OT:Please help me find a swimvest/life jacket

[shorty2313]

for my toddler. We have a few we purchased last year from Babies R Us, but she has to wear her swimmies with the vest or else she goes under. We are looking for any recommendations. We don't care about the cost, just looking for something to make sure she is safe when we are in the pool at home or on vacation. Any suggestions will be appreciated. We of course would love to teach her how to swim, and from what we are reading, alot of these devices don't work well when trying to "teach swimming" We will work on that later, but for now just want to make sure she is safe and somewhat comfortable. Thanks to those who replied.

 

[mjkacmom]

If you want her to learn to swim, swimmies and vests are the worst thing (although very important for playing in the water). For learning, kickboards and noodles under the arms work well.

 

[NotUrsula]

Swimmies (armbands) are dangerous, and IMO should be made illegal to sell. Kids drown all the time using those things.

For learning to swim the PP is right; someone needs to have a hand under her and help keep her working on her motions. When she gets confident enough a kickboard and noodles will help, but they are easy to let go of, so you still need to be within arm's reach. (Well, really, you always need to be in arm's reach with a child that young when the water is too deep to stand in; a life vest doesn't change that.)

For splashing around in anything deeper than her knees (not practicing) the best choice is an open-water lifejacket. The key is that it MUST have a flotation collar if it will be used by a child under 3 years old.

The jacket above is a Stearns budget model, it's $13 at WalMart. You can go pricier, of course, but the basic design is always the same.

The collar will turtle her and keep her on her back with her head out of the water unless an adult is actively holding her upright. It isn't useful for swim practice because it impedes free arm movement, but it is the best thing for safety when a family is in a pool together having fun together, and also when out on the beach with anything less than a 1:1 ratio of adults to kids. (Or on a boat, of course!)

 

[deva]

I have been looking for a life jacket WITHOUT that big colllar for my tall and skinny 2 year old. I'm fearing I may not find one - is this some sort of standard for the under 30lbs set? I need something to help my daughter float as she swims around. She always has 1 to 1 supervision so please know I'd NEVER let her go in the water alone, turn my back on her in the water or even have her out of arm's reach.

We use swimmy bands now because I think that head pillow makes the life vest very impractical for actual swimming for a young toddler with some mobility in the water. I totally see the merits for an infant with no head control or for actual "life-saving" purposes, but what can we do for a toddler who wants to enjoy moving in the water rather than being constantly "righted" to her back?

 

[DebRMN]

the red life jacket posted above is a perfect starter for kids who are little enough & can not balance themselves upright in the water.

Once they can balance themselves, this is ideal.......& is perfect for helping them learn how to swim unimpeded
I HIGHLY recommend these.
http://www.swimbuoy.com/categories.php

when we moved to the house we are in now, my twins were 2.5 & never swam. We started with life jackets, & moved to the bubble (after trying MANY other devices)
My youngest who is now 3 is almost swimming with nothing. She also started with a life jacket like posted above. Once she could balance herself we switched to the bubble.

Good luck with your choice!

 

[Leajess99]

I have been looking for a life jacket WITHOUT that big colllar for my tall and skinny 2 year old. I'm fearing I may not find one - is this some sort of standard for the under 30lbs set? I need something to help my daughter float as she swims around. She always has 1 to 1 supervision so please know I'd NEVER let her go in the water alone, turn my back on her in the water or even have her out of arm's reach.

We use swimmy bands now because I think that head pillow makes the life vest very impractical for actual swimming for a young toddler with some mobility in the water. I totally see the merits for an infant with no head control or for actual "life-saving" purposes, but what can we do for a toddler who wants to enjoy moving in the water rather than being constantly "righted" to her back?

Target has some made by Speedo and they were put out recently. My dd used the Speedo ones and I loved them for her. She now just uses swimmies or her vest with me with her. http://www.target.com/gp/search/177...rds=swim+vests&url=index=target&ref=sr_bx_1_1 here is a link with some of what Target has.

 

[karliebug]

Check at walmart,target or kmart for a bathing suit that has the vest right in it. I don't know quite how to describe it but it looks like a regular bathing suit with the flotation part sewn right in. It is comfortable and the child cant take it off or get it catught on anything. My daughter learned to swim with this.

 

[WantToGoNow]

My children have both used the Stearns models that are carried by the local discount stores (Walmart, Kmart, Meijer, etc.) - the ones without the pillow. The one pictured above is made to lay a child on their back - very impractical if you want them to learn to stay upright. But for a very young child, the ones without the pillow won't allow them to sink but will allow them to float face-down -- same end result if someone isn't right there.

