Toddlers in a pool

PTKate05

We are going to FL and will be swimming.  DS loves the water and will probably not be happy in a baby float.  Obviously we will hold him whenener he is in the water, but I think he would prefer the freedom of not being in a float.  Do you use a life jacket or floaty swim suit?  Any recommendations?  TIA!

mrshutch

DD has enjoyed playing w/ the floating tubes in the baby pool, where she could move them around herself. I put her on top for a little bit and she liked floating, but for the most part she loves splashing around and playing with her toys in the baby pool. I've seen the floaty swim suits and things, but it seems to me that unless your child can actually swim, they're not really going to do anything. DD has been in pools since she was 2 months, but even with swimming lessons, we hold on to her tightly in the water. Have in fun in FL! It'll still be fun w/ a toddler

GinandTonic

I think that DS found those floaty swimsuits really annoying - they would ride up and kind of get uncomfortable.  Besides, they're like whole-body and can get hot if you're not in the water.  I just usually held him.

He actually did the best with a pool noodle under his arms this fall (granted, he's 3).  That way, I didn't have to entirely hold him the whole time and he had some freedom to kick around (by the end of the vacation, he was doing it himself, with the noodle).

littlemermaid

I always used a life jacket for the pool when my children were toddlers.  My kids liked the freedom of playing in the pool near us and they liked to see themselves floating without us holding them.  Plus I always felt better knowing they would be protected if by chance they fell in.

TazDev

I was an aquatic director before I had my kids and if your DS would not be happy being held then a life jacket is your best bet.  I have had quite a few kids who have used these and they LOVE them.  They also transfer to swimming easier then many kids who use other life jackets, floaties, etc

 

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Have a great trip! 

howleyshell

We tried one of those swim suits with the floats built in and it was awful.

Once in the water the floats came up around his neck and kinda freaked him out.

Ever since we've gone with no floats and just holding him.

He loves it.

We do fine that way.

joyfullyj

When we took Julia to the beach, we sat mostly on the beach....so we had a football type tent up....with a baby pool underneath....filled with ocean water....she had a blast...when she got tired, we moved the pool and she napped under the tent. 

 

When we did go to the pool, we held her. 

JenGK

DS loves the water, but hated, hated, hated when we put him in a life jacket or didn't hold him close to us in the water.  I think he got scared.

TheBrowns

We do a lifejacket for now. We are going to Florida this spring, DS will be 18 months and I might try out some water wings in the pool. I saw Tori Spelling had them on Liam in one of her shows and he was only 15 months.