Safety flotation devices for swimming - Page 2

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by 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?

Nope, but those aren't "safety flotation devices" as were asked about in the OP.

[lifeguard]

I personally see no problem with inflatables & such for fun, but as soon as they (or a proper pfd/lifejacket) become a requirement for swimming I fear that they become too heavily relied upon giving everyone a false sense of security. I also cannot tell you how many times I've had true difficulties teaching a child to swim because they have never been in the water without one - they are scared & their sense of buoyancy in the water is totally off.

[LROM]

Well since DD is my first baby/toddler, maybe I'll regret this... but so far we've had a great time with the swimways floater and I feel like it's helped her just get used to being back in the water (since her womb days were 16 months ago now). She was tentative about it at first, but she eventually really enjoyed figuring out how to use her feet to move around and just get used to her body in the water, even though it's also suspended by the little net she sits in.

I also really enjoyed floating myself in an adult floater holding onto her floater and just kinda moving around the pool. She enjoyed it greatly too.

Also held her and let her move around in the water without the floater several times, she enjoyed getting the feel for that as well.

It's hard for me to imagine that her enjoying these kinds of pool floatation devices (with me right there holding onto them) is gonna impede her ability to learn to swim. Maybe I'll find out I'm wrong... but it's hard to imagine that her laughing and enjoying the floater will lead to her having difficulty learning to be in water without one.

And safety never even seemed to be a question for me since I was always holding onto the float and/or her every moment she was in it and I'm not sure I understand the hazards of a toddler in one of these with constant supervision.

[serenbat]

It's hard for me to imagine that her enjoying these kinds of pool floatation devices (with me right there holding onto them) is gonna impede her ability to learn to swim.

it very mush does, I would speak to the local Red Cross so that you have a better understanding

Sadly most parents go from floatation items to other things, such as water wings etc. and when the child finally get them off they have lost there feeling of natural floating and find it very hard to learn to swim.

If you are into natural parenting there are several book on baby swimming out there, many infants love to float on their own (using no items at all), and many have not lost their ability to swim (both of fine never lost it!!) and it's great for the little one.

[brooklynbabymama]

my infant and toddler have been taking amazing group lessons taught by an olympic swimmer. they aren't sold as swim proficiency, merely infant wellness. he instructed us to never use any flotation devices in the water that the child can't let go of. in class they hold on to those long styrofoam pool noodles and boogie boards to practice kicking and moving around the pool. of course daddy is always right there.