraved at the bottom of the shark
- Meets ASTM safety standards
- Encourages imaginative play
Cons
- May not be suitable for water submersion
- Some sharks may be deformed upon rough use
"Incorporating these toys into my little one’s bathtime has made bathing him hassle-free. The accompanying booklet also makes it easy for me to talk to him about different sea creatures. And their large size has been a pleasant surprise."
Caution4. Best Realistic Details: Eoivsh Large Shark Toys Megalodon
The Eoivsh large shark toys measure 10×3.7×3.7in and comprise assorted ocean animal figurines. The realistic cognitive toys are suitable for bath times and in the swimming pool.
The shark figurine is sculpted to look realistic and is hand-painted for a natural appearance. With their true-to-life details and active poses, they offer an interactive experience, capturing your child’s attention and adding an imaginative spark. They are made of environmental-friendly PVC and are drop-resistant and washable, offering long-lasting durability.
Pros
- Doubles as party theme decor
- Features teeth detailing
- Fine texture
- CPSC-tested
Cons
- May not be flexible
"While my son was initially scared of it due to its lifelike detailing, it's now become a permanent part of his pretend play sessions. Its fin was a bit sharp, but some buffing solved that issue. The washable design has also helped me keep it tidy and germ-free."
5. Best Easy-To-Hold: Xplore Toys Shark Toys Figures
Enhance your child’s imagination, creativity, and memorization for easy recalling with the cool shark toys from Xplore toys. This six-piece set includes different kinds of sharks in attractive colors. The shark educational toys have a realistic shape, appearance, and minute details to attract the little learners.
The shark toys are made of non-toxic, recyclable PVC, making them completely safe for kids. They do not have any small removable, thus preventing accidents. Measuring 7in, they are easy to hold and play with and suitable for toddlers.
Pros
- Well-crafted
- Doubles as kid’s room decor
- Does not deform
- Burr-free edges
Cons
- Colors may fade for some toys
- May take time to dry
"The best part about these shark figures is that they have no detachable parts. One of the grey figures didn't float thoroughly, but drying it solved that issue. Overall, it has been excellent for enhancing my child’s imaginative play sessions."
6. Best For Fine Motor Skills: Baloboo 2024 Upgraded Shark Bath Toys
The 2024 upgraded shark bath toys from Baloboo include four colorful floating fishes and a blue shark grabber. They come on an ideal size for the children to hold, squeeze and play with. You can add them to your kid’s bathtub to capture their attention.
The shark grabber is designed to eat the small fishes, making it a fun capture play for your child. Designed ergonomically, the shark grabber offers a comfortable and strong grasp. The toys allow your child to play in multiple activity modes, and help improve their hand-eye coordination and motor skills. These quality-tested toys are also free of sharp surfaces and are non-toxic and safe for children.
Pros
- BPA-free
- Comes with a water outlet
- Anti-rust screws
- CPSC-tested
Cons
- Paint may chip off
- Material may be slightly thin
"Thanks to this vibrant toy, my fussy daughter looks forward to her bath time. It keeps her engaged and allows her to work on her coordination and fine motor skills. I felt the build was a bit flimsy, but it has survived several water play sessions."
7. Best Remote-Controlled: Coodoo 2.4G Remote Control Shark Toy
The Coodoo high-simulation 2.4GHz remote control shark toy comes in a scale of 1:18 for easy pool play. With a preset remote control, it is suitable for kids around five years old, capturing their attraction and imagination.
Its high-simulation feature allows the child to change the toy’s movement while swimming in the water, helping with improved hand-eye coordination. The shark remote control toy comes with a powerful 2.4GHz technology for enhanced remote control, an auto mode control with a 40m wireless distance, and a transmitter powered by two AAA batteries.
Pros
- Waterproof design
- Flexible mechanical tail joint
- Double-paddle design
- Built-in rechargeable battery
- Sturdy ABS material
Cons
- Tail may be fragile
- May be a bit hard to control
"Its sizable dimensions and articulate tail quickly captivated my son. Accessing the battery compartment is tricky, but its battery life is impressive. Moreover, the waterproof build has also allowed my son to use it as a beach and pool toy."
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
Over 3,490 customers on Amazon have opined that this is one of the best products in its category.
8. Best For Engaging Children: Dinobros Hungry Shark Grabber Toys
The shark playset contains two shark grabbers and 12 mini sea animals for a fun and entertaining play. With their claw-extending grabbers shaped into great white sharks, they are suitable for children above five years. The shark toys for toddlers have button-activated jaws for easy pick-up of the smaller animals and come in a portable storage box.
Including dolphins, smaller sharks, whales, penguins, seals, etc., they offer improved engagement of your child’s motor skills.
