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Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
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Swimming

ascheckascheck member
in Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months

Hello all, 

 With it now being summer I am wondering what others are doing about water safety. We spend a lot of time at our local waterpark and the water is fairly shallow but I still think I might want some protection. The life vests they have are so bulky and uncomfortable, she hates them! What do you have and love, or have and wish you didn't buy? Arm floats, full vest, what brand. Thanks!!

 

Amy 

 

she is almost 16 motnhs 

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Re: Swimming

  • unaveragejaneunaveragejane member
    Is she big enough for a Puddle Jumper yet? My friend's 2 year old has one and loves it. We tried it on my one-year-old, just to see if it might work for vacation, and he absolutely hated it. It fit okay around his waist, but the arm float part was too big and drove him nuts. I definitely recommend that you try before you buy!
                 

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  • MountaineersMountaineers member
    We have a puddle jumper for DS and he loves it. We go to a lake so the water is deep in some areas. He is 22 months though so I'm not sure if he would've been too small at that age or not. We got ours at Walmart for 15 bucks and its coast guard approved. You could try one on her and see if it fits. Last year we had a full life vest and he hated it and would not move a muscle while in the water. It was way too bulky. I've also tried regular arm floaties in the pool and he does fine with them too but the puddle jumper has protection around the chest which I like
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  • Snow1010Snow1010 member

    Our DD is almost 2 and uses the below at the pool.  It's great for her because she still has to move her legs and arms to keep upright.  And as swimming skill improve you can remove some of the float inserts. 
    Not sure if this is too "advanced" for a 16 month old because your LO will need to learn to keep upright and move limbs.

    https://www.amazon.com/SwimWays-Power-Swimr-Orange-Medium/dp/B007SPKV0Y/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1372183680&sr=8-7&keywords=swimways

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  • preggersin2011preggersin2011 member
    At 16months LO can learn how to swim independently. I wouldn't start a bad habit of giving flotation devices and teaching a child to go against their natural ability. I was swimming 100% unassisted before 2. my LO was floating and swimming near me at 6 months. Life has been crazy and we haven't been swimming in several months :(
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  • ascheckascheck member
    Thanks for all the replies! I will look into the puddle jumper when she is a bit older but for now just keep my we on her!
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  • IgnatusDemIgnatusDem member
    I'm in the nothing party.  DH was a swim teacher and a swimmer for years and he hates seeing kids with water wings/ floatation devices in the pool.  
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  • SunAndRainSunAndRain member

    I too am in the no-floaties camp.  I've had DD in swim classes since she was 10 weeks old. 

    That said, we were recently at the beach and I thought that I might use a life vest on her if she shows interest in jumping the waves.  But then again, I never did as a child.  If she isn't ready for the waves then she shouldn't be in them.

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