Are swim jackets really better than "rubber" rings?

[Jane101]

My 2 year old ds is quite happy bobbing about the pool in his swimming ring but I keep being tempted by those swim jackets. You know, the ones that look like life jackets but say they aren't. They're pretty expensive though - £20-£30. Has anyone got one and is it worth the money? Does it really totally support the weight of a 2 stone toddler so you don't have to hold on to them? And would he float upright, with his head out of the water, or lying down (drinking the water, which he trys to do anyway)? Any thoughts?

I was wondering the same myself ! My dd (28 mths) enjoyed wearing the ones Center Parcs provide and I have been toying with buying her a neoprene one. The CP ones didn't keep her face out of the water though. Someone said that the neoprene ones also keep them a bit warmer in the water.

I look forward to seeing what others have to say - also has anyone managed to find them any cheaper ?

My ds (4) has just started swimming lessons and they're not allowed to use either rubber rings or waterwings in the pool. I understand it's because they don't let the child get into the correct position to be able to learn to swim, but I'm not sure about this. Would have thought, in that case, that swim jackets would be a better option, but I'm only guessing. Have had a quick look on the British Swimming Federation website, but can't find anything.

I would just get armbands - they'll quickly get the idea of holding their head up. Ds has been swimming on his own (i.e. without me holding him) since he was 9 months, and can now propel himself along (he's now 20 months). Once they've got the hang of it, you can just let them go. I felt that the swim jackets might hinder progress rather than making them do it themselves. I found the best armbands were the big triangular orange ones that swimming pools often sell, rather than character ones.

I bought one for my ds - he had it before he was 2 and he got on really well with it - he was always really confident in water and 'swam' well wearing it. However, dd, hated it. She would not wear it - she was far better with arm bands. The reason I liked them was that he swam properly, he had to use his arms and legs to get anywhere - rather than holding onto the rubber ring and just kicking his legs. He was always a heavy child and the floats would not keep him as high as a rubber would have. I think I would see if I could borrow one before I bought one - a cheaper alternative is a body belt - our swimming lessons provide these - but child has to be nearly swimming before these are a good idea.

My DS (nearly 2) has a very cheap swimming 'jacket' (bought at a French holiday camp) which has given him enormous confidence in the water, however, a good friend of mine is a swimming teacher & she says that it is much, much better to just have arm bands - that way they can get used to 'proper' strokes etc.

So, I guess I'm now off to buy arm bands!

We bought ours for DS 18months from GLTC, it was under £30 and was worth every penny. It is a zip-up neoprene jacket with a selection of weights on the inside.

It does keep him warmer, he has to use his arms and legs to get around and the floats can be removed gradually once his confidence grows so that eventually he will be wearing it as a floatless waistcoat!

DS is too heavy to float with armbands, he just used to sink, so this gives him the opportunity to float and flap to get around!

bought one of theses last year on the internet and it cost £29, I noticed this week that mother care has them now in stock ( not sure of price ) but yes we did use it for 2 year old and she loved having it on her

My DSs swimming lessons advise not to use any sort of bouancy aid too. I think it's to do with the proper position for swimming and the fact that is makes them over confident. Nevertheless, DS1 had arm bands an was great with them. He hated the swim jacket type thing I bough and refused to wear it.

I agree that you should try borrowing one first or just try arm bands.

We got a 'water woggle' - which is a long tubular float thing, which is can be used in many different ways. A small child still needs close supervision using it - I wouldn't recommend it for say someone with two littlies in the pool at once - armbands would be safer, but it's great if you've got just one from about age 2, and continues to get a lot of use. I got mine on the web from Newitts, but I think you can get them from GLTC now too. (ELC do an inflatable version, which I would expect to be rubbish, and not really be up to the job).

I've got a Belgian swimming "vest" called Archimede and I think the website is www.archimede.be (Blooming Marvellous sells them in UK). It has eight polystyrene floats positioned around the torso. DS (2 years old) wouldn't get in it at first but once he figured that he could "swim" by himself he was hooked. (Armbands on the other hand were not at all popular). Anyway, DS swims most days; the "vest" seems to keep him in a proper swimming position and his arms are free to get the hang of swimming strokes. He's down to 4 floats now, but can't actually swim so I can't say if the "vest" actually works or not. Still, apart from the price (35 pounds I think) I would recommend it.

Thanks for all your comments. I think I'll have to give it a bit more thought.

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