Arm bands/Rubber Ring for a 13 month Old?

[Tarka]

Can anyone help? I've got a (large) 13 month old ds; I want to start swimming with him again -used to take him when he was littler and easily carried - he is now v. heavy and wriggly. What do people use for swimming babies of this age? Are arm bands appropriate? And if so, where can I get hold of some?

Sorry, clueless 1st time Mum...

Thanks..

Arm bands are fine for getting your DS used to wearing them for when he is older, but a toddler of that age will not be ab;e to use them to help support himself out of the water. I have never sed a rubber ring.

At that age when we took DD we used a baby seat type of inflatable. It gave DD some indepndence in the water to kick and splash about and didn't require me to actually support her. Then for practising being in the actual water I used arm bands (simple to get her used to idea as advised by swimming teacher at P&T class) and supported her myself.

Many places sell all of these things - shop in swimming baths, Mothercare, Toys R Us, Boots, ELC, etc.

I don't really know what one is really meant to use (think others on here do know), but we used this sort of thing , and also armbands. Can get from that website, obviously, but beware can be extremely slow; otherwise would suggest Mothercare or any shop in the John Lewis family.

DD was very wiggly and she was swimming out of those seats at around 9/10 months (which was weird as I had to cram her in it in the first place!)

We found a floaties swimsuit and armbands best from 12 months. suit was expensive but lasted 12 months and would do for another child.

hi, arm band constrain the child movement, & didnt suit either of ours
we had 2 versions of buoyant swim suits , 1 had infaltable pouches front and back each with 2 air chambers ..you can vary the bouyancy by the amount you blow in, the other was an elderly polyotter suit, may still exist, little foam inners...
dont make them too buoyant though, nedd to float with the water level at just above armpit level, or they could turn upside down!!

www.sportyshop.co.uk/acatalog/SportyShop_Online_Swimwear_Childrens_4.html?source=overture&OVRAW=polyotter&OVKEY=polyotter&OVMTC=standard

they still make them... hunt on ebay for 2nd hand
happy swimming

We used floating seat followed by float-wings for our 2. Float wings are good as they don't constrain arm movement, but they can slip off easily, so may not suit your child.

Thanks so much everyone.. am just ordering a "Polyotter" now (great name for a swimsuit!)...

Am completely overwhelmed with the helpfulness of everyone on this site.