We are going on vacation and there will be a pool at the place we are staying. Our girls will be 3 in a couple of weeks and have not had much exposure to pools (except baby pools). What is the safest thing to use over their bathing suits while around and in the pool? I don't know what to get(arm floats, puddle jumpers, life vests, floatation swim trainer). I want something that is safe but comfortable as well.
Suggestions???
Maria

A real life vest (the kind with sraps between the legs to keep in place) is the safest, but it is also the hardest for the kids to tolerate because of the size and it alters the way they float so much.

I don't like the foam built-in vests in the cheaper swim suits (like Swim School), because the foam floats up under the kids' chins and sometimes over their mouth.

I believe in the old wisdom that no child under age 5 years old is safe in the water. We just don't do pools unless it is one-on-one right now.

Sheila
GGB 10/29/06 (33 weeks)

Can you get them into swim lessons before you go? If you have an Infant Swim Resource teacher nearby then it is MORE than worth the money. My three year olds a little fish. I can go to the pool now and play with them or sit on the steps, because they will play and if they get in trouble, they just go to their float. It is SO nice!

Kimberly,
Mom to Isabelle, Alyssa, and Makenna
www.guinntrips.com

Infant Swim Resource is the BEST time & money I have spent on my kids! It's intense - one-on-one lessons every day for 6 weeks, but at the end, they will be able to float on their backs & look for the wall, roll over and swim to the wall, and roll back to float & breathe as necessary on the way to the wall. They learn to do it even when they fall in unexpectedly, from any direction, fully clothed or in a swimsuit.

After these lessons, I felt confident enough to take all 4 of my kids to the pool by myself. This pool is only a foot deep, but has water slides and all that. At one point, a huge bucket flipped over, dumping enough water to create a mini-wave. Three of my kids got knocked off their feet, and all three instantly went to a backfloat. In a foot of water. Silly, I know, but they were well-trained to react that way and it worked!

BGG born 4/25/05 at 31w1d




New baby girl born 9/19/06

Maria - When our trio were that age we used the Coast Guard approved life jackets. They are a little pricey, but SO worth every penny. They wore them for 2-3 years until they became confident swimmers. They still wear them when fishing. You can get them at quality Marine/Boating Supply stores, and check online.
In my view - you cannot put a price on safety near the water.
Have fun on your vacation!
Camille

Thanks for all your suggestions. My girls are starting swim class at a private swim school when we get back from vacation. We could not get them in beforehand. I think we are going to get the Coast guard approved life jackets since safety is our priority. There will be other family on our vacation to help out but ultimately it's our responsibility that they stay safe. I wish there wasn't a pool...

Maria

Try out theh arm floats first and also try a life jacket. Our kids first were in a pool at 3 also. 2 of them loved the arm floats because it let them move easier and 1 likes the life vest. The arms floats are pretty cheap too. Also, they loved the pool noodles (already provided at the pool).

Good luck and have fun!

Suzan

g/g/b August 21, 2005
my miracle 24 weekers!!!!

I actually didn't like the coast guard type ones; perhaps it was the ones we had but it tended to flip them on their back. we wanted life vests that would keep them afloat in the water, but straight up and down. the ones we loved were the speedo swim vests- they latched across their chests and between their legs. they were about $15 each at Target. you buy them based on the child's weight.

there was another kind that we tried that actually flipped them face forward! I guess it was to get them into swimming position or something, but all it would have done for ours is drown them!

Mary

born 12/12/04 33w2d