Float suits/jackets etc: swimming with toddler

[Catz]

We've taken DD (23 mnths) swimming since she was a few months old and she's very happy in the water in just her costume (obviously we're holding onto her!). We're going on hols in a couple of weeks and staying in a villa with a pool. I'm thinking of getting her some kind of buoyancy aid such as a float suit or a float jacket. The idea would be to give her a bit more independence (although clearly we would be with her all the time just not supporting her weight as much as usual) and in case she falls in (again, clearly not relying on this as means of keeping her safe, will be with her all the time)

Does anyone have any experience of these and whether they are any good/which is better? At first glance the float suit perhaps looks more comfortable.

Many thanks for any advice.

[alarkaspree]

Ime they do pretty much the same job. I found dd grew out of the suit and the jacket has lasted for much longer, so of the two I'd recommend you go for the jacket. They are bulky though so if I was buying something to take on holiday I'd probably go for armbands instead.

[Seona1973]

ds uses arm bands and can kick about and swim a little by himself without being held. We got some cheap ones from ELC

[PavlovtheForgetfulCat]

DD has armbands, which we use for half her swimming time, and then she has half the time without so she still recognises that she cannot swim. Unless she is in the sea/lakes -

We have a full life jacket for lakes/the sea as she runs fast now (aged 3).

[MatNanPlus]

I have used both with a child and she definately prefered the suit to the jacket as she had better all round movement out of the water.

[Catz]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I have got some armbands (she hated them when we tried them but that was about 9 mnnths ago) but for the holiday I was thinking of something I could stick her in to run around in when we were all hanging out by the pool. Ideally something that she couldn't take off easily so if she fell in there'd be some additional safety. Of course I'm not intending to leave her in a position where she's likely to fall in but I'm a bit paranoid - we're going with lots of family who don't have kids and I fear they're likely to play with her a for a bit and then get distracted, seems oddly more risky with lots of people around than just one or two (there was a thread on this a few months ago with a toddler who did go under and it has scared me a bit). If she's in the sea it'd also be useful to have something round her.

I am probably overthinking this. She'd be right at the bottom of the size range for the jackets - do they ride up in the water so the shoulders would be round her face or do they fit snugly?

Thanks again all for the advice

[MatNanPlus]

They ride up until the lower arm home meets the raised are.