Pros
- Made of non-toxic material
- Promotes parent-child interaction
- Storage box features convenient handles
- Meets US safety standards
- Easy to hold
Cons
- Clamping action may not be as efficient
- Grabber’s teeth may be fragile
"My children love having light-hearted sibling battles with this shark set. Shooting the shark head and picking up the pieces has also helped improve their hand-eye coordination. Plus, the storage box is a bonus."
Trivia9. Best Educational: Bedwina Stuffed Animal Sharks
Bedwina’s toy set of stuffed sharks comprises a 13in Hammerhead and a 14in Mako for toddlers and infants. It gives your kid a peek into the world of ocean animals at an early age and also makes them acclimated with their shapes and colors. The shark plush toys are soft and safe for your child. Suitable for children above three years, these sharks come with separate tags, carrying stories and fun facts about the shark stuffed animals for educational purposes. These shark educational toys are made of high-quality fabric with hard plastic sewn eyes for long-lasting use.
Pros
- Made of plush material
- Felt material teeth
- Narrow and rounded snout
- Free of toxic materials
Cons
- May be smaller than expected
"My little one loves to use these soft toys as bolsters when relaxing on the sofa. Their softness is commendable, and the washable build makes maintenance a breeze. I would have liked the seams to be more durable, but some simple DIY steps have kept them from unraveling."
10. Best Eco-Friendly: ValeforToy Shark Toy Figure Pack
Including 20 rubber shark toy figures made of food-grade material, these squishy floating bathtub toys have realistic designs and are stretchy, safe, and soft for the babies to handle. They measure 1.1 x 5 x 5.2 inches each and are available in the shapes of whales, dolphins, and sharks that are eco-friendly and ensure your children’s healthy and happy growth while playing. Kids can easily play, bend, stretch, chew and squish these fun, waterproof ocean animals, ideal for the bathtub.
Pros
- Soft and non-toxic
- Durable
- Pollutant-free
- Floats easily
Cons
- Paint may chip off eventually
- Not suitable for children below three years
"Despite the small size, I consider them an excellent find due to their versatile design. My munchkin loves to float them around the tub during bath time and carry them outdoors. Besides, their stretchable design has also been excellent for improving his motor skills."
11. Best With Movable Parts: Winsenpro Jumbo Shark Toys
The moveable jaws and tails of these shark toys by Winsenpro make the jumbo toy look more realistic. The shark water toys set includes six pieces consisting of a hammerhead, an orca, a sperm whale, a whale shark, and a blue whale with minute details, making exciting and attractive playmates for children above three years to engage in different fun activities.
The toys also aid in educational learning and are suitable for outdoor games. Each toy shark measures ten inches and is made of durable plastic and non-toxic paint to ace the test of durability and safety. You can also use them as shark decorations for shark-themed parties.
Pros
- Doubles as a bath toy
- Well-crafted
- Smooth surface
- Does not hold water
Cons
- Fins may be slightly flimsy
- Heads may not be attached to the body securely
"As an ardent fan of the Jaws series, my son loves using this set to recreate its iconic scenes. Some of its smaller parts detach at times, but the set, on the whole, has withstood his energetic play and exposure to water pretty well."
How To Choose The Right Shark Toy?
You can consider the following essential factors when buying a shark toy for your child.
1. Material: The shark-shaped toys are available in various materials, including rubber, plastic, and fiber. Ensure the material is flexible, stretchy, and does not hurt your child.
2. Size, design, and color: Check for the animal figure’s color, design, and size to ensure it is attractive and interactive for the child.
3. Age: Buy a toy set that suits your child’s age for compatibility, fun, and maximum engagement.
4. Safety: Ensure the toy is non-toxic, without sharp edges or small parts, and eco-friendly.
Why Trust MomJunction?
Priti Bose is a seasoned product writer, reviewer, and researcher with a knack for reviewing children’s toys and gifts. In this post, she brings you a list of the best shark toys after considering their size, color, ease of holding, and safety. Priti has specifically included toys with positive reviews that can make bath time more entertaining for your children. Further, she has provided a brief description of each product and included a handy buying guide.
Sharks are fascinating creatures as they are more than just underwater animals that prey on life. The best shark toys can help introduce your child to this animal by learning about their different types and physical appearances. This article has some exciting and best-selling options for your little one to play with during bath time. So, ensure that the toys are made from expert-approved safe materials and do not have any sharp edges. Interactive toys can help your little one have fun while playing with them, so look for age-compatible ones and provide maximum engagement when your child plays with them.
Infographics: How To Use Shark Toys?
Marine life fascinates almost everyone, including inquisitive children. Introducing shark toys to your child is one of the best ways of introducing them to themes like science and the environment. Read the following infographic to learn about the innovative ways of using shark toys to make playtime more engaging and meaningful.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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