Swimming and 2 1/2 Year Old?

[ReneeDisney]

Hi there!

We are travling to WDW with our 2 1/2 year old and I'm not sure what to pack or buy for her to enjoy the pool? Is she old enough for a safety vest? SI believe she is too young for just swimmies and too old for those tubes that infants sit in with the sun shade.

Anyway, I want her to enjoy the pool but still be safe! Any moms or dads have suggestions or tips???

THANKS!!!

 

[southcarolinagirl]

They have vests at the Resorts for guests to use. However; you might want to call your resort directly and make sure they have ones small enough for a 2 1/2 year old, or go to Walmart and get one to fit her (should be on clearance this time of year) Have Fun!

 

[MrsGoofyMitchell]

My son is 2 and I have looked at the vests and the swimmies and I wasn't sure if they would work. I bought him the Spring Float that he can sit in and he just moves around the pool in it, LOL. It doesn't have a canopy or anything.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

DD has been using the Disney-supplied life vests since she was 14 mos old. They're definitely small enough!

 

[ReneeDisney]

Wonderful! Thank you everyone for your quick responses and suggestions!!!

 

[kbheap]

When my DD was 2, she was only using floaties. Of coarse, I was always with her, but we never had any issues. I actually think it helped her learn to swim. She was swimming full on by herself well before she was 3.

 

[jgazda]

The life vests in Disney are AWESOME! Just make sure you get the shiny rubbery feeling ones. My daughter is a very light weigt 3 year old and she was able to fit in one perfectly and didn't need any assistance swimming. We were of course within arms reach but she really enjoyed her independence.

 

[travelready]

My 23 month old granddaughter used swimmies ( the blow up arm ones). She loved them. She was swimming all around the pool using her arms and legs and even jumped off the side. Amazed me!

 

[monkey30]

My 3yr old loves his swimmies, it is what gave him confidence to swim on his own. Now he is 4 and in some pools he will use them some he wont, but I don't mind untill he is 20!!!LOL

 

[MommaMouse411]

just like previous posters..the life vests at the resorts are small enough...but i bought my son one from kmart for cheap..I even saw they were like $3 the other day...

I don't know about the other resorts but POP had small beach balls for the kids to play with..

I brough my son a floating ring, and we just played in the kiddie pool...

 

[snugglepeas]

at that age my daughter used nemo swimmies that we got for $3 at the resort shop, they are great I have never found any swimmies that work as well as these one's, infact when my sister went to disney last month i had her pick me up a few extra pairs for using at the gym pool.

 

[ReneeDisney]

at that age my daughter used nemo swimmies that we got for $3 at the resort shop, they are great I have never found any swimmies that work as well as these one's, infact when my sister went to disney last month i had her pick me up a few extra pairs for using at the gym pool.

Thanks! I'll take a look at the shops at the Polynesian for the swimmies!

 

[joandegennaro]

While I used the blow up arm bands for both my girls I would suggest that you consider using a life vest. Its good in the fact that the kids can actually use their arms.

Arm floats have there uses and disadvantages. It was while using these arm floaties that we discovered our kids could actually swim on their own....when they popped off their arms when jumping into the deep-end of a backyard pool. It was a scarry few seconds till we discovered their ablity to acctually swim not to mention the wet street cloths of about 4 adults. Given the crowds that may be at a resort pool a life jacket may provide your child the extra safety. Just my personal opinion.

 

[patchchild]

We just didn't bother with anything. DS spent lots of time in the kiddie pool where he could walk and wade. In the big pool, he'd hold on with one of us.

 

[Lstar311]

My son turned 2 in June and this summer he used something called a puddle jumper. It is like swimmies with a band that goes around the waist and buckles in the back. It really kept him afloat. I didn't have it when we went to Disney but being a 2 year old he refused the vests there so I had to hold him or keep him in the baby pool. Anyway check out the puddle jumper, One Step Ahead catalog has them but I got mine at Walmart, they were in the sporting goods/lifevest aisle.

 

[ReneeDisney]

While I used the blow up arm bands for both my girls I would suggest that you consider using a life vest. Its good in the fact that the kids can actually use their arms.

Arm floats have there uses and disadvantages. It was while using these arm floaties that we discovered our kids could actually swim on their own....when they popped off their arms when jumping into the deep-end of a backyard pool. It was a scarry few seconds till we discovered their ablity to acctually swim not to mention the wet street cloths of about 4 adults. Given the crowds that may be at a resort pool a life jacket may provide your child the extra safety. Just my personal opinion.

Thanks! I agree about safety and also want her to enjoy herself too!

We just didn't bother with anything. DS spent lots of time in the kiddie pool where he could walk and wade. In the big pool, he'd hold on with one of us.

Great idea! The kiddie pool is probably more fun than the big "kids" pool!

My son turned 2 in June and this summer he used something called a puddle jumper. It is like swimmies with a band that goes around the waist and buckles in the back. It really kept him afloat. I didn't have it when we went to Disney but being a 2 year old he refused the vests there so I had to hold him or keep him in the baby pool. Anyway check out the puddle jumper, One Step Ahead catalog has them but I got mine at Walmart, they were in the sporting goods/lifevest aisle.

Thanks! I'll be sure to check the One Step Ahead website.