Swim vest or something else?

[AsPrettyAsAnAxe]

Hi

For various reasons my 7 year old DS is only just learning to swim. I have a confident 9yo DD swimmer too. We are going on holiday in February and I'd like something for DS to wear in the pools and water park. He'll always be supervised but it would be good if I don't have to actively hold him all the time.

I was thinking a neoprene swim vest but some people say they can tip a child upside down??

Can anyone recommend something?

Thanks

I'd suggest normal swimware, only going in water depths he can stand up in, and always be nearby and watching.

My son had one of these when he was learning to swim, I think it is really good for an emerging swimmer for a confidence boost.

https://theswimmingshop.com/products/swimfin-shark-fin-blue?variant=41079928029377&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrbfw17PM-wIVg9LtCh3qxQAVEAQYBCABEgJdZvD_BwE

He had one of these too but he was 4 or 5 then - I doubt he would've worn it at 7 though:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Konfidence-Float-Suit-Breton-Stripe/dp/B001631YSC/ref=asc_df_B001631YSC/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310510909348&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1978157405681052229&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007199&hvtargid=pla-391110929220&psc=1

Can you get something off marketplace and try it out in a local pool before you go, that way you can resell if he doesn't like it. Will he wear armbands? Or a puddle jumper? Or something like this https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/swimming-inflatable-vest-for-18-30-kg-orange//R-p-102461?mc=8545686&utmmterm=8545686-2686142&&iv=ivvp11g630526834955c3163415222155wpla-3063787546966nggdmmvltrrxplaay151770211fonlineeo8545686-26861422zGBBiennj3063787546966sehh1006622iivi&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIv6iUUrTM-wIVw9LtCh02TwgyEAQYAiABEgKkhDD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Hi

He'd wear whatever he's told to wear (he's had long spells in hospital and very compliant as a result).

So it really is about being the best thing to help keep him afloat without me holding him. The hotel pools don't have a very shallow end by the looks of things. He'd never be unsupervised but we would like to spend longer in the water than my holding him would allow (if that makes sense).

If he's started now by Feb he could be at a level he wouldn't need a vest. I wouldn't worry about it now, my boys ended up starting swimming late due to Covid and they picked it up very quickly. I'm not saying he'll be ready for swimming galas, but he may well be safe enough to not need apparatus, so I wouldn't order yet.

I use a swim vest on my toddler.
They aren’t life jackets. They provide buoyancy but don’t orient the wearer in the perfect position like a proper life jacket does, which is what people mean when they say they can tip a child upside down (they mean face down - not feet up and head under water).
They are still extremely useful. I don’t have to use any strength to deal with my child in the water because I know he can’t sink, he just needs orientating - by holding his hands for instance. It also helps a lot if he ever panic and jumps on me and we’re out of my depth because I’m not pushed underwater because of the added buoyancy.
A 7 year old beginner swimmer at a water park could still get real some benefit from wearing one - he won’t sink in the water and so won’t need to actively tread water to stay afloat (skinny kids tend to sink - It’s harder to stay afloat when your body fat is low). Kayakers (who are usually excellent swimmers) all wear similar vests all the time - called PFDs (personal flotation device). If he gets disorientated coming down a waterslide into a pool the vest will pull him up to the surface and he’ll just need to orientate himself.

That's really helpful @TeaAndJaffacakes - thank you. That fits with what I feel I need- something which means he can hold on to the edge or into me and I can watch DD without actively holding up DS.