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Behaviour/development

so swim vests or those swimming discs?

45 replies

nappyaddict · 14/05/2007 00:06

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?

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lljkk · 14/05/2007 19:30

Never heard of or even seen the discs before. But the float suit / vests have worked quite well for us.

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SlightlyMadSlipstream · 14/05/2007 19:34

I think I have heard that after using vests it can be hard to teach them to swim as it gets them used to a bad position int eh water.

I would say discs are better then armbands and I think a lot of swimming tutors use them.

DTDs have just changed their swimming teacher and they are not using either. THey use a long 'woggle'. It can be wrapped around teh body in all sorts of directions and it looks far less restrictive than either of your options - although has the disadvantage that it is not actually attatched to the child - so could theoretically float off and leave your child without any swimming aid IYSWIM. However if it is used properly it can be wrapped around in such a way as to prevent this.

I will try and find a picture.

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SlightlyMadSlipstream · 14/05/2007 19:37

woggle

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SlightlyMadSlipstream · 14/05/2007 19:40

Sorry - just read thread properly - AT our pool they use a combination of discs and woggles with the 3yo's - not sure what they use for the younger children.

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nappyaddict · 14/05/2007 19:51

don't woggles restrict arm movements too though?

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isaidno · 14/05/2007 19:59

Ds1 liked the vest for a little while, now he has a rubber ring.

Ds2 hates the vest - partly cos it is tight on his fat tummy!

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LIZS · 14/05/2007 20:35

When positioned correctly (ie not under the armpits but lower) the arms can move around it. Also great for gettung the feeling of floating and buoyancy on back.

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SlightlyMadSlipstream · 14/05/2007 20:56

They use the woggle across the abdomen and then 'crossed' over at the back - kind of making the shape of the breast cancer awareness or aids awarness ribbons (witht he child through the loopy bit).

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SlightlyMadSlipstream · 14/05/2007 21:18

best pic I can find of how they use them at our lessons . They don't clip them at the top though and do use them in other ways to...

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ZipadiSuzy · 14/05/2007 22:03

unless child is having swimming lessons, floats or armbands for safety till can swim, but can only learn with floats and woggles!

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DebitheScot · 14/05/2007 22:08

what did you all use on your babies for swimming when they were about 1?
We're struggling as he tips himself out of one of those ring things that you sit in but its hard work and not so fun for him holding him all the time. Used armbands last week which were ok but think it was quite hard work for him trying to remember to lift his head up out of the water and he didn't want to keep them on for very long.

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SlightlyMadSlipstream · 14/05/2007 22:11

We took DD3 (12m) for the first time yesterday - she screamed if we did anything other than stand dead still and hold her close...

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nappyaddict · 14/05/2007 22:11

how about arms rings plus a rubber ring?

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SlightlyMadSlipstream · 14/05/2007 22:15

NA - what do you (your friend) want to acheive?

If it is bouyancy in the water, just for play - then I a rubber ring/vest is great.
If she wants to start to teach her to swim then she needs something that will allow her to acheive a semi-horizontal position - which neither the ring or vest do IMO. For this I would go with woggle and/or rings.

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nappyaddict · 14/05/2007 22:18

shes got a woggle but its always been used for fun. will tell her about that and the back float though.

think i am going to get ds a rubber ring for bobbing around in. tried arm bands but he kept rolling over in the water!

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MrsWho · 14/05/2007 22:21

I used vests with some inserts taken out for fun and woggle/boards for lessons from about 1- 1 1/2 with my 2.

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WriggleJiggle · 14/05/2007 22:28

If your little one is 10 months old the armbands will be the length of her/his arms (on dd they are far to restrictive to use, makes her look like she's a scarecrow).

Personally I'd go for discs, and then under inflated armbands when shes old enough to fit them. If you inflate them too much they are awkward to wear and give the child too much buoyancy.

As someone else has said, the jacket things are ok if you just want your child to float, but are not as good for them to wriggle around in.

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nappyaddict · 14/05/2007 22:36

im not asking for my ds, im asking for my friends ds who is 2.

are woggles/floats for best for teaching them to swim in then, rather than the vests or discs? which provides the best position, least arm movement restriction?

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MrsWho · 14/05/2007 23:01

floats are more for leg movements
woggles mainly legs but also for arm movements

Vests depend on which inserts you have in/put , we got advised to take the side ones out as they stop the arms moving properly.

discs have some arm movement but not fully

Best option is prob a combination or everything!

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jimmerH · 17/08/2013 18:34

There are so many different views on this subject from no aides to jacket floats and fins for the back. It really depends on the instructor and their individual technique.

Personally I like Delphin Discs and monkey swimmers which come with a great story to follow and assist in the progression of your childs swimming... Well worth checking out.

I did a quick search on google and found this site that mentions both products - www.delphinswimmingdiscs.com/

Hope you find this of value.

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