Floatation device controversy

Re: Floatation device controversy

• 2chatter member

  June 2013

  OMG.  That is repugnant. 

  I cannot wait until DS hits 30 pounds so I can get him a Puddle Jumper.  We spend plenty of time in and out of flotation when they are little - none of my kids thought they could swim or float without a device.  I guess if you strap flotation onto your child before you get near the pool and they never spend any time out of it I can see how it is a "risk".  I am not training olympians here, either, and we do the full on spendy swim classes when they are little - one session - for safety.  Elbow elbow knee knee and then we move on with our lives.

  

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• MrMrsandBaby member

  June 2013

  Yeah, I totally plan on letting Allison in pools with "floaties" on.  The place we take her for swim class actually uses the arm ones on the bigger little kids so they can practice.

  People need to chillax...
  

  

  

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• mkarns member

  June 2013

  My kid will absolutely not wear floaties...I mean because HE won't. Not because I haven't tried. I think floaties help kids to learn to swim; Not the opposite.
  

  My Colton...Growing up so fast!

  

  And Coralee, his baby sister...On the way!

   

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• Lena122 member

  June 2013

  I don't know how controversial it is IRL but I do know that swim clubs in my area don't allow them in the pool. I imagine it's because parents would let kids swim alone who shouldn't be swimming alone.

  
  

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• jmccall79 member

  June 2013

  I knew they were controversial.  However, my kid will wear some sort of floatation device(likely a life jacket).  On that note though, I think it needs to be taught that they still must do x, y, z.  I agree that some places may not allow them because there could be a false sense of security and I could see parents using them and not attending to their kids.  I don't think there's anything wrong with using them...however, if you were to stick some sort of floatation device on your kid, throw them in the water, and walk away(at our LO's age) I might freak out a little.  That's not what the OP in that post said she was doing, by any means, I'm just saying I'd freak out.  Floatation device usage, for any sort of water play situation where they could be submerged, is good parenting in my opinion...not that you'd be bad parent if  you don't use them.  My 4 year old nephew still wears a life jacket, to the swimming pool.  He's fearless, dare devil, and loves the water.  He can now swim, but he still wears it because you just never know!  There have been a few instances, when he was a little younger, that it's a good thing he had it on...after playing hard and swimming like a mad man, he just got wore out and needed that little bit of assistance.  My sister was right there, but had she not been it might have been a little scary.  Again, I am all for the added safety measure and will be using one myself!!!

  

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• lancyjo member

  June 2013

  My mom taught us really quickly the difference in "with floaties" and "without floaties" swimming. She put us in the pool with them on, then put us in without them. [she was in the pool too, we only went under for a second, it wasn't traumatic or abusive, don't freak] We never once thought that we could float without them.
  
  I feel like there will always be something ridiculous for TB to get up in arms about.

  
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