life jacket ?

HSartteach · June 2011

When you bring your toddler to the big pool, what type of life-jacket/flotation item does he/she wear?

Have you ever heard of this? thoughts?

amyliisa · June 2011

My neighbor has that for her daughter, and she loves it (daughter is 3). They come over and swim all the time, and she is able to just float/kick all around the pool on her own.

Up until this year, we either put L in one of these, or just held him or let him hang out on the steps, if he got tired of floating. This year, he pretty much just wants to try to swim on his own. The only thing he'll use occasionally is a regular blow-up ring, and he'll kick around in the pool on his own. On swim days at school he wears the arm floaties (we used to call them water wings) because they require him to have something.

ETA: I just realized my post makes it sound like I throw my kid in the pool and leave him on his own! I don't, FTR. When I said he can float/kick on his own, I just meant that we don't have to hold onto him - but we are still right there next to him! Just sayin... Embarrassed

joyco · June 2011

We have the puddle jumpers for the boys and I feel like I could take them to Schlitterbahn all by myself w/ them wearing those. They actually LIKE wearing them and I don't worry too much that they'll slip into the water and drown or anything. Of course, when they turn on to their backs, they get a little iffy/freaked out, but that rarely happened.

amyliisa · June 2011

I just went back and checked because I remembered that my StrollerTraffic email the other day mentioned the best swim gear for tots, and they had this to say about the Puddle Jumper:

"And finally, the swim instructors we've polled tend to be anti-water wings, but if you've got your heart set on that that puff-around-the-arms look, try the Stearns Puddle Jumper?it kinda looks like water wings, but is actually a Coast Guard-approved flotation device."

Coast Guard approved would get my vote, for sure!

kellenickle · June 2011

We have it and DD really likes it. Also, in my experience, it's been the only thing some of the public pools allow (which is why we got it).

balihaigirl · June 2011

that's exactly what DS wears and it works great!! it gives him a little more support than regular water wings and it really makes me feel more comfortable w/ him in the pool when he's wearing that. besides, he absoultely loves it and never fights me when we put it on.

clynn58 · June 2011

We have the puddle jumper and really like but DS is still a little small for it. The weight starts at 30 pounds and he is not yet reached that so it slides down his chest and his arms slip out. Not sure how much L weighs but just wanted to throw that out there.

Emer · June 2011

I can't see the link in my phone, is it the puddle jumper? If so, we LOVE them. DD is 4 and can swim by herself with it. DS is 2 1/2 and he can float in it but not quite swim. Those jackets are the only way I can take them in the pool by myself.

HSartteach · June 2011

Thanks ladies. It is a CG certified vest. I am going to add it to L's b-day list.

bobcatsteph · June 2011

Love the Puddle Jumper! DD hates having us hold her in the pool..she tries to push away the whole time and kicks (she doesn't realize that she will sink to the bottom). The PJ is awesome. She can actually swim across the length of the pool in it without help..and it's CG approved.

m_and_m · June 2011

We do not use any flotation devices unless we are on the boat, and never to just float around and play.
From the ISR FAQ:
IS IT OK TO USE FLOATIES, RINGS OR FLOATATION SWIM SUITS FOR MY CHILD TO PLAY IN THE WATER UNTIL SHE IS READY TO LEARN TO SWIM? HOW ABOUT A LIFE-JACKET?
Flotation devices give children a false sense of security and hold them in postures that are not compatible with swimming skills. If a child learns that he can jump in the water and go into a vertical posture and he will be able to breathe, he is getting the wrong idea about that environment. Flotation devices are for children who cannot swim. Children, who cannot swim, should not be allowed to learn that it is safe to play in the water while relying on a crutch. Life jackets must be worn in a boat or around the water when there is the potential for an accidental submersion; they are not a substitute for the ability to swim or for adult supervision.

Emer · June 2011

m_and_m:
We do not use any flotation devices unless we are on the boat, and never to just float around and play.
From the ISR FAQ:
IS IT OK TO USE FLOATIES, RINGS OR FLOATATION SWIM SUITS FOR MY CHILD TO PLAY IN THE WATER UNTIL SHE IS READY TO LEARN TO SWIM? HOW ABOUT A LIFE-JACKET?
Flotation devices give children a false sense of security and hold them in postures that are not compatible with swimming skills. If a child learns that he can jump in the water and go into a vertical posture and he will be able to breathe, he is getting the wrong idea about that environment. Flotation devices are for children who cannot swim. Children, who cannot swim, should not be allowed to learn that it is safe to play in the water while relying on a crutch. Life jackets must be worn in a boat or around the water when there is the potential for an accidental submersion; they are not a substitute for the ability to swim or for adult supervision.

