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CuddleCo Soft Play Ball Pit review: brilliant toddler fun, but you’ll need the space

Find out how the CuddleCo Soft Play Ball Pit performed when tested at home with a toddler, including how easy it is to set up, clean, store and use for everyday play.

Published: June 19, 2026 at 11:30 AM

Our Rating

4.0

A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.

GBP £89.99 RRP

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In a nutshell

A stylish, well-padded durable ball pit that offers plenty of sensory play and room to move, though its larger size can make storage and cleaning a bit challenging

What we tested

Overall Rating

4.0

A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.

Pros

Cons

The CuddleCo Soft Play Ball Pit is a padded home ball pit designed for children who are ready for supervised sensory and active play. With a soft foam base, sturdy foam sides and 175 lightweight plastic balls included, it gives children a contained space for throwing, scooping, climbing and sitting among the balls.

With an RRP of £89.99, it sits above many budget pop-up ball pits, but below larger home soft play sets, such as the CuddleCo Soft Play Set. Its main point of difference is its wipe-clean faux leather cover, which gives it a more design-led look and makes it easier to clean than fabric-covered ball pits.

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About our parent tester

Hannah Kennedy tested the CuddleCo Soft Play Ball Pit at home with her 2-year-old daughter, Elsie during active play, sensory play and quieter chill-out sessions. She tested how easy it was to set up, move, clean and use day to day.

2 pictures of toddler in Cuddle Co. Soft Play Ball Pit

How easy is the CuddleCo Soft Play Ball Pit to set up?

The CuddleCo Soft Play Ball Pit was easy to set up and arrived well packaged. The main challenge was opening the foam parts and leaving them to expand before use, as the instructions recommend allowing 24 to 48 hours. I opened it in front of a very excited toddler, so waiting that long was tricky.

Once the foam had expanded, the actual assembly was quick and simple thanks to the zip design. Even my toddler was able to help. Shaping the ball pit was slightly harder, as one side still had a small kink that I could not quite smooth out, even after following the brand’s advice.

That aside, my first impressions were very positive. The faux leather felt beautifully soft, and my toddler was waiting very impatiently to jump straight in.

2 pictures of Cuddle Co. Soft Play Ball Pit set up

How engaging is the CuddleCo Soft Play Ball Pit for toddlers?

My toddler was very excited to start playing with the ball pit. She climbed in carefully at first, but once she realised the bottom was padded and the sides were firm, she became much more adventurous with how she got in and out.

She initially started throwing the balls around, then seemed to enjoy sinking into them and being covered by the balls. Later, she pulled in some books, lay against the soft sides and used it as a cosy chill-out space. She happily spent a good half an hour in the ball pit reading and relaxing.

It held her attention well across both energetic play and quieter moments, which made it feel more versatile than a simple throw-the-balls-around toy.

Toddler reading in Cuddle Co. Soft Play Ball Pit

How safe and stable does the CuddleCo Soft Play Ball Pit feel?

The padding felt thick and reassuring, especially with my toddler leaning, jumping and throwing herself into it. The base felt soft enough for active play, while the sides were sturdy enough for her to sit back and relax against.

The sides are quite high, so younger toddlers may need help getting in and out at first. My toddler was able to climb in and out confidently once she got used to it, although I would still keep a close eye on her during more energetic play.

How practical is the CuddleCo Soft Play Ball Pit at home?

This ball pit needs a good amount of space. We are lucky that my daughter has a large bedroom, which can house it permanently, but it would feel bulky in smaller living spaces.

It is light enough to move between rooms and even into the garden for supervised play, but it is not something I would want to dismantle and rebuild regularly. Once it is set up, it really needs somewhere to live.

The biggest practical drawback is ball storage. There are 175 balls included, but no separate storage bag, so cleaning or storing the ball pit means finding somewhere else to put them all.

Cuddle Co. Soft Play Ball Pit set up in toddler's room

How easy is the CuddleCo Soft Play Ball Pit to clean?

The wipe-clean faux leather cover is one of the biggest advantages of this ball pit. Instead of having to dismantle it and put fabric covers in the washing machine, I could simply wipe it down after use.

Cleaning the balls was also straightforward: I put them in the bath and rinsed them. They do pick up hair and dust due to static, as well as the inevitable stickiness from children’s hands, so they need regular cleaning.

I did not remove the cover during testing, so I cannot comment on how easy that would be to do.

How well made does the CuddleCo Soft Play Ball Pit feel?

The fabric quality is lovely. The faux leather feels buttery-soft, the seams are tidy and I had no issues with the zips during testing.

The material also seemed to twist and flex well under my toddler’s weight as she played. Time will tell how quickly wear and tear shows, but my first impression was that this is a high-quality, durable-feeling product.

Close-up of Cuddle Co. Soft Play Ball Pit fabric

How does the CuddleCo Soft Play Ball Pit compare to other ball pits or soft play products?

We currently have a Nuby play mat that converts into a ball pit. The two products are quite different, but the comparison did highlight how much more substantial the CuddleCo feels.

The solid foam sides, padded base and faux leather cover make it feel more like a dedicated home soft play product rather than a play mat with added balls.

What’s in the box?

How sustainable is the CuddleCo Soft Play Ball Pit?

The ball pit feels durable enough to have a long lifespan, although I would need to use it for longer to see how easily the faux leather marks or tears over time. The foam sides and base feel sturdy, and the wipe-clean cover should help keep it in good condition.

It also feels like the kind of product that could be passed on to another family once outgrown, provided the materials continue to hold up well.

Is the CuddleCo Soft Play Ball Pit worth the money?

With an RRP of £89.99, this is not a budget ball pit, but I do think the quality helps justify the price. The faux leather cover, sturdy foam sides and generous size make it feel like a more premium product than cheaper pop-up alternatives.

I think it is best suited to families with toddlers who will get plenty of use from it, especially if you have enough space to leave it set up. My daughter, who is nearly 3, was very interested in it, and I can see it appealing up to around age 3 or 4.

However, families with smaller homes, or those who want something easy to pack away after every use, may prefer a smaller or more budget-friendly ball pit.

Where can I buy the CuddleCo Soft Play Ball Pit?

It is available from Cuddle Co, Kiddies Kingdom, Natural Baby Shower and Very

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MadeForMums verdict

I was really impressed by the CuddleCo Soft Play Ball Pit’s premium feel, thick padding and wipe-clean faux leather cover. It worked well for both energetic toddler play and calmer sensory play, and felt sturdy enough for regular supervised use at home.

The main drawbacks are practical ones: it needs a fair amount of space, there is no storage bag for the balls, and the foam needs time to expand before first use. I also found one kink difficult to smooth out, even after following the brand’s advice.

Overall, I think this is a stylish, durable-feeling ball pit that would suit families who want a more design-led alternative to a budget ball pit and have enough room to leave it set up.

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Authors

Hannah Kennedy

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