How many flotation aids do you use for your DCs when swimming?

[winestein]

I took DS into a swimming pool for the first time (aged 2.5) when on holiday recently. I bought him one of those flotation suits, which was ok but floated him with his mouth and nose slightly below the water level. Next time I added a rubber ring to the flotation suit and he had an absolute ball, and started actually "swimming" about the pool on his own.

My question is, is it possible to "overfloat" which might have a knock on effect to when he is actually learning to swim properly or does it really not matter a jot at this age? What did you use, if anything?

(Another question is, should I go over to the overparenting thread and say "yes, sounds like me!!" )

ds is 3.3 and we currently don't use anything. However he isn't very confident and I was wondering about arm bands or rings or floats so am very interested in this thread too

My dd is 3, but has been swimming for a while. She just uses (has ever used) armbands. At the beginning she had a tendancy to sink when I let go of her.
The instructor said that was because she was nervous and as she gained in confidence and relaxed she would float naturally.
She is now fine and swims well.

What I am trying to get around to saying, is use enough so that he doesn't sink either floatation suit, armbands, rubber rings, you. Until he gets the confidence, then start removing the extras.

So I would do exactly what you are doing and cut down as he gets more relaxed.

ps when I saw swim, I mean doggy paddle

we use a woggle (or a noodle) - they are what they use when they start them in swimming lessons.

They are good because they give them confidence - but help them learn to kick properly on front and back, and can also be used under the tummy to help learn to use the arms as well.

I think while getting used to being in the water anything that makes them feel safe is great. Ds is 3.8yrs and he has swim lessons, most of the group just wear armbands with however much air they need in them[DS are practically deflated now as he can swim a little but not far].

Meant to add that the swim instructor has just created a sharks fin float for on the back which is quite cool and all the boys love being sharks.lol

DD originally used arm bands, from being about 2 or so, but I was told they weren't ideal. She could keep herslef afloat ok but the position in the water was wrong. So I was advised to use a floatation vest. The idea is they are a bit lower in the water, which is a more natural swimming position. DD got on really well with her vest, and we gradually removed floats as she got more confident.

She is now 5 and does swimming lessons. There they have no suits or arm bands. But they use a long woggle thing, and also float to hold in front of them. These seem to work really well.

That's great - thanks for all of your replies... much food for thought (sorry it took me so long to reply but I snuck out with the dog for a walk).
lol at the shark fin

None. Both DSs could swim by about 2.5

we had float suits when they were small, then a woggle

DC had/have armbands, to bob around the pool with, because there is usually two of them to one adult they need to be able to float safely unaided. For actual swimming they have noodles/woggles which give a better position for swimming.

armbands and/or woggle/float

float suits are cool cos they keep them warm as well.

For actual swimming we were advised not to use anything but to swap between boards/woggles etc to learn strokes.

BUt when we used to go fun swimming I used a jacket with floats in pockets that you take out.

which floation vests/ suits would anyone recommend?