Why is the best kind of life jacket for a 4 year old that can't swim

[icepackquestion]

Can anyone recommend a style/ or specific life jacket for a 4 (nearly 5) year old.

She can't swim, and we are going to a holiday park with slides in the pool etc. Is there one that will keep her completely up out of the water. Or are arm bands sufficient.

Thank you!

I got a swim vest from ebay from my DD which worked fine in the pool. Just type in "swim vest" age 4 and loads come up

The best sort of life jacket is swimming lessons.

You might not be allowed to take her into the main pool/slides area if she can't swim - at my local pool kids aren't allowed out of their depth in armbands. Other waterpark places only allow little ones into very shallow splash areas rather than on slides.

Get some lessons in quick, or take her yourself. Water confidence is a life's kill and the consequences of being out of control, even for a few seconds in water are unthinkable. You cannot trust your child's safety on a float-aid, they must have at least the ability/confidence to right themselves.

@secretintrovert thank you!

@Couldhavebeenme2 I am going tomorow so I doubt she will learn to swim in that time. Swimming lessons and swimming pools have been closed through most of the pandemic.
Obviously I know she could drown, I will take good care of her.

I have these. Used them from age 3 upwards and they are brilliant

www.amazon.co.uk/s?hvlocphy=1007094&hvnetw=g&hvadid=259068814757&k=puddle+jumper&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlMaGBhD3ARIsAPvWd6iBtAH0ZdpYSojBAP7dlWTOIx0RoiBpkgjU1Yz8Iawqs_YxToQq4uAaAtiGEALw_wcB&ref=pd_sl_6lajhpx03u_e&hydadcr=8862_1725489&hvdev=m&hvqmt=e&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=kwd-300688766085&adgrpid=59991565664&hvrand=7594617750288155949

It’s the one with the vest and wings

Sevylor puddle jumper in case it isn’t quite clear

As PP said, learning to swim is best. However, that takes time and like you’ve mentioned the pools have been shut. I got my DD one from Amazon. She’s actually had two - the second one has a strap that goes between her legs which has been much better as it stops the jacket floating and her slipping down inside it (she’s on the slim side). She’s not quite 3 and she can tread water and keep herself out of the water in it. We’ve only been swimming twice since pools opened so she learned to do that really quickly.

A life jacket isn’t suitable for slides etc you want a swim vest and maybe arm bands.

These are very good:

www.konfidence.co.uk/collections/home-page-collection-1/products/the-original-konfidence-jacket

Thank you everyone

I would not rely on any aids when it comes to slides etc.

@FindingMeno

I would not rely on any aids when it comes to slides etc.

I nearly drowned as a child being stupid on the slides with a floating ring.

I decided I would go down head first…and landed face underwater with my legs in the air. The ring stopped me from flipping over and I had to have the life guard rescue me. (He took his sweet time too)

Just to clarify, when I say slides, I'm talking about a baby pool. Not a water park.

My two used the puddle jumpers on a baby/toddler/young child pool.

It didn’t inhibit their movement and it stopped them going under water (they could stand at the bottom but it was deep enough for them to go under with the slide)

I was there of course making sure it was all alright

This was at butlins

Swim best or arm bands.

But what I would do it try and spend some time without the swim aids on. No time like the present to start learning to swim.

Obviously I don’t mean just Chuck her in (although that’s what ddad did to me back in the day….) but hold her and let her feel floaty etc. Encourage her to try and move her arms and legs etc.

@icepackquestion just a baby pool with a tiny (few feet?) slide? Will you be with her and only her all the time? If it’s that set up then you don’t need any kind of life vest surely!

@Toolateplanting I have a 2 year old also so it's more of just an extra bit of security or if we go in a normal pool

I don’t want to preach but take a look at the Judah Brown project on Facebook. It’s a child water safety project (very American but the principles are the same) and talks about water safety and puddle jumpers.