Toddlers and swimming aids

[MissPollysTrolleyed]

My DS is 2yo. I work so don't take him to swimming lessons but we go to the pool a few times a month. He is getting very very confident in the water and doesn't want me to hold him anymore. Obviously, he'd sink like a stone if I let go of him so I think I better buy him some kind of floats.

Two questions:

• Is it better to try to avoid swimming aids (buoyancy jackets, arm bands etc) so they'll learn more quickly?

• What's the best swimming aid to use for this age?

TIA

I've no idea which is right but DS will only tolerate swimming discs at the moment, with small forays onto a noodle.

He is quite water confident already but even his swimming teacher says to use whatever makes him happy at first. She graduates all toddlers to noodles as and when they are happy to use them.

Thanks Pascha. I think I might borrow some discs and see how he gets on with them before buying.

We use a swim fin which is terrific and designed to help with encouraging the correct swimming position. Being using this since ds1 was 2.

www.swimfin.co.uk/

I know when I was little my DMum put arm bands on me, then each week would let them down a touch so I was doing more and more work without realising.

Not sure if that's advisable now (though I cant think why not)

Just an idea.

There's different schools of thought.

Some say swimming aids,some say not.

I have used armbands ,but I also use floats for practising legs.

I don't like the waistcoat-style buoyancy aids.

we used arm bands and then a noodle and then a inflatable swim ring when ds was in deep water.

We tried plenty of expensive aids which DD screamed at. We got a 75p ring from asda just for playing about with and she bloody loves it!

Noodles are also good - I use them too.

The discs are great as you can decrease the amount worn,but quite pricey compared with armbands.