life vests at beach

raceyrae · July 2011

As you probably saw from my other posts, we're going on our first beach trip next week. I only plan to have the girls play in the ocean up to the knees type idea, or any little tidal pools that may have formed, etc. (of course, all with supervision). I'm definitely not taking them in further with us no matter what type of life jacket they have on. For playing in the tidal pools and just in the part of the ocean that meets the shore (the word for this is escaping me right now), did you put some type of life vest on them or something? Do they allow them at the ocean beaches? TIA

withoutshoes · July 2011

We only use the life vest when DS is in the boat, or playing on the dock. We are always beside him when he is at the ocean or tidal pools (not that we aren't with him on the boat/dock) :-)

He always holds someone's hand while in the ocean, so we don't use one. Otherwise, I would use some sort of flotation device. I don't think it's nedded in the tidal pools. Have fun at the beach!

MrsHughesNC · July 2011

We don't currently have any time of lifejacket/floatation for Holly, for the pool or ocean. At the Y, where she primarily swims, they have lifejackets that we use in the main pool. In the 1.5-2 ft deep toddler pool, she doesn't use anything. At the pool at my IL's beach condo, we swim while holding her, hang out in the shallow end where she can touch, or sometimes use swimmies. I would like to get her a puddle jumper for that pool though.

For the ocean, we don't use anything. We are right by by her while she plays in the surf, usually holding her hand. We will pick her up and take her in deeper while she holds on to us (like waist deep on me), but that's about it. She knows she is not allowed near the water without an adult with her. Maybe if we get the puddlejumper, we'd put it on her for the ocean, but I've never really thought of it for that since we don't really "swim" in the ocean right now.

BackthePack · July 2011

J wears his puddle jumper for any kind of swimming that he can't touch in - pool or ocean. I believe it's a Coast Guard approved flotation device & can be used in lieu of a life jacket, but I'm not 100% on that.

We've taken him out in the ocean beyond the breakers, but we can always stand - it's usually waist-chest deep on us, but so much calmer/safer than getting beat with the breaking waves. He wears his puddle jumper & we hold on to him. We are very comfortable swimming in the ocean though, so it doesn't make us nervous. But it's definitely a personal choice depending on your comfortableness.

In the surf & tide pools he doesn't wear anything. Same thing with the shallow kiddie & zero-entry pools.

crescentmoon99 · July 2011

We don't use any kind of floats at the beach. Liam knows he can't go in the ocean without an adult, and he's good about it. He's felt how strong the waves are, so he understands why. We do carry him out deeper in our arms, he absolutely loves being out in the waves, but he is a daredevil and doesn't get upset if he catches a wave in his face.

dbertagni · July 2011

We have not had Jocelyn wear anything at the beach, but if you do not have a puddle jumper currently, I would invest in one and try it out. They are coast guard approved like PP stated. However, like you said, I will not be letting Jocelyn go in the ocean past her knees, or just sitting at the shore line. When we took her to the beach she just liked playing in the little pools of water that we could dig and fill up with ocean water and she like to splash in the water, but she was aware of the current and was not interested in going out much further (esp w/out mommy or daddy holding her).

mrsmikey · July 2011

For what you're talking about, no. But Eli likes to go out far now, and will even swim past the breakers. Even though we're with him, he wears his puddle jumper then. And he's started boogie boarding too, so obviously he wears it then. But just for playing in the surf and in knee deep water, he doesn't wear anything.

jenhum · July 2011

We didn't use any sort of floatation device at the beach. The tidal pools Maddie played in were all only a few inches deep (shallower than a baby pool), and she mainly just sat in the ocean in ankle deep water. She was never really interested in going any further, b/c she didn't like the waves knocking her down. I don't think she'll actually swim in the ocean for another few years- for now she just loves sitting in the shallow end or in a tidal pool and playing with the sand/shells/toys.

Want a personalized experience?

life vests at beach

Re: life vests at beach

Choose Another Board

Search Boards