so swim vests or those swimming discs?

[nappyaddict]

pretty much everyone has said no to arm bands but i have heard contradicting things whether the vests or the dics that go on their arms are best. what do you lot all reckon?

I found vests were good when they were little, then discs when they were about 3.

i think someone told me with the vests they can't lift their head out of the water very well.

what are discs? (sorry being a bit dense no doubt)

swimming discs

discs work like armbands and then remove gradually as they become mroe confident. How old is the child ? tbh many places teach without buyancy aids and use just woggles and/or traditional floats instead.

they are for a friends ds who is 2.

why have I been called over to this thread? [puzzled]

DD has used swim vests rather than arm bands/discs from being about 2. I was told it gave children a better position in the waterm and you can gradually reduce the numbe rof floats in the vest as they grow with confidence.

Hi nappyaddict - I'm still here, but dd created an account on mumsnet and was snooping on what I'd been saying; so I stopped for a while & all old posts deleted.

I've seen all methods used successfully. I think the mains pros and cons for each are as follows:

armbands +: builds confidence quickly;
kids stay the right way up.
armbands -: restricts arm movements;
kids get dependent on them;
parents always seem to fully inflate them.

disks +: as armbands, but less bulky;
less bulky = less retrictive;
easier to reduce number in use.
disks -: arms still a bit restricted;
more expensive than armbands.

suits +: good body position;
free use of arms;
easy to reduce floats gradually.
suits -: kids can 'capsize';
fiddly to move all floats each session for a bouyancy free spell;
usually most expensive.

I used the suits for mine, need more eagle eyed supervision in the early stages I think, but all systems can work well imo.

someone told me you taught swimming tommy lol. i take it you don't.

I used to nappyaddict (who told you?!)

FWIW, my preference is no arm bands but my two DSs have managed pretty well with the floaty vest things - a zip up style (looks like a life jacket).

HTH

My 2 started swimming lessons as babies (DS 1st birthday and DD 6 mos) The lessons provided the discs and would definitely recommend them.

discs!

My two have discs for their swimming lesson. I would recommend them.

what lizs said about a lot of places using traditional floats is interesting. would you say they are better than vests or arm bands?

I think it depends what you're looking from a swim aid. A traditional float will help with body position and style but a "hands free" aid like a vest if you are just swimming for fun - getting confidence up etc. They can play and jump in more easily if they're not holding onto a float

how can they do their arms if they are holding onto a float though?

Nappy addicts baby is only 10months, you can't use a float or woggle with a baby!
The classes we go to they use discs in the babies and the children learning water confidence as well as woggles. The more confident children use woggles and floats.

Sorry i am contradicting myself, meant babies can't really use floats. We used to use woggles with the discs in the mother and baby lessons.

its not for my baby lol! its for my friends ds who is 2 and a half.

so you use woggles AND discs? that would give extra safety i suppose.

The woggle is more for play and not used through the whole lesson.Later on they use it by itself when the child is more confident.

Can I throw another option in the mix? I used one of these for dd:
\link{http://www.littletrekkers.co.uk/shop/index.php/flypage/1431/f503164892ebaf42ee464784d01accd7\backfloat - it was great.

Try again .... Can I throw another option in the mix? I used one of these for dd:
backfloat - it was great.