to ask about children's swim stuff?

[cjt110]

We are going away in 2 months. My son will be 20m. Last year we had a swim ring for him as he wasn't even crawling. He is now walking and will leg it really fast at times.

We have seen this and thought it a great idea but on reading reviews from various reputable sites, the reviews range from 50% saying it's brilliant to 50% saying it's crap.

We need to buy him a swimsuit anyway.

So we have also thought about a float/swim jacket like this

His swim ring still fits him although he is now above the min weight, which I think was 11kgs and he's approx 13kg. We debated buying armbands but don't want to risk those as he doesn't swim and I';m not sure what buoyancy they will give him.

We rarely go swimming etc so wondered about one of these inflatable style jobbies , however, do worry that it will ride up around son's neck.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what is the best way forward? Many thanks

[cjt110]

sandgrown Great idea but I doubt he would sit still long enough :(

[Callaird]

As PP have said, you will be keeping a close eye on him in/near the water anyway so will be within reach.

My 2.5 year old charge has a woggle to keep him afloat if he wants to be independent in the pool, we have never used other floating aids as they can restrict their movements or even cause danger of drowning. He can swim the width of the (small, private club) pool, on his own and comes up to breathe and has been doing this for around 6 months. He has also been taught that if he falls in, he turns over on to his back and shouts for help, he has been doing this since he was less than a year old. We have a practice run first thing when we arrive at the pool. As a nanny, I haven't used floatation devices for 20 years and have looked after 4 sets of twins!

Just make sure you are keeping an eye on him in or near water, do not expect anyone else to be watching him, no one will watch him like you.

If you don't already swim with him regularly, at least once a week, then I would start taking him now, in a pool that has lifeguards as you sound a little nervous!

[cjt110]

Callaird Probably seem nervous as I myself can't really swim. A few strokes and that's it. He did attend a babies water confidence class but it became unsuitable due to time constraints etc. Our local pool can be quite costly and packed with other family and kids at the weekend so not really able to take him regularly I wouldnt think. Wonder if taking him on an evening might be better?

[Claireshh]

The puddle jumper is absolutely brilliant. They cannot float face down in it. It is brilliantly designed imo. My son nearly drowned when he was 1 so I'm mega paranoid around water.

He is now almost five and wore this until he started swimming.

[BolshierAryaStark]

The Zoggs roll on arm-bands are really easy to get on & off. We used float jacket type things when DC were younger, think we got them from Soccer Sports-they were fab as kids could just kick along wearing them.

[cjt110]

Claireshh Really contemplating it!

Bolshier That's what I want my DS to be able to do - float around, kicking away whilst we are with him. He loves doing that in the swim ring he had and would float around happily.

[Jojay]

We use a good old fashioned rubber ring. It works really well - they hang over the front of it like they would a noodle / woggle but it deflates and packs up small in their swimming bag.

[bostonkremekrazy]

my dd has been in swim lessons since 6 months old, she is 3 yr old now.

she wears a swim jacket like link in your first post OP....at certain times in the lesson we take it off and she practices with nothing...

at no time is she left alone, she is learning sately rules, but toddlers are unpredictable.

i'd put something on him, a jacket etc, let him enjoy the freedom of the water with you at arms length.

[CruCru]

I have a pool and absolutely hate anything inflatable - rings, boats, armbands. I find that they give people a false sense of security - my daughter got a ring stuck round her knees and struggled to get her face out of the water (I was right by her and grabbed her). After that, I got rid of all the inflatables that people had given us.

She wears a swim jacket which is very handy as her body is in the same position as it will be when she swims (so she does use a swimming technique but at 2 isn't strong enough to keep herself up in the water). Armbands change the position of the body in the water so aren't so useful at teaching someone to swim.

My son used one until he was about 3.5 then we took it off and he swam without it.

[cjt110]

Thinking a puddlejumper now. Don't the jackets ride up to the chin? My son is very tall and skinny (Think 20m old and still able to wear 3-6m swimming trunks).

