Life vest or arm floats for 2.5yr old? PLEASE help

luvmygirlss · February 2014

Hi everyone! I was hoping you would help me out. I have received such great advice on here from everyone. I'm taking my 2.5 to Florida and have no idea what she should be wearing in a pool. She has no clue on how to swim, and has only been in a pool when she was a baby and was held by me. What's the best thing to use a vest, arm floats, something else? I want her to be able to have fun and stay afloat. I will obviously be right next to her but she's a big girl. She will be almost 3 when we go, she's tall and weighs 35lbs. My original choice was going to be the arm floats but I don't think those will be good for my big girl? PLEEEEEASE help, I am soooo confused.

JENandJEH · February 2014

We used a Puddle Jumper with my oldest from around age 2 until 4 and he did great with it.

TeacherVicky · February 2014

If your LO is not used to swimming, she might honestly not be comfortable being out of your arms while in the water, especially if she is not adventurous. I would get arm floats (DS is the same weight and puts them on occasionally in the pool, they work fine) but expect to possibly always be holding her.

dmurrie · February 2014

They make little inner tube "boat" things with either a solid or mesh opening that has leg holes cut into it. If LO is not used to water and if you don't want her clinging to you for dear life, this may be your best bet.

luvmygirlss · February 2014

JENandJEH said:

We used a Puddle Jumper with my oldest from around age 2 until 4 and he did great with it.

Does he stay afloat on his own in it? Is it possible that she may tip over in it? I'm just so nervous, not sure what the best option is..

LouRN09 · February 2014

Puddle Jumper's are awesome!!!!!! DS1 had very little water experience when we went to the beach last summer and it worked perfectly. It is a great combination between the vest and arm floats. It kept him afloat on his own and if he tipped to any direction, it would be to his back.

luvmygirlss · February 2014

LouRN09 said:

Puddle Jumper's are awesome!!!!!! DS1 had very little water experience when we went to the beach last summer and it worked perfectly. It is a great combination between the vest and arm floats. It kept him afloat on his own and if he tipped to any direction, it would be to his back.

Great I'm just looking them up now. Never heard of these, they look awesome!

Leap08 · February 2014

Another vote for the Puddle Jumper. DD1 used a puddle jumper for about 2 years. DD2 started using it just before she turned 2. They're better than arm floats because it also supports their body (our swim instructor approves the puddle jumper, but does not approve arm bands). I think they're a little more comfortable than a life vest, and a little easier to swim in. If they tip, they tip to their back, so there's no danger of ending face down in the water. They're awesome. DD2 swims all around in hers completely independent of us.

GirlLeastLikelyTo · February 2014

YES!!! The Puddle Jumper is the BEST!!! My son's been using it since he was 20 months and he LOVES it. It really is incredible.

jc&cat · February 2014

We have life jackets similar to this for each child. DD has never been out of my arms or DH's arms in the pool and the jacket works well for us. She is about the same size as your LO. Remember, lighter in the pool so not as heavy as on dry land!

https://www.amazon.com/Speedo-Begin-Printed-Neoprene-Medium/dp/B008H6VLY8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393353991&sr=8-1&keywords=speedo+children%27s+swim+vest

jlpev · February 2014

LouRN09 said:
Puddle Jumper's are awesome!!!!!! DS1 had very little water experience when we went to the beach last summer and it worked perfectly. It is a great combination between the vest and arm floats. It kept him afloat on his own and if he tipped to any direction, it would be to his back.

This!

AvianaNmommy · February 2014

I also agree with the puddle jumper! My daughter loves it!

InLovewSB · February 2014

Another vote for Puddle Jumper. Both of my kids are in them, and they LOOOOOVE them. I feel they are very safe, but of course, our kids never swim unsupervised.

chardonnay24 · February 2014

We use a Puddle Jumper

yeah. · February 2014

Most of the research now says to use nothing.

My 3 year old uses a noodle in the pool, no vest or floatie. She's taking swim lessons and I'm just next to her/holding her in the pool right now.

LinnyAnne10 · February 2014

Whatever PFD that you use. Please (as a former Coast Guard member) Use a Properly FITTED Coast Guard Approved PFD. It will state inside of the PFD that it's Coast Guard Approved.

When we went to florida back in Nov.we just used a regular life jacket. Didn't slow him down one bit, and loved to be in the water.

We used it at the pool and at the beach.

nearly_klo · March 2014

jc&cat said:

We have life jackets similar to this for each child. DD has never been out of my arms or DH's arms in the pool and the jacket works well for us. She is about the same size as your LO. Remember, lighter in the pool so not as heavy as on dry land!

https://www.amazon.com/Speedo-Begin-Printed-Neoprene-Medium/dp/B008H6VLY8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393353991&sr=8-1&keywords=speedo+children%27s+swim+vest

We use a similar vest. She's confident in water and has done lessons, but this allows her to swim all around our backyard pool with some independence. We are always in with her, but she is 3 and likes to be a 'big girl!'

jlpev · March 2014

When my son does his swimming lessons he uses nothing. But when playing at nanas house he uses a puddle jumper. Her house, her rules. Puddle jumper is great!

Angela814 · March 2014

I wouldn't do arm floaties. Puddle jumpers are awesome. Some pools only allow coast guard approved life jackets, and a puddle jumper is coast guard approved.

My girls do swim lessons at the Y, and they use bubble belts during lessons. They allow the kids to move through the water independently and using the correct swimming motions but still provide support.

https://www.amazon.com/Water-Gear-Instructional-Swim-Belt/dp/B0002H4NQ8

ams8099 · March 2014

NariaDreaming said:

:::dirty lurker:::

arm floaties are not approved safety devices and can actually cause more problems than they solve in children who are not strong swimmers. They provide buoyancy in the wrong place, make swimming properly harder to learn, and because they can slide on the arms, can actually create a situation where they slide up the arms and force the child underwater.

If you must use a flotation device, please buy a properly-fitting USCG approved PDF.

::Another dirty lurker::

I PPH you! Puddle jumpers are USCG approved PDFs and are far safer than arm floaties. Also, it won't magically hold her up right in the water. Neither will a traditional life vest. Balance must be learned.

clanager03 · March 2014

I had a little speed boat float with the leg holes for him and he would float by himself around the pool he loved it. I had used a vest for him but I hated it!! If your going to get a vest make sure it has the strap that goes between the legs or it will float up and not work as well.

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Life vest or arm floats for 2.5yr old? PLEASE help

Re: Life vest or arm floats for 2.5yr old? PLEASE help

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