Arm bands or buoyancy aid jacket?

[DefinitelyOdd]

Which is better for taking a 2.5 year old swimming? I was leaning towards the buoyancy aid as I felt it would be better for days at the beach or paddling in rivers as well but I don't know if it would look a bit daft in the pool. It isn't for swimming lessons just for me to take her as she hasn't been in over 18 months and I wanted to get her used to it again before starting lessons.

Which one should I go for? Or should I get both?

Regardless of choice I would reconsider taking your young child in open water. Better to stick to the pool

Neither of these are any good for learning how to swim because they don't mimic natural buoyancy and give a false sense of ability and security.

A foam swimming noodle or swim fin is best for learning how to swim in a pool.

Never take a non-swimming toddler into open water. Even with a buoyancy aid.

Having tried both I will same arm bands are much better. The jackets appear to be too buoyant for a young non swimmer and float the body which tips the head towards the water.

Missed the bit about beach/River. Nothing required for paddling and I wouldn't suggest doing anything more than that whilst that young

Great thank you. I will look at the Noodles and swim fin.

I should add that she doesn't do more then paddling in open water and I don't let her go further in. It was probably just my anxiety thinking that she needed one as a just in case type of thing.

I’d take her without either and get her swimming. A noodle for fun, maybe.

The sea is fine for little ones in reasonable conditions No, you’d not have them jumping off cliffs into deep water or floating around unsupervised, but enjoying waves, understanding buoyancy etc is great fun and builds water confidence.
I’ve been to the beach daily recently and it’s lovely seeing parents splashing around in the water with their babies and toddlers. Perfectly safe with half sensible parents.

By bouyancy aid jacket do you mean a proper watersports one with huge floats on chest and a collar to keep them the right way up etc or just one of those tops with floats around the torso? The former would be appropriate around open water ie: if you went out on a boat (for paddling, as in feet just in water, I would just hold hands and not go any deeper!) but are not good in the pool as you can''t easily swim in them. The latter I have never used as we always took a noodle in the pool.

Oh yes of course a little paddle and some fun in shallow water at the beach is fine. Just stay nearby, hold hands etc, no need for a float for paddling. I wouldn't properly 'swim' at the beach with her until she's more of a confident swimmer.

For the pool both of my dc have used noodles at swim school. They don't recommend anything else as it's doesn't teach proper technique and the false confidence has to be undone later.

www.swim-teach.com/swimming-noodle.html

As pp the swim jackets aren't great as they can tip little ones forwards.