I completely agree with this, but here's what happened with us: We bought the PJ's for a trip to Port A a few weeks ago. DD had become a little more comfortable in the water, but isn't swimming yet. DS is fearless and wasn't at all intimidated by the water, but couldn't swim. We knew we needed a little extra protection at the beach, so we tried them. DD immediately starting "swimming" with it and was considerably more comfortable learning to move her body in the water. With DS, it simply kept him safe. Once we were home, we went swimming every single day, because we can now have both kids in the pool. DD can swim across the pool on her own (not that we let her swim without us in the pool). I do believe that kids should have a healthy fear of water and not be given a false sense of security, but we were willing to go the "floaty" route believing it would actually give the kids more practice in the water and help them learn to swim. FWIW, we have a lot of other measures in place for water safety and we talk about swimming rules all the time. We also take off their jackets at the end of swimming and practice swimming without them, so they hopefully understand there is a difference.

In the end, we are in love with the PJ's and while it wasn't in my original plan of how to teach them to swim safely in the water, our plans changed and we believe they have been a benefit to all of us.

Temp13436125005166 · June 2011

m_and_m my MIL who ran an really good local swim school for 30+ years says the same thing, no floaties. We don't use them at all, so if we're in a big pool we're mostly hanging out on the stairs and "chug-chugging" the kids around the pool. Megan now will push off my legs a couple feet to the edge and then push back, or jump into my arms... but she's not swimming yet.

DH (whose a HS swim coach) says the other thing about floaties is that they put you in the wrong position in the water so often if kids learn to swim with flotation devices they have to re-learn without because the position is different. I'm not sure if that's the case with the PD or not though.

Emer - I totally get what your saying though. My MIL always says being in the pool every day is the best thing you can do for learning to swim. We're in the same boat, no way I'd take both kids by myself so I can see how that gives you ability to do so.

HSartteach · June 2011

I understand what people are saying about no floaties. My problem is we don't go that often, and when he wants in the big pool, I do hold him, but occasionally he tries to push off me and I don't want to "drop" him by accident. I would not be using the puddle jumper for swimming. It's more for my piece of mind that he is safe-kwim?

Temp13436125005166 · June 2011

HSartteach:
I understand what people are saying about no floaties. My problem is we don't go that often, and when he wants in the big pool, I do hold him, but occasionally he tries to push off me and I don't want to "drop" him by accident. I would not be using the puddle jumper for swimming. It's more for my piece of mind that he is safe-kwim?

I totally get it! But if I were to channel my MIL (which is kinda weird to say...) I'd say if he pushes off of you and goes under its not a big deal you just take a step and pick him up. And if he doesn't like it he'll probably learn quickly not to do it. But either way if you're right there its ok if he goes under. Ryan goes under water 1-3 times when we're swimming, he doesn't mind and he does it himself a lot of the time. That said its totally personal, you do what you're comfortable with, I get that. :-)

m_and_m · June 2011

Michelle&Russ:
HSartteach:
I understand what people are saying about no floaties. My problem is we don't go that often, and when he wants in the big pool, I do hold him, but occasionally he tries to push off me and I don't want to "drop" him by accident. I would not be using the puddle jumper for swimming. It's more for my piece of mind that he is safe-kwim?
I totally get it! But if I were to channel my MIL (which is kinda weird to say...) I'd say if he pushes off of you and goes under its not a big deal you just take a step and pick him up. And if he doesn't like it he'll probably learn quickly not to do it. But either way if you're right there its ok if he goes under. Ryan goes under water 1-3 times when we're swimming, he doesn't mind and he does it himself a lot of the time. That said its totally personal, you do what you're comfortable with, I get that. :-)

Ditto all this!

But I also want to add that even though you're not using it for swimming, if he lets go of you in the water and he floats in something he's going to learn that is the position he is supposed to be in. In the event he is in the water without the floatie, he's going to try to get back into that position.

I don't ever take all three kids into water by myself (besides the splash park or the ankle deep wading pool) because it is 100% up to me to keep them from drowning, and I can only focus on one in the deep water at a time. Kinda sucks, but worth it for the long term safety of the kids.

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