Swimming aids for 13 mth old?

[Daffodilly]

Does anyone have any suggestions on what to use to support dd 13 mths in the water?

She loves to go swimming (well...splashing about in the pool) and until recently used a baby floating chair thing, which she is now too big for.

I've tried armbands, but she wouldn't even put them on. She slips through a rubber ring. I tried a Zoggs vest with floats in it today - but she couldn't keep upright in the water, kept listing to the side and her head would go under (it is a bit big on her which could be why).

I'm not interested in teaching her to swim at this stage - just want her to have fun and remain confident in the water. I'd like to have something where I don't have to hold her all the time.

Thanks

We use armbands - the sort you blow up then roll on up their arms. It can be a bit of a struggle to get them on at times but we just persevere as I'd rather a 2 minute struggle then 30 minutes of relaxed splashing in the pool. You might want to try armbands again - put them on her first and then blow them up seems to be the best, least painful way.

Hadn't thought of putting them on before blowing up. Will give that a go. Is it enough to hold them up completely in the water even at such a young age?

Might be - get the biggest armbands you can. A lot of bands say 2 -6 or 1-6 years on them, and are frankly tiny. If you can see any bigger ones than that then get those.

The armbands we use do hold them up, but she did tend to tip forward in the water when we first used them, but she has now learnt to hold her head up out of the water.

If you want to be sure she will be fine maybe use zoggs vest and the armbands?

Thanks for your ideas - maybe I need to experiment a bit more. I just seem to end up buying so much kit to figure out what is going to work!

The vests do need a bit of skill in order to keep upright, but work very well once that's mastered, but you do really need to hover right beside them for quite a while as I recall 'just in case'. I think arm bands are better for keeping upright. If you do get large ones and have a child with thin arms be careful they can't slide off.

If your child really doesn't like the armbands,,you could try arm discs like these which are easier to get on and off and perhaps more comfortable.

If armbands or rings alone don't give enough bouyancy (I think you will find they will, but it depends a little just how high above the water you like your dd to be) then use the vest as well.