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Original poster

Swim aid for a 2 year old

33 replies

Hulababy · 03/07/2004 17:32

Following on from the 13 month old swim aid thread...

DD will be 2.5 years when we go on holiday. I have remembered to get her all the UV swim suits, hats and swim shoes, etc but that thread has made me realise that she no longer has a suitable swim aid that fits her.

In the past she has had a baby seta - now too big for these - and arm bands - but they are no use for her to be independent.

So what does eveyone recommend? Hoping to go and buy something this weekend or next.

OP posts:
sponge · 03/07/2004 17:35

We've got one of those little zip up yellow jackets with floaty bars that slot into it so you can gradually remove them as they get better at swimming. DD absolutely loves it as it means she can bobble about in the pool with no danger at all and it's greta for us as it means we don't havw to hold her all the time. Really good for building confidence in the water IMO.

codswallop · 03/07/2004 17:36

why not arm bands?

codswallop · 03/07/2004 17:37

I have decided to just use them
ds3 is getting on really well floating about 15 m now

prettycandles · 03/07/2004 17:40

My two (18m and 3.5y) love these - since we got them visits to the swimming pool have more than doubled in length!

Long Leg Float Suit

Original poster
Hulababy · 03/07/2004 17:40

I will look in to the jackets Sponge

codswallop - she needs to be held too much with arm bands and they don't allow her much moevement and/or independence. As we will be in the villa pool every day, and then the water parks, etc. she could do with a little more freedom and independence.

Not taken her swimming for at least 6 months now though so also not sure how she'd go on with any of the swim aids. Last time we went she still aodred it and there were no probelms - but she didn't want her baby seat anymore.

OP posts:
codswallop · 03/07/2004 17:41

I think you need to take her tot he pool before then arm bands will be fine

ds3 ( th a baby) just floats around inhis now - we dont hold him at a ll

Original poster
Hulababy · 03/07/2004 17:42

Don't need a suit type of aid at all but thank you for finding link. DD has a fantastic UV suit which PILs brought her back from Australia. Believe me, for the amount it cost them she will be wearing that every day outside. LOL!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Hulababy · 03/07/2004 17:43

codswallop _ I think I probably do need to take her again; it's just getting round to it. LOL! I will take the arm bands as well though.

OP posts:
codswallop · 03/07/2004 17:44

sunday mornings - with all the l custody dads.!

LIZS · 03/07/2004 17:50

Definitely agree with arm bands although it is a long time since took dd so haven't tried her recently with them but once she outgrew her seat haven't used any thing else.

Those long foam sausages (also used for Aqua aerobics)are popular over here and they tend to teach them to swim with no flotation aids from a young age. The ends can be joined to form a ring too. You can get a more portable version (inflatable) in elc. ds had frog armbands and a little float to match from about 2, also had a Floaties bubble which he refused to try out. tbh those flotation suits look good but unless you get the buoyancy right they float upright rather than horizontally and I'd worry about them getting too hot.

sponge · 03/07/2004 17:51

This is the one dd has
floatie

Original poster
Hulababy · 03/07/2004 17:55

I know coddy - I just don't enjoy sewimming much if truth is out. I used to take her every week but just got out of sync and haven't been back. I need to get Dh in on the act too I think. Best go hunting my cossie out

OP posts:
codswallop · 03/07/2004 17:56

Oh Hula I deffo tink that such an evebt requires a new cossie!

prettycandles · 03/07/2004 17:56

The flotation suits aren't hot at all - they're made of very thin material, thinner I think than my own swimsuit, and the foam inserts do not touch the skin.

Before we got the suits we used foam noodles or a very small inflatable ring. The noodles aren't easily transportable, but the ring obviously is. The disadvantage of that is of course that the child can slip out of it. If she gets on with armbands (mine don't) then why not just get a larger pair?

codswallop · 03/07/2004 17:57

the one on the left?

Original poster
Hulababy · 03/07/2004 17:59

LOL coddy; at least I don't need to worry that I fell on the WW wagon then!!!

OP posts:
prettycandles · 03/07/2004 17:59

Oh, and it took ds 1 visit to the pool to get used to the float suit, now he floats upright or swims horizontally in a perfectly normal way. Dd took about 3 visits to get the hang of it, but she's a year younger than ds was when he started.

Original poster
Hulababy · 03/07/2004 18:02

prettycandles - I like the idea of the suits but don't think they'd go over DD's own UV suit which she will be wearing with whatever swim aid we get.

OP posts:
pollingfold · 03/07/2004 18:12

prettycandles

I have been looking for suitable float suits for ages, thanks for the link. Quick question - how big or small do they come up. My DS is 19 months, but very tall, but it this way he wears age 2-3. D you reckon I shoul go 1-2 or 2-4? I'll probably go 2-4, but thought i'd just check

Gingerbear · 03/07/2004 18:38

Hula, I got a freebie floaties pack of swim aids when I ordered from Kiddicare last year. Will have a look if there is anything suitable in there for your DD and will get back to you (could bring to meet-up on July 9th for you to take on hols)

Original poster
Hulababy · 03/07/2004 18:39

Cheers Gingerbear!

OP posts:
Twink · 03/07/2004 21:15

We got a woggle (that's what the foam sausages are called around here, I always thought they were something cubs used..) when our daughter was around 2.5 and she loves it.

It's also great for adults to laze around on. Not a lot of help at a water park though. I find it's fine to pack, I just put it in the case first and pack undies around it.

Even though she can swim now we're still taking it because she can't touch the bottom of most pools & obviously gets quite tired keeping herself afloat.

roisin · 03/07/2004 21:30

We got a woggle at this age too, and used it loads ... great swimming aid, very versatile.

Finally passed it on to friends recently (dss are now 5 and 6, and both swim well) because ds1 had started swinging it round in the pool, and slapping the water with it in a threatening manner.

Mum2Ela · 10/07/2004 17:41

Does anyone know if the floaties swim jackets actually keep the child afloat like armbands do?

I would like to get the one Sponge recommended below. DD is not yet 2 (2 in Sept) but weighs about 28 lbs. Do you think this jacket will be suitable? I don't want to get it if it won't keep her afloat tho.

TIA

x

Tissy · 10/07/2004 18:06

anyone know where I can see a woggle online? Googling just brings up loads of boyscout sites