Infant Life Jackets or Swimmies?

[Lunanh]

hey everyone!! I have a question and was hoping that one of you might know the answer.
I am taking my daughter who is a year and a half on the Disney Wonder in March. I was wondering if they have any life jackets or swimmies you can rent or buy on the the islands (castaway cay or Nassau). Thanks for your help!
Kristy

 

[Miss Eeyore]

Do you have Costco? They have a WONDERFUL pull-over, snug and safe, for infants. It is a much more modern version of one when we were raising our kids (now 22 & 24). They are like a heavy lycra swim suit....goes over the head......with great flotation pockets. It is a real pain to struggle them on, but so safe when on. They keep the kids upright and face out of water. When the kids were little, all our friends put their kids in them too, and all the kids were fearless little swimmers. One summer we were all out on Lake Cour D'Alene in Idaho on a BIG ski boat, about 20 of us. When we all got hot, we all dove over the side. I can still picture in my mind our big friend, the football coach, pitching babies overboard........they would swim back to the boat and beg to be pitched again. They were all bobbing about us in the water, safe and delighted to be mobile in the water.

I saw them today at Costco.

Marilee

 

[Lunanh]

Thank you for letting me know about the the swimwear at costcos! Sad to say but we don't have one around here. All we have is a BJ's Wholesale. Wonder if they would. I'll have to check it out. Thank you very much for your information!!
Kristy

 

[Woobie]

We bought the "bubbles" that our YMCA uses, and brought them on the cruise w/us. They were awesome - worked out very well. Very cool (temperature), and not restricting. They also adjust easily as your child gains confidence/skill in the water. We had people on Castaway Cay asking where they could rent some on the island. You may want to check out your local YMCA.

Woobie

 

[piglet33]

Originally posted by Lunanh
Thank you for letting me know about the the swimwear at costcos! Sad to say but we don't have one around here. All we have is a BJ's Wholesale. Wonder if they would. I'll have to check it out. Thank you very much for your information!!
Kristy

Walmart has them too. I bought them in both Costco and Walmart and they are the same thing. Maybe try there.

Renee'

 

[minniemouse1]

We brought a "jelly belly" suit for our daughter on our 7 day and she swam everywhere in it. She was 2 1/2 at the time. Held her upright with her face out of the water. It is basically a swim suit with baffles around the entire waist that can be removed one at a time as the child gets to be a stronger swimmer. We also have a 1 1/2 yo that is not as heavy as our older daughter (only about 22 pds) and the smaller size did not work as well for her. She also is not quite as fearless as her older sister. We also brought life jackets for both children for the boat rides to swim with the stingrays and another excursion we went on in Cozumel. They ofcourse took up some room when packing but we ordered a large bag from LLBean and it fit everything including 2 cases of bottled water, bottles of juice and juice boxes along with lots of other stuff.

We packed one pack of swim diapers with us but I don't recall seeing them sold anywhere on the ship.

 

[aprilgail2]

Originally posted by minniemouse1

We packed one pack of swim diapers with us but I don't recall seeing them sold anywhere on the ship.

I don't htink they sell them on the ship since kids who are not potty trained are not permitted in the pools with or without a swim diaper. The one ear of the mickey pool they are in is only fountains so there is no need for a floatation device in there.

 

[lenshanem]

Pool Pal swimsuits. They are usually expensive and sold at specilaity store, but I got two new ones off ebay last summer for a great price and they are the BEST. My youngest was all over the pool in them last year. I think they are awesoem as it enables them to use their arms. Plus, I felt safer with them on as the arm bands she wodul pull ooff. Good luck!

 

[Lunanh]

Thank you everybody for your great replies. I'm really going to have to do some searching. I'm having a hard time finding anything around here because I live in New Hampshire and it's wintertime. Nobody is carrying swimsuits yet. Also my daughter is a year and half but she only weighs 20 pounds!!
I'll have to do some internet searches and check out Walmart. Thanks again!! Kristy

 

[hayesktrm]

I got my daughter one of those swimsuits with the built in floatation things at Toys R Us--do you have one of those near you? I bet they will be getting those in soon. Also, if "swmmies" are what we call "floaties" (those arm band things), please don't use those. Every place my kids have ever taken swimming lessons has said they are dangerous and they aren't allowed in their pool. They can deflate or the kids can pull them off. The kind of floatation devise I bought was great because it actually taught them how to swim and as they got better you would take some of the floatation out until they don't need any at all.

 

[Pootsie]

I assumed that the children would be required to wear life vests at Castaway Cay, however you know what happens when you assume.... I didn't bring my daughters "swimmies" with me but was able to buy them on the island. Just a note, the island waves were extremely calm and my children were able to float around without being washed away by the tide. It really was a great family day!

 

[MrsPete]

In past years Target has had some nice life jackets -- of course, if you're crusing right away, they don't have them at this time of year. They were nicer, I thought, than the ones at the Disney resort pools and are available in nice girl-colors (probably boy colors too, but I don't have boys so I don't really look for bright blues and reds). Plus I think it's good for the child to become accustomed to having the same one all the time.

Here's a hint from our swim instructor at the YMCA: tie a swim noodle (you know what I mean -- they're everywhere in the summer) around your child's waist. It'll keep her upright in the water. Unfortunately, this gives my youngest daughter WAY TOO MUCH confidence in herself!

As for swim diapers, the washable panty-type are MUCH better than the disposables. They're very inexpensive at Walmart or Target, and they're also available through mail-order catalogs. Neither of my daughters ever pooped in the pool anyway, so it didn't seem to be a big issue. You can wash it out in the sink just like your own swimsuit.

If you insist upon the disposables, here's a hint: did you know they're washable? Yep. I accidentally washed one once (didn't dry it, of course). They won't last forever, but you should get a few washes out of them. They do take about three days to dry, so this is probably more of an at-home tip.

 

[Lunanh]

You are all so great with your answers to my questions! You'll be happy to know that I have bought my daughter one of the my pool pal swimsuits through a website, and should be getting it soon. It was expensive but glad I bought it for she should be able to wear it for the whole summer in the pool too. I can't wait to see her playing in the ocean! Only 29 Days to go!!!! Thanks again everybody! You've helped me tons!!

Kristy