Safety flotation devices for swimming

[Louisep]

We're going on vacation in a month and the villa will have a pool. I'm obviously not going to let DS go anywhere near it on his own, but what is the best safety flotation device to have him wear around it and when in it? We may be able to get a few private swim lessons in before we go, but we'll still need some kind of flotation device. Is a kid's life jacket the best thing? Will it fit him properly? Where can I buy one (we live in the US)? He'll be 16-months at the time of the trip and will weight around 25 lbs.

Thanks.

[Mal85]

We have one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Swimways-11608...3&sr=8-2-fkmr0

It worked well last summer in the pool and we'll probably use it this year too. The Easter bunny brought one of these for DD this year: http://www.amazon.com/Stearns-Infant...691425&sr=1-14

We'll use that when we go to the lake this summer, for rides on the boat. She was too little for boat rides last summer, so I can't wait to take her out this year!

[alegna]

Either a full life jacket or nothing.

Swim lessons do not make children safer around water.

-Angela

[almadianna]

Floating devices are really not useful. A gate around the pool and/or a lock on the door that leads to the pool is the best bet.

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by almadianna

Floating devices are really not useful. A gate around the pool and/or a lock on the door that leads to the pool is the best bet.

, if you're not there, he needs to be kept out of the pool entirely, if you are there, just take turns playing with him.

The first item suggested above would be a great way to give your arms a break, but you'd still need to be right there with him.

[Pumpkin_Pie]

Another vote for either a full life jacket or nothing. I never used floatation for DS if I was going to be right there with him. The only time he wore a life jacket was when we played at the beach while he still had a tendency to bolt away from me. He now knows how to swim very well, and this summer I plan to still be right there with him any time he is near the water, but I won't make him wear the life jacket any more unless we are on a boat.

[yogamonkeyjo]

If you do choose to use a floatation device, don't think a mere "full life jacket" is enough. At least check to make sure it is coast guard approved, because there are plenty of floatation devices, including full life jackets, on the market that will definitely float your child...face down in the water.

[pbjmama]

I agree with pps. I think flotation devices give children a false sense of security. I want my kids to know that if you go in the water you sink!

[jocelyndale]

I typically hold my son when we're in the water, though we also tend to favor zero-entry pools (public/city pools). I've used one of the springform floats with him so that he can play with the water, but I'm *right there*. I've also used a lifejacket with him (Coast Guard approved, baby jacket with the head float), which I insist he has on anytime we're on a pier/dock or boat.

Make sure the pool access is *secure*. You don't want him wandering out there.

[serenbat]

flotation items are not at all useful and not advised by the American Red Cross- they give a child a false security and they do not learn the proper way their body should feel- please speak with your local Red Cross for more info

a floatation item is NOT a life jacket, floatation items are very unsafe

[lunarlady]

We have a full lifejacket that I bought for my DD to wear at the beach when we went to Mexico. She loves to play at the edge of the waves, and I'm always worried she will trip and get swept in by mistake. We bought it at Sportsman's Wearhouse, although you can get them anywhere boating equipment it sold. (some REI stores, some sporting goods stores). I would only get one that is approved for boating. They are rather hot and bulky, but worth it if you are going to be doing any beach play or water sports. They should fit snug to the body, so that if you grab under each shoulder strap and lift, you can lift your child in the jacket without the jacket slipping up over his chin. When wearing the jacket, you have to have all straps fastened, including the one between the legs, for it to be safe. Pay attention to the weight ratings, not just size. We were very happy to have it as we also took some boat taxis and there were no lifejackets for anybody in evidence. I can swim, as can DH, but I wouldn't trust myself to keep DD and myself afloat in deep water for any length of time.

If the villa you are renting is in the US, it should have a fence with a locking gate around it. If it doesn't, you will need to figure out a way to lock doors or put in gates so that he never has unsupervised access to the pool. When in the pool with DS, you can have some toys to play with but the best thing really is just always being in arm's reach so that there is never a chance for drowning. Just always be ready to go in the pool too when DS wants to swim. Enjoy your holiday!

[Super~Single~Mama]

A coast guard approved life jacket that has been fitted properly. Hit up a boating supply store for the jacket, and ask a lifeguard at a nearby pool for help learning how to properly fit it. It should be tight enough that when you grab it by the shoulders the jacket doesn't go any higher than his ears.

[Louisep]

Thanks for the replies.

For clarification, he will never ever be anywhere near or in the water without me holding him. We will not be taking any boat rides. Maybe we just won't buy anything then. I guess I didn't feel comfortable just relying on myself to hold him but it's not as if I'll take him in the deep end.

[tabrizia]

As everyone else has said, a life jacket or nothing. You can actually find US Coast Guard approved life jackets at Target. You can also find them at almost any sports equipment store.

That being said, we use nothing but a parent right there when we are in the pool. When we are boating both children are in appropriate boating approved life jackets for their weight.

[tbone_kneegrabber]

We use a sling in the water (beach, lake, pool) often, that way I didn't have to worry about ds slipping out of my hands. He also like it because he felt secure and could put his hands in the water and play instead of holding onto me. We also hold him and and let him float, and use just a cheapy inner tube, which gives *him* LESS feeling of security than me holding him!

[Louisep]

Originally Posted by tbone_kneegrabber

We use a sling in the water

Great idea!

[lnitti]

when dd was an infant, I just held her and did stuff with her. Now she is 2. She takes a Pike swimming class at the YMCA. We bought her a "bubble" that they sell there. It is the same ones they provide for free, but I got tired of searching for one with the right number of tiers and that had a working buckle. So I bought our own.

It allows her more independence in the water and she is now learning how to swim in a without parent class.

[starling&diesel]

I often wonder about the supposed benefits of ANY flotation device. I agree with those who suggest that it gives a false sense of security. My DD goes 'swimming' twice a week with me or her baba at the local pool, and we don't put any kind of floatation device on her. She is, however, fearless around water. We're teaching her to wait until we say it's okay to jump in. That's a big help. We're going to be in Costa Rica at my uncle's house in May, where he has a pool with no fence. My plan is to be a helicopter parent the whole time we're there, which is not my normal style.

[atlantafemme]

What about the benefit of fun? OP mentioned in her 1st post that she wasn't letting her DS near the pool unsupervised. Is there something wrong with letting kids float in those floater seats as long as you're right next to them?

My LO loves to splash the water and glide through it when I pull him around in one of these things: http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Spring-Fl...1104857&sr=8-1

[kcstar]

For FUN, we have used a kickboard in combination with our arms. I haven't found it yet this year, but we used it when he was 8-15 months and had fun. Similar to the chair, it gave him and us opportunities to float in different ways / using different muscles. One of the ways that worked better for me was to brace one end of the board against my chest, DS' hips on the other end, chest toward the board, head toward me, with my arms somewhere around his bum/torso keeping him on the board.