swimming aids - need recommendations

[sphil]

We are going on holiday in 2 weeks to a cottage on a complex with a pool. DS2 (5) has hardly ever been swimming - had severe eczema until last year, DH hates swimming in public pools and tbh I can't cope with DS1 (also a non- swimmer) and DS2 in the water at the same time on my own.

BUT I realise this is a shameful state of affairs and intend to do something about it this holiday . My question is this - would one of those swim vest/flotation suits be a good idea for DS2? I think it's unlikely he'll wear arm bands and he probably wouldn't hold onto a float. A woggle is a possibility. Last time we went he just clung to me like a monkey though he did enjoy it after a while - but refused to let go!

DS (22mo) loves his Polyotter - it's like a girls swinsuit with polystyrene bouyancy all around it - I think there's a version that's a vest instead like a bouyancy aid and they go up to adult sizes. On his second or third go in the pool with it, after severla months of hanging on to me he was swimming independently and able to join in with other children's games. He's very fast now, you have to be a strong swimmer to keep up.

We tried those float rings but he didn't get in the water enough, then he tried armbands which he hated. I'm planning on starting to take out the bouyancy when he is more confident about putting his face underwater by accident - yes it worked really well for us.

We used a bouyancy jacket with dd1 a couple of years ago on holiday. It was a vest, with float bits in that could be removed if you wanted (never got to that stage!)

It was very helpful in giving dd1 an extra boost in the water, but not sure how much of her weight it actually took, as she clung to us like a limpet (was very water averse at the time - she enjoyed it once she was in, though)

we're off on Weds (flying from T5 - just our luck!) and I've ben trying to get her another one, but can't find any in our town atm - I saw suits like crimplene described, but would prefer a jacket (if dd1 decides swimmng is finished, would be good to get jacket off immediately to signal end of swimming, rather tan having to wait to get changed etc). HTink we're going to wait 'til we get to the States to buy one now, as trying to take only hand luggage due to T5 issues (not sure we'll manage that with 2 small chldren, both GF/CF so need our own food for the plane too... [panic emoticon])

Have a lovely time Silverfrog! Will want to hear all about it when you get back - we're going to Florida in a year's time (to do an Intensive week with Growing Minds+ all the Disney bit) and I'm already panicking about taking Ds2's food/drink. Who are you flying with? Are they OK about own food/drink on plane?

We're flying with BA, and it's already not plain sailing! We've booked seats upstairs (have to fly business as dh has a history with DVT - what a hardship! ) and BA keep shifting us around - at one point they moved dd1 downstairs on her own . Think we've sorted that now, but we're still battling with the food/drink issue. Ba are happy for us to take own stuff, but there is the security side of stuff. The Dept for Transport site says that you can take on board stuff that you need for medical reasons, over and above what the current security measures are.

Typically, atm, you can only take liquids in less than 100ml (except baby milk), and they prefer foods to be sandwiches etc. We need to take d1's drinks with us (she only drinks one type of juice, out of the carton only) and they are 200ml cartons. SHe also only really eats sauce based foods (spag bol etc) so we are taking htose in a thermos flask (pasta ready mixed in - Lakeland do a good sized (2 portion) flask which keeps things good and hot). We also have her whole range of supplemnts to take...

We have an appt with our doctor tomorrow, and we're hoping that he will sign a supporting letter we've drafted for him - listing the foods/drinks/supplements and the reasons why we can't have any other (eg why we can't buy replacement juice the other side of security). This is what the Dept of Transport recommend you do. Hopefully it will work - will let you know. we should be able to take it through, they may make us taste/sample any or all of it.

This is my biggest nightmare - especially as we've decided to try to go hand luggage only due to baggage issues at T5. I was hoping to take enough of dd1's juice with us to last the holiday, as she has huge drinking issues, and it's taken us 3 years to get to where she can ask for (and then drink, even if only a sip) a drink, but we will have to just see how things go there...

I'll try and find a link, but there is a fantastic product which looks like a set of armbands attached to a 3/4 rubber ring. Ds used it it was recommended by his physio as the best thing on the market which will always keep the baby up right and not cold like some of these seat things do.

We used a flotation vest - neoprine with floats in for Ds. Ds had a crotch strap, when younger to stop it riding up and keep it away from his face (and his head high in the water). He could stay afloat in it - which let me feel I could cope alone even if he ran off and fell in the deeper water! It helped keep him warm too. He didnt like armbands (too tight/ scratchy for his asd sensative side!) until he started swimming lessons with the school and wanted to be like the other children who all had arm bands. He can almost swim now, so uses a woggle and I found a float with a slot handle he can manage.