[dementedpixie]

We used a ring and arm bands to keep them upright and afloat

[dementedpixie]

This sort of thing from elc

[cjt110]

Will he be ok in a ring dementedpixie He's only a skinny bean

[dementedpixie]

The arm bands would keep his arms from slipping through the top of it

[TiredOfSleep]

Tried a ring with my DD and it wasn't enough on its own, she wiukd slip through . I find armbands the best, athough you still need to support her body sometimes, she can float on her back without it (within arms reach of course).

[herecomethepotatoes]

I live in a hot country, spend time at hotels and have a (well fenced off) swimming pool in the garden.

I think you'll have to accept that this holiday will be hard work and forget any kind of flotation aid. Hold on to them and play on the steps of the pool. I think they're too young for armbands, although happy to be corrected. It's not as if anything other than a proper life jacket, and that includes a design where they'll automatically float face up, will allow you to take your eyes off them for a second.

Do you know what happens if they fall in and are under water for a second or two? Absolutely nothing! in fact, they'll slowly learn not to panic.

We used something like a rubber ring with a crisscross underneath acting as a seat for our eldest. When he flipped it, without my husband being there (6' and strong), I don't know how he'd have been lifted clear of the water and his legs untangled without drowning.

Like I said, we're lucky and have a pool in the garden etc but keeping a close eye on them and letting them fall in a few times is the best option. Anything else is a false sense of security.

[Thebookswereherfriends]

Float back pack - www.amazon.co.uk/Zoggs-Kids-Zoggy-Back-Float/dp/B003891RMA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460729144&sr=8-1&keywords=float%20backpack&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

Arm bands. Make sure they're not too chunky, so arms still have movement. As your child progresses you can do away with arm bands, floaty back packs are great.

[Princesspeach1980]

All the swimming lessons we've been to from that age have used the foam armbands, they usually start out wearing 3 on each arm, then as they get older and more confident, you can reduce the number they wear. You can get a set of 6 on eBay for about £20 but they will last for years. The noodles are good too, with the arm bands, but wouldn't trust one on its own. He would be likely to leave it behind if he wandered off

[tinyterrors]

We just used arm bands for our dcs at that age. They didn't like being in the ring anymore because they wanted more movement.

Arm bands kept them high enough except when they got a bit over excited but I was always there anyway.

[edwinbear]

I've used swim jackets on holiday for both of mine from about the age of 2. They have both had lessons twice a week from about 12 weeks when obviously they don't use them, and now at 6 and 4 are both good swimmers. However we spend so much time by the pool on holiday that I don't want to take the risk of taking my eye off them and there being a problem. They are also great if they want to go down watersides as they do bring them back up to the surface again. I always take children and jackets to our local pool before we go away to do a buoyancy check where I add/remove floats until the jackets holds them upright in the water with their face out. They are not conducive to learning to swim as it holds their body in the wrong position for swimming, but if they want to jump on and off lilos, jump into pools and tear down water slides they have been spot on for us.

[lessthanBeau]

All my 3 had arm bands, then learnt to swim properly when a bit older.
you're not doing swimming lessons you're taking your baby on holiday to play in the pool, armbands will be totally fine, they've done the job for over 40 years (I had them myself) if you want to teach him to swim you need a different approach but just for holiday fun and general pool play armbands or biscuits are great, if you're worried about him falling in without them on, a float suit might give you peace of mind. Don't over think it , have a lovely holiday. You obviously don't need anyone else to tell you to watch your child around water.

[Lolly86]

Sorry late to reply! The puddle jumpers have actually been really safe with my DD she wasnt able to topple herself over front ways she just floated about now she's getting better she can start to make some swimming movements in them it keeps her floating but she can move.
It goes around her waist and arms so no chance of going round her neck

[YellowTulips]

My son had a neoprene float vest (from memory it was called a Bobbin) from about the same age. It was great.

Meant he could use his arms/legs to "start" swimming and gave him confidence in the water.

Much better and safer than just holding him imho. Meant he could have a small amount of independence in the water (obv always within arms reach) in safety.

[Flemingo]

Since DD is only 20 months it's better if you don't allow her wander alone near the pool, stay close to her and hold her when she goes into the pool to swim. This blog about pools safety for kids is a good read, do go through it when you find time, www.soldapools.com/safety/swimming-pool-safety-tips-kids/