Floaties/safety gear for swimming?

[ellybelle]

Our DD is now 4 1/2, and she'll be taking swimming lessons this summer. However, we're going to Puerto Rico for a week and I'd like to introduce her to the water while there.

I'm wondering what people would recommend to make her initial swim experience more pleasant and her mother feel a little more secure. I know I'll need to keep my eyes on her at all times while we are near the water, but I'm wondering if there's anything I can use to make her feel a little more independent and confident in the water (she usually clings tightly to me whenever we've been in deeper water in the past....)

[mamax2]

Some may say a life jacket, but I find that's usually really bulky and not necessary in a pool situation if you'll be right there. I'd try water wings and she may also like an inner tube or kick board since kids seem to like the security of something to hold on to. They make dense foam kick boards that would be really light weight and easy to pack. I'd also look for the water wings that are fabric coated because they're so much easier to take on/off.

[yby1]

water wings really help.

[ellybelle]

Thanks! We'll pick up some water wings before we go (we leave on Wed.)

We'll use a life jacket if we go on a boat, but if it's just us in the pool together, it seems a bit excessive.

[kristin]

We use a tube similar to this by Skill School. It's the level 2 tube:

http://www.pools.com/catalog/toddlers_toys_floats-888-14167.html

My kids are 2 and 4, it this tube has been awesome! My 4 yo can really get around in it. Of course I have to watch the little one more, but she does great in it too!

[MizLarner]

We've been using life jackets since around 2 years. I bought my 3yo son (4 in July) his first one for his birthday last year - we call it his boat coat. He loves it! He's a fish when we go swimming, so he loves that he can swim all over the place with his life jacket. Water gives buoyancy, but I seriously grow tired after just a short while of holding onto the kids in the pool, so the life jacket is great for me too. It's also how we helped our older son get less fearful of the water - he felt safe in the life jacket and didn't feel the need to constantly cling.

There's no way my kids will cooperate for water wings.. My 3yo doesn't like things like that on him (HATES bandaids!) and my 2yo is so independent he wouldn't do anything but fight me over them. Life jackets are best for us!

[dana b]

my dd wears one of these http://www.landsend.com/pp/FloatieSwimsuit~165804_1186.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::XVN&CM_MERCH=IDX_00004__0000000421&origin=index

[Katie1]

My DD (2.5) likes to use the tube because it keeps her head out of the water, usually with water wings as well.

However, she has fallen in twice now (tripped when standing on the steps) and if she falls in headfirst the tube does not pull her head out of the water. I am always right next to her so it takes me about two seconds to pull her out (of course that time seems like 20 minutes), but both times she has been floating face-down til I got to her.