Very useful info everyone - thanks v much. I think I'll go for the vest - DS2 is quite solid so hopefully it won't ride up. I've no idea if he will kick his legs or move his arms as he's never let go of me yet in water, but we'll see...

Silverfrog - to continue our completely non-swimming related conversation - we will have exactly the issues you describe. DS2 only drinks James White pear juice which comes in glass bottles. Can't see any airline letting me take even one bottle on and he gets through about three a week! I'll remember about dr's letter - our paed is very good and will do that for us I'm sure.

I'm now wondering if I can get shepherds pie in a Thermos . Totally selfishly - am so glad you're doing this first!!!

I'm putting fish pie in one of the flasks - dd1 has it all mixed up in her bowl (can con her that way, as she's not keen on potato normally), so what's the difference?

will let you know how security goes.

To get back to swimming, I have found that dd1 is far more relaxed in an outdoor pool thean in a typical complex type pool. She is fairly noise sensitive, and the indoor pools (even quiet ones in hotels) echo a bit too much for her liking. SHe was happier in the pool at the villa in Portugal, and we're hoping that will be the same again this holiday. My aim this time is to get her moving about independently in the water - even just walking at the very shallowest bit of the shallow end!

This is an indoor pool but is very small so I'm hoping the noise won't be too much of a problem, as DS2 is the same in large echoey pools. Will also try to go at the least crowded times, even if it means getting up at the crack of dawn...

DS2 loves potato - it's the rest of the pie he's not too keen on! He will only eat it if it's brown and crispy though - might be a problem in the Thermos!

sphil, I would definitely recommend the vests with removable floats in (sometimes, if too bouyant, it helps to be able to remove some of the polystyrene float aids, so that your child floats at a sensible level in the water rather than too high and unstable).

My ds1 went from being terrified of the water to loving going swimming after we got him one. He will now quite happily "swim" lengths in it - he barely even uses his arms, but sort of walks with his legs and can move along just fine in it, without tipping over the wrong way. His brother, who is only 2, however, does accidentally roll over onto his back in his float jacket/vest, which terrifies him - I think the extra length and weight of a slightly older child (ds1 was 3 when he started wearing it) helps with the stability (although possibly also ds1's hypotonia helps here, as his muscles are too flaccid to do any of the vigorous thrashing about that might tip him up!!!).

DS2 is five - his balance is OK, not great but better than it was. I think he'll be OK - that's a good tip about removing some of the floats. Do the Mothercare ones have removable floats, does anyone know?

Hi Sphil, the float vests sound great, ds2 9big sensory issues) has never tolerated any flotation aid apart from a woggle, it took a while but eventually he substituted clinging to m or his physio to holding on to thew woggle.

He is also far happier if he can touch the bottom & & he wears socks.

Ds needs to touch the bottom too, and prefers outdoor pools (sunshine required) where there is no echo. Deep padling pools or child pools work best. He wears a sun protection suit (to reduce the sensation) under the swim vest - perhaps that is why it used to ride up. The floats come out on both the floatation vests we have used - the first was a floaties I think the larger an Mand S one now not available I suspect.

Well, we have arrived and all went a lot moresmoothly than we could have anticipated.

We set off from home at around 6am, and our flight was delayed by about 45 mins. Both dds were really well behaved on the flight, and the crew couldn't have been more helpful. We didn't get our buggy back immediately at San Francisco but we did get a wheelchair instead which dd1 was chuffed with!

Security at heathrow was remarkably easy - we managed to get one carton of juice for dd1 through no problem - they didn't even ask about it, let alone want to see our docotr's letter (but glad we had that all the same), and they didn't even wnt to look in the thermos once I told them it was fish pie!

dd1 was a total star, and coped really well. She drank all her juice and wanted more, and dh managed to get her to drink some apple juice instead . She has also had some pear juice to drink since we've been here, so very chuffed with my girl

By the time we landed, both dds had been up for around 20 hours, with about an hours nap each on the plane, and they were still smiling at everyone in security. Good tip - glad we booked the wheelchair, as we got taken to a separate queue fo immigration and didn't have to wait (relieved emoticon).

That's brilliant Silverfrog - sounds like it's all going very well. Your DDs are stars!