What sort of swimming gear/flotation device are you using?

[teamhayes]

I bought a floaty thing off of amazon. it is awesome but at the beach this weekend they told us we can't use floatation devices..... while people were using noodles. Are they not floatation devices?

I will try to find the link.

[Deleted]

We have this one, I think:
link

We got it last summer, he liked it then. I haven't used it yet this year because we have been hanging out in the zero depth baby pool.
We didn't pay that much - I think I got it for around $25 at Target.

[teamhayes]

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00007FY4H/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

we saw someone use it and went to BRU to get it and it was $24 so I got it on Amazon for 8 bucks less.

[mrsjaymay]

We just got this one. I bought another inflatable one first and didn't like it. This one has a much nicer canopy.

ETA it's the same one teamhayes posted, but only $19.97 on walmart.com!

[Deleted]

Jun 25, 2013 12:43:07 GMT -5 teamhayes said:

I bought a floaty thing off of amazon. it is awesome but at the beach this weekend they told us we can't use floatation devices..... while people were using noodles. Are they not floatation devices?

I will try to find the link.

I know some pools don't let them because if they needed to do CPR they couldn't get it off in time where as a life jacket just buckles or zips

[Deleted]

Jun 25, 2013 12:49:56 GMT -5 @jayhawkali said:

Jun 25, 2013 12:43:07 GMT -5 teamhayes said:

I bought a floaty thing off of amazon. it is awesome but at the beach this weekend they told us we can't use floatation devices..... while people were using noodles. Are they not floatation devices?

I will try to find the link.

I know some pools don't let them because if they needed to do CPR they couldn't get it off in time where as a life jacket just buckles or zips

Oops my post was for the built in floatie suits. The city pool wouldn't let us use a noodle or beach ball

[bebeetmoi]

Jun 25, 2013 13:05:36 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

So I really can't use puddle jumpers for a 21 lb kid? sigh.. lol

I thought the same thing and when I went to Target to try it on her, so was literally swimming in it (no pun I tended). It was just falling off of her, so I'll wait until next year to get her one.

[katfco]

We have one of the flotation things with the canopy, but without the toys. It works well, because DS is so big, most of the other ones for his age aren't buoyant enough and the others for his size are for more developed toddlers.

He can't climb out of it, although we do still have to hold on to him because he tries to lean over. When we used it the other day, he kind of freaked because he didn't like just floating there--he wanted me holding onto his legs. So he was fine if I was touching him.

[chasbride07]

I use a puddle jumper for DD - I still have to hang onto her and not let her float around alone but it makes me feel better knowing she has something on.

ETA - She refused to sit in any sort of floatie and screamed when we tried a life jacket - so if this is as good as I can get this year - I'll take it.

[TrudyCampbell]

Did you see the float I posted in the daddy thread? I don't know the brand but my ILs got it for under $10 on amazon.

[melis74]

For now we use this one and another one where she sits in it on one side and I get in the other side(it's not a closed circle for me)...she really likes that one and actually fell asleep in it one afternoon with me.  Found it:

[chasbride07]

Jun 25, 2013 13:19:37 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

Jun 25, 2013 13:11:46 GMT -5 chasbride07 said:

I use a puddle jumper for DD - I still have to hang onto her and not let her float around alone but it makes me feel better knowing she has something on.

ETA - She refused to sit in any sort of floatie and screamed when we tried a life jacket - so if this is as good as I can get this year - I'll take it.

Do you know her height/weight?

Too small for the puddle jumper   She's about the same size as your LO. 

[laurack]

we bought one at BRU this weekend but havent used it yet. I think it was this one

www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3934872

[melis74]

Jun 25, 2013 14:42:05 GMT -5 laurack said:

we bought one at BRU this weekend but havent used it yet. I think it was this one

www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3934872

That is our other one, the one she fell asleep in. I think she likes it because we are "together". She also likes it when I twist us around and around, I get dizzy quick though and she just wants to keep going...barf.

[TrudyCampbell]

Are you guys using this stuff at the beach?

[puppylove64]

I taught swim lessons for several years and I hate almost all floats for kids who can't swim. It gives them a false sense of security. They can easily jump in without their float and think they will be fine because they are fine with a float. They don't understand the difference. And you could easily take the float off for just a second for snack time, turn your back for one second and they are headed straight back for the pool. It is important for kids to have a healthy fear of the water and know that they rely on a grown up to hold them and play with then in the water. But that is just my 2 cents

[teamhayes]

We are using it at the beach, some beaches that will allow it. We dont have a pool.

[vthokie]

Jun 25, 2013 12:44:02 GMT -5 @veronicasawyer said:

We have this one, I think:
link

We got it last summer, he liked it then. I haven't used it yet this year because we have been hanging out in the zero depth baby pool.
We didn't pay that much - I think I got it for around $25 at Target.

We have this minus the activiy stuff. I love that the canopy detaches. And, she doesn't try to get out, and really couldn't because of how deep she floats.

[hass2001]

My in laws got Sam a tiny life jacket. It starts at 20 pounds. I can ask where they got it if you want. (I'm thinking Costco?)

[Deleted]

Jun 25, 2013 17:06:32 GMT -5 vthokie said:

Jun 25, 2013 12:44:02 GMT -5 @veronicasawyer said:

We have this one, I think:
link

We got it last summer, he liked it then. I haven't used it yet this year because we have been hanging out in the zero depth baby pool.
We didn't pay that much - I think I got it for around $25 at Target.

We have this minus the activiy stuff. I love that the canopy detaches. And, she doesn't try to get out, and really couldn't because of how deep she floats.

Oh, wait, we don't have the activity stuff, either. Sorry, I didn't look at it that closely. I was wondering why the price had gone up so high!

[vidalia]

Jun 25, 2013 19:33:38 GMT -5 @veronicasawyer said:

Jun 25, 2013 17:06:32 GMT -5 vthokie said:

We have this minus the activiy stuff. I love that the canopy detaches. And, she doesn't try to get out, and really couldn't because of how deep she floats.

Oh, wait, we don't have the activity stuff, either. Sorry, I didn't look at it that closely. I was wondering why the price had gone up so high!

We have this one too. We have a pool in our backyard and swim a lot in the evenings but she's still scared to float in it!

[Deleted]

Jun 25, 2013 15:38:43 GMT -5 puppylove64 said:

I taught swim lessons for several years and I hate almost all floats for kids who can't swim. It gives them a false sense of security. They can easily jump in without their float and think they will be fine because they are fine with a float. They don't understand the difference. And you could easily take the float off for just a second for snack time, turn your back for one second and they are headed straight back for the pool. It is important for kids to have a healthy fear of the water and know that they rely on a grown up to hold them and play with then in the water. But that is just my 2 cents

Totally agree. We won't be using any floaties.

[Deleted]

Jun 25, 2013 20:11:19 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

Well look, I'm not sending J to the pool for the first time without me without some kind of flotation device. Sorry, not happening.

Maybe we suck, but we don't really let her run around independently much, so I don't see my mom taking her flotation device off and then wandering inside for a glass of wine or something. I'm sure it will be different in a couple of years or would be different if we had a pool, but she is 14 months. She's not going to be out of anyone's sight long enough to wander into the neighbor's pool.

Maybe I suck too, but I am with you. I understand the concern with flotation devices when they are older. Right now, I am just looking for something to give my arms a break on occasion while I am literally 3 inches from him.

[dixeedeluxe]

We didn't get anything for Edie until this year. We don't have anything for Adeline. We just hold her. Well, that's a lie. We do have an infant level 2 life vest for the boat.