Pool gear.....

[muskiesusan]

We have a community pool and things have gotten complicated now that I have two running around! We tend to stick to the baby pool, which is 1 ft deep. What type of gear, if any, should I be putting on the kids?

Alex, 13 months, is a dare devil and wants to run through the pool by himself which freaks me out. Nick does great in the baby pool, but I would like to start introducing him to the bigger pool and teach him how to do a little swimming. Most of the moms just use the arm float things, but thoses don't seem like enough.

Suggestions?


Susan
Mom to Nick 10/01
& Alex 04/04

[August Mom]

I think you should get a floatation belt for Nick. He's old enough that he should be able to use one. He can actually swim with the belt on. This is what our swimming instructor recommends for kids that are 3+ when they are old enough to start to swim on their own. 2-3 year olds can use them too, but in my experience still want mom to hold onto them too.

[sophiesmom]

I"m in the same boat, we just started going to a pool and i have an almost 4 year old and 2 year old. I haven't gone alone yet and am dreading it. My 2 year old boy is pretty active! One woman I met there had a floatation device for her 4 year old, it was yellow and strapped around his chest. I will probably get one for her, even though I know she won't run away to the big pool, but you never know!
I pretty much will be following DS around the baby pool. DH was watching him the other day and he fell twice and couldn't get up, swallowed water, ended up w/ diarhhea yesterday. I need to get something for him too, but I don't know if there is anything that will prevent him from going under.

[muskiesusan]

Do you know where I can get a floatation belt? I have never seen one before in the stores and from what I have seen online, it looks like a good idea.

Thanks for the tip!

Susan
Mom to Nick 10/01
& Alex 04/04

[Mikesa3]

I was just coming here to ask the same thing for my 2 year old.Arm floats have not been enough but have tried other things before that I haven't been happy with. We've tried a life vest with my other kids but they didn't like how it laid them back.We tried the learn to swim thing that has removable foam pieces in front and back but it's doesn't stay put to keep child's face out of water. I'd love to find what would work because my ds loves the water.
Nancy-Mom to 6 great kids

[muskiesusan]

My neighbor uses a swim sweater for her 2 yo. It really keeps him a float and he loves it. Here's a link: http://tinyurl.com/92jv7


Susan
Mom to Nick 10/01
& Alex 04/04

[August Mom]

Our teacher recommended the H20 site, but I don't see belts there.

Here are a couple that I found, but I don't know about the quality of the sites:

http://www.thstore.com/thstore/Produ...0XS&GroupID=44 (this one is XS for under 100 lbs., which could be good)

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/swimx/aqtrimfloatb.html (this one says 100 lbs.+, but looks like the ones the kids use in our class, which are adult belts)

If you use a belt, put it one really tight (they always loosen in the water) and our teacher says it's good for the floatation part to go all the way around the child's body so that it can help with front and back floating.

http://www.recsupply.com/myweb/produ...ter_runner.htm

http://www.swimoutlet.com/product_p/1119.htm

http://www.swimoutlet.com/product_p/2030.htm (this one is the cheapest and we had a similar style at class - with multiple foam pieces. I didn't like it as well as the solid belt, but in class the one with the multiple foam pieces was actually the child style)

I think you can probably find them IRL at a sporting goods store like D icks.