Should we use armbands?

[NewMummyx]

Hello,

Our daughter has been going swimming every week since 5 months. She's now 17 months. But wanting to go off when she's in the pool/ not be held.

I looked up about arm bands but there's so many mixed messages?

What did you do?

Thanks

All the children I currently look after went swimming from babies and we were discouraged from using arm bands. However we used a floating jacket, I can't remember what it was called but as they got better you could take out some if the floating fillers. They then could float but had fill use of arms etc. Will try and find a picture.

Something like this, lots of places to them.

A swimming teacher told me to use a floating jacket as above as children can learn to swim with them more more easily and you can take the floats in them out as they get better

My DD is the same, wants to go swimming but refuses arm bands and being helped.

I just take a pool noodle with me which pops under her armpits and she'll confidently swim by herself with that.

I used to teach swimming. Arm bands aren't great has the hold up your wee one in a way that doesn't help with swimming. Floating jackets, noodles (that's all i ever use) are much better as they can understand how their body feels in the water more naturally.

Thank you so much everyone. I'm going to try the float vest xx