My son turned 2 about a month ago and he loves the water. We are going to a pool party next weekend and my in-laws have a place at the beach, so we'll be spending a lot of time there this summer. What works well for keeping him afloat without restricting his motion too much? I want him to be safe but I also want him to wear whatever it is without a huge fight. He will obviously be supervised at all times, but I like him to have some freedom to move around too.
Thanks! That is kind of what I was thinking, but I didn't know if I was being overly cautious. Just ordered a childs life vest online and it should be here before our pool party on Sunday!
I put my kids that can't swim yet in a life-vest *unless* they're in my arms - no vest, no swimming. They learn quickly enough if they want to play in the water.
We used a coast guard approved speedo life jacket...the kind that's styled like a vest, with straps around and through the legs. We loved it. Never, not even once, did our daughter bob under. She could go from her back to her front, side to side, whatever, and her head was always well above water. Loved it.
So glad to see so many moms agree on the life vest! We are avid boaters and our daughter knows that she must be in her vest when she's around the water--not just in the water (3 yr old). I have a friend (her kids are grown now) that taught her kids to count "1, 2, 3" out loud before entering/jumping into the water; it was a kind of verbal warning that one of her kids was going into the pool/lake. I loved the idea and have taught it to our daughter as well.
Another option for a pool, when a parent is in the water too is a USCG-approved floation device made by Stearns called a "Puddle Jumper."
With pool parties and the beach, I 100% agree with the life jacket. But when it's just me and my daughter in the pool, I also let her go with just a ring. She loves it, and it is helping with her swimming. It pushes her legs behind her, so she can practice kicking, and if she rests her chest on the ring, she can move her arms too. Again this is only with me and her in the pool.
My almost four year old is an exceptionally strong swimmer but I would agree with the other Mom that at two years of age that same strong (developing) swimmer would have been only in my arms or in a life jacket. Prior to three or more years of age there is just no way a two year old has the coordination to stay in a restraint or to hang on to a restraint unless they cannot get out of it. So make sure it is a coast guard approved jacket and it should have a toggle that snaps between the legs as well as those that go across the chest. The toggle between the legs should be above the knees so he cannot slip it out from between the legs. It scares the heck out of me when anyone thinks of using less than this with a 2 year old if they will not be holding them the whole time
Life jacket...preferably the kind with the hood!
At 2 yrs old your son should be able to keep himself upright but the hood will ensure he doesn't flip over onto his stomach just in case he can not yet right himself straight up and down yet all the time.
Life jackets ensure plenty of freedom to run/jump/kick and paddle!
Happy swimming!
get him a vest and try it out. It will keep him afloat and should not restrict him too much. if he likes to swim send him for swimming lessons.
Glad you're getting a life vest. Make sure he keeps it on if he's anywhere near the pool. Better safe than sorry!
I guess I'm the maverick here. My son started using the swimmies that you blow up and put on his arms when he was 2. Obviously I always kept him within arms reach. But he was (and is) a very independent child and did not want me to hold him. The arm floaties helped him learn to kick and paddle around the pool very quickly. And they are much easier to pack in a suitcase than a full life vest for vacations.
