What floating aids for 1 year old? (Swimming)

[poorlybaby]

My LO is 14 months and I am taking him swimming soon for the first time in ages!

When he was a baby he had one of those sit in floats, but now he's older and walking around I think I need something less restricting!

What's the recommended thing to use nowadays? Armbands? Those floating swim vest thingys, etc? Any recommendations please?

The float vests are really good and allow them to move their arms more freely than armbands. Also keeps their body warm which is a small bonus. If you Google float vest or swim vest there are loads of options.

If he’s anything like my DD then he’ll just scream when he gets deeper than his ankles so it doesn’t actually matter. From about 18MOs she calmed down though and then we just used regular armbands, we did try a puddle jumper but it really wasn’t a hit.

For the first few times we didnt use anything at all, just held DD in the water, swished her round etc. Its great for letting them get used to the water and how it feels!

Ive heard that swim vests are the safest though!

A swimming teacher said to me not to use arm bands and to use a floatation jacket as that gives them the support without preventing them actually using their arms

Thanks all

We've been swimming with him several times just not recently. I've ordered a swim vest to try though so thanks for the opinions

I have been told that swim vests are dangerous (I think babies end up tipping forwards and can't get back up). No experience myself but this is what I've been told by an ex swimming teacher.

Just come across this whilst looking for floating aids for my 14 month old.
Know this is an old thread but just wanted to update/add that there are now safe swim vests that mean that if they tip over they will always float on their back rather than face down.