toddler swim assist questions

[linda_loo]

My girls are 2 and almost 4 and we are planning on a trip soon, half will be at the Dolphin, half at the Sheraton Safari.

I remember reading a thread in this forum about swim assists in the resorts, and a couple members posted about the dangers of inflatable arm bands. I never thought of that before (have used them in the past) and am looking for better options. I am an experience swimmer, but never worked with small children. I really don't know what to get.

My mom picked up vests from Target, by Speedo, for $20:

But, I am seeing there are other (better?) options out there, like perhaps this with the removable sections:

Any advice would be appreciate. TIA!

 

[tiggger1]

http://www.recsupply.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=MM8120065

these are what we use during my 2 1/2 year old swimming lessons. they work great and hold her up in the water fine. you can remove a square when she is ready...

We also have the second one. I hate it. the strap that goes between the leg is way too long. that strap helps the suit from coming over the head but because it is too long, she cannot even see when she wears it( I have the smallest size for my 39 inch tall DD) . We tried tying it to make it shorter and it still rises above her head....Until my mil can fix it we dont use it......

I really like the belt.... my daughter feels confortable and it isnt bulky.... but remember it isnt a life preserver its only a swimming aid.....

 

[tjmw2727]

We used the belt described above, the bubble and the inflatable arm bands when my dd's were smal. The bubble and belt were for for learning to swim and the arm bands were for having fun and playng. They used bubble alot since that is what the Y uses (used?), it keeps them in the right position for learning to swim. As the child gets stronger they deflate it little by little until its flat and they don't need it any more. We also did a few lessons at a swim club and they used the belt, again correct position and removing a section at at time.

However, for vacations and pool fun we did use the arm bands. No they don't learn to swim properly with arm bands but they keep the head up so that allowed my dd's to have fun and play in the water. If you blow them up all the way they won't slide off! Since my dh or I were always in the pool with them I never worried about them sliding off or deflating.

On vacations I brought a few sets of arm bands (2 dd's) as they pack easily and inflate easily and my kids could play in the water. At swimming lessons they used the bubble and they never missed a beat having used the arm bands for fun time.

So, we used the bubble or belt for swimming instruction and the arm bands for playtime and vacations. My girls are excellent swimmers and still love the water, they have lessons and learn proper swimming and breathing as well as fun times playing vollyball and doing handstands. IMHO there is a time for both!

As for the two pictures my neice, soon to be 3, has the first one and dosen't like it. Like a life jacket its bulky and sort of forces her onto her back. Kids have a hard time learning to float on the back and it makes her very uncomfortable.
Have a great vacation!
TJ
Swimming bubble:
http://www.swimbuoy.com/oldsite/index2.html

 

[K and K's Mommy]

We have both of the things you have pictured.

I really do not like the second thing. It never quite worked right and took some time getting on and off. I love the Speedo vests. My DD is able to get it on and off quickly, and she paddles around quite nicely.

 

[bellebud]

i used and LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the swimsuits w/ the floaties built in (they're a foam of some sort, not blow-up things). DS wore a spiderman suit like this, and i've seen them for girls too (i've seen 2 versions of the girls... one like a 1-piece girls suit w/ a tube around the waist which i've had friends use but said they thought it delayed real swimming because it was too easy to just float around the pool in it; and one that is like the boys style that's short sleeved and like shorts where the legs are w/ the floaties inside all around the suite, not just around the waist). ds wore his last year for our 2 disney trips (he was 3 3/4yo the first trip, and on the second trip he was almost 4yo, and on that trip he learned to swim w/out the suit (not naked in disney... in his regular bathing suit). i credit him learning quickly and younger than my dd because of that suit. we had tried the vests, floaties, etc, etc, and the suit was the easiest and didn't leave strap marks, etc, on him. the suit allows them to easily swim in a 'regular' position, but holds them up wonderfully. he went down the disney slides in it with no problems too. he was also the kind of kid who would try to take off any vest or arm thingies any chance he got, so this suit was first bought for safety reasons for him. i only wish i had bought one for dd was she was little. it really allowed dh and i to enjoy our pool time w/ him, instead of constantly being nervous. hth!

 

[gottalovethem]

A question I had, that I think is implied by your answers, can we use floatation devices for kids in the pools at Disney resorts?

 

[SqueakyMouse]

A question I had, that I think is implied by your answers, can we use floatation devices for kids in the pools at Disney resorts?

Yes. Pool toys (within reason) are allowed, too.