When my dd5 was about 1.5 I found a swimsuit at Babies R Us with an intertube built in -- she called it her "stay up". She was paddling all around the pool in no time.

My favorite life vests though are the ones like Disney has at their pools and waterparks. I looked for those last summer for my kids but they were $$$.

 

[d1sneyf4n]

OK so here is goes and I say that because many here may not agree with me and believe me I am not trying to start anything but I feel as though any type of flotation device gives children a false sense of security. And what I mean by this is when children are around a pool and they do not have there usual flotation device on they may feel as though they are still safe and end up in the pool with no means on how to help them selves independently. I am a true believer in the program that is through ISR. This program, although expensive in some areas teaches your child how to swim or at least float without any type of flotation device until some one realizes what has happened. It is more of survival in the water. I do realize that this post was about for the most part having a child in some sort of flotation device while the parent is around but accidents happen in and around pools all the time. Both of my child along with my nieces have been through this program. My daughter who is now 5 could swim independently by herself at 2. She was never left in the pool or even around a pool by herself but I knew and had the confidence in her that if an accident did occur that she would know what to do. My son age 2 can now swim independently as well. He went through the program last summer when he was one and a half.
I am not saying that this is for all but I do believe and again just in my opinion that each parent should at least look into the program. I am sorry if I have over stepped my boundaries on this post but I just wanted to give another option to parents who are in a market for flotation devices for their children.

 

[clori]

for learning to swim my dd4 uses this http://www.swimoutlet.com/product_p/1913.htm It is not a lifesaving device and it is used with direct supervision. It has the advantage that as she improves a piece can be removed. It allows for full mobility so things like floating on the back can be done with it on. This is the same or similiar to what our Y uses in learn to swim program. She started with a stearns type lifejacket. My dd8 used the y bubble and/or noodle when she was learning to swim.

 

[mckay15]

http://www.swimoutlet.com/product_p/1574.htm

The link above shows the swimsuit that all of my kids used. My parents have a pool and are extremely cautious in regards to safety. My kids used this swimsuit since they were toddlers. You can remove the styrofoams as they learn to swim. I have actually just ordered one for my granddaughter who is now 1.

 

[fussymonkey]

I saw some speedo life vests at Costco this past weekend. They were around $20. The toddler ones had the head pillow. The bigger ones for 30-50 lb children did not. They looked very nice to me. We are planning to pick them up b/c DH is taking DD and DS fishing in May.

For just swimming, my dd likes her Ariel floation ring and she also has one of those built-in-floatation device swim suits, but hers does not work very well or keep her head above water without me there to hold on to her.

 

[mjkacmom]

OK so here is goes and I say that because many here may not agree with me and believe me I am not trying to start anything but I feel as though any type of flotation device gives children a false sense of security. And what I mean by this is when children are around a pool and they do not have there usual flotation device on they may feel as though they are still safe and end up in the pool with no means on how to help them selves independently. I am a true believer in the program that is through ISR. This program, although expensive in some areas teaches your child how to swim or at least float without any type of flotation device until some one realizes what has happened. It is more of survival in the water. I do realize that this post was about for the most part having a child in some sort of flotation device while the parent is around but accidents happen in and around pools all the time. Both of my child along with my nieces have been through this program. My daughter who is now 5 could swim independently by herself at 2. She was never left in the pool or even around a pool by herself but I knew and had the confidence in her that if an accident did occur that she would know what to do. My son age 2 can now swim independently as well. He went through the program last summer when he was one and a half.
I am not saying that this is for all but I do believe and again just in my opinion that each parent should at least look into the program. I am sorry if I have over stepped my boundaries on this post but I just wanted to give another option to parents who are in a market for flotation devices for their children.

My nephew did this program, and it was amazing! All of my kids were enrolled in swim lessons at the Y starting at age 3, but I wished there was a program like this here. BTW, all 5 of my kids managed to go into the pool without flotation devices, because they forgot they weren't wearing them, and they all sunk - luckily, an adult witnessed it every time (actually, I let my oldest go under when she was 2, because she kept insisting she could swim independently, and so I let her, because I wanted her to learn that she couldn't).

 

[d1sneyf4n]

My nephew did this program, and it was amazing! All of my kids were enrolled in swim lessons at the Y starting at age 3, but I wished there was a program like this here. BTW, all 5 of my kids managed to go into the pool without flotation devices, because they forgot they weren't wearing them, and they all sunk - luckily, an adult witnessed it every time (actually, I let my oldest go under when she was 2, because she kept insisting she could swim independently, and so I let her, because I wanted her to learn that she couldn't).

Yes it is a very good program and I talk of it often. One day after my sons lesson I was talking to his instructor who was still in the shallow part of her pool and another mother who was getting her child ready for the lesson. Well my son decided to wonder over to the other side of the pool(deep end) (and yes I should have been watching........I was talking instead). Needless to say he jumped in and he rolled right to his back. I do not believe he would have done that without the lessons. None of the 3 adults there were paying attention like they should have. This just goes to show you how distracted people can get and how quick and accident that could be very serious or potentially fatal can occur. I do hold my self responsible for his actions that day bc I was not watching him but I do credit ISR to is confidence to jump in and roll over.

 

[JackJack08]

I am sure the program you are speaking of is a wonderful one. But I have to say that my kids always used life jackets, when they are in a situation with lots of people and things going on. Even my 6 year old now wears one and he can dive and swim underwater on his own like a pro. There is just too much going on at a public type pool. My 9 year old has all of the qualifications to be a Red Cross life guard but of course is too young/small. They wore jackets and are excellent swimmers. But even sometimes I make her wear the jacket....
So, I just don't want to discourage the OP from using a life vest. (I know that isn't what you were trying to do at all! Cudos to you for enrolling your kids in such a program, and recognizing how dangerous the water can be. Some parents just don't.) But please don't use water wings or some type of "bobby" thing.....it just isn't worth the risk.

 

[DebRMN]

OK so here is goes and I say that because many here may not agree with me and believe me I am not trying to start anything but I feel as though any type of flotation device gives children a false sense of security. And what I mean by this is when children are around a pool and they do not have there usual flotation device on they may feel as though they are still safe and end up in the pool with no means on how to help them selves independently. I am a true believer in the program that is through ISR. This program, although expensive in some areas teaches your child how to swim or at least float without any type of flotation device until some one realizes what has happened. It is more of survival in the water. I do realize that this post was about for the most part having a child in some sort of flotation device while the parent is around but accidents happen in and around pools all the time. Both of my child along with my nieces have been through this program. My daughter who is now 5 could swim independently by herself at 2. She was never left in the pool or even around a pool by herself but I knew and had the confidence in her that if an accident did occur that she would know what to do. My son age 2 can now swim independently as well. He went through the program last summer when he was one and a half.
I am not saying that this is for all but I do believe and again just in my opinion that each parent should at least look into the program. I am sorry if I have over stepped my boundaries on this post but I just wanted to give another option to parents who are in a market for flotation devices for their children.

I have friends on the east coast who have used this & speak very highly of it.
I would have loved it, unfortunately, the closest ISR class to me is over 500 miles away in Indianapolis.

 

[Manda]

We have this kind:

http://www.kidstoychest.com/safety/life-jackets.htm

It's the same type that they use at the resorts, etc. Very good life jacket, IMO. And much more comfortable than many other types.

 

[NotUrsula]

I have been looking for a life jacket WITHOUT that big colllar for my tall and skinny 2 year old. I'm fearing I may not find one - is this some sort of standard for the under 30lbs set?

Yes. Vests for children under 30 lbs. must have the collar and a crotch strap; you can't mfr. to USCG specifications in that size without those features.

I need something to help my daughter float as she swims around. She always has 1 to 1 supervision so please know I'd NEVER let her go in the water alone, turn my back on her in the water or even have her out of arm's reach.

A swimsuit with built-in foam flotation is probably what you are looking for, but only if she balances well enough to instantly be able to get her face out of the water and use her hands to stay upright when floating. I would say that if she is wearing one of these at age 2 you should keep a hand on her at all times.

The OP said this about her child: "but she has to wear her swimmies with the vest or else she goes under" -- that would be an indicator that the child is not ready for a PFD that lacks a collar.

 

[deva]

Thank you, NotUrsula and everyone else for your suggestions. I'm going to check out the floatation swimsuit. My daughter doggie paddles around the pool with her armbands on and can move around with a noodle, so it's not like she goes headfirst into the water the second she's on her own. She's just so darn tall and skinny that it's going to be a while before she can wear the 30-50 lb vest (which is what I wanted for her to wear when we were at the Disney pools - just for extra safety)