outgrew the puddle jumper- what's next

[zarapipe]

What is next after the puddle jumper? DD has outgrown in but still can't float. That's another story though

[anna7602]

I don't know what this is. Do you mean DD1 or DD2? We held DD for a long time and put inflatable arm things on her. At some point, she was good about holding on to a kick board or a noodle and that got us through until she was swimming reasonably well.

With DS, I've still only held him in the water.

[Deleted]

Regular life vest or learn to swim.

How old? I taught both my girls to swim holding a pool noodle in front of them that they could let go of and hold onto as needed so they felt secure that they weren't going to be in the middle of the pool without a way to get back. It took them both about 5 minutes to learn to swim using that method when they were about 6 years old. My younger daughter also needed to know it was okay to plug her nose if that made her feel better. She only needed to do it for the first day of swimming and then was fine.

[zarapipe]

For dd1 who turned 5 in March.

[livinitup]

I was a swim instructor and I hate flotation devices for anything other than short periods of play or a PFD on a boat for safety - because it screws-up their ability to learn to swim. So, I'll always recommend no floatation devices in the water with close, hands-on adult supervision in any water above their knees.

[karinothing]

Jun 22, 2015 12:06:11 GMT -5 livinitup said:

I was a swim instructor and I hate flotation devices for anything other than short periods of play or a PFD on a boat for safety - because it screws-up their ability to learn to swim. So, I'll always recommend no floatation devices in the water with close, hands-on adult supervision in any water above their knees.

This is what I struggle with. We spend like 6 hours at the pool on Sat or Sun and I require DS to have non-floatation time every hour. But I got to admit it gets a bit exhausting to have him not wear them for that long! I am lazy ha ha.

[Deleted]

Jun 22, 2015 12:06:11 GMT -5 livinitup said:

I was a swim instructor and I hate flotation devices for anything other than short periods of play or a PFD on a boat for safety - because it screws-up their ability to learn to swim. So, I'll always recommend no floatation devices in the water with close, hands-on adult supervision in any water above their knees.

If you have two or three kids in the water who don't swim the floatation device might be the only way you can really take them swimming. Is it better to get them in the pool often with flotation devices or never take them because you can't have multiple kids not swimming in the pool with you? I mean I get this idea that this isn't going to help them learn to swim, but either is never getting in the water because it's hard with multiple kids.

[6fsn]

I'd say life vest, but I would be pushing lessons too.

As for multiples in the pool, I keep the non-swimmers in the same area. We have a nice zero entry pool with fountains and a climbing thing they can do though.

[zarapipe]

Jun 22, 2015 12:06:11 GMT -5 livinitup said:

I was a swim instructor and I hate flotation devices for anything other than short periods of play or a PFD on a boat for safety - because it screws-up their ability to learn to swim. So, I'll always recommend no floatation devices in the water with close, hands-on adult supervision in any water above their knees.

I think we are past that point honestly. She doesn't want to swim except if she has it on, but it is getting really tight on her arms. We did lessons last summer with a little success. The lessons in my town aren't great honestly. There is a great program 45 minutes away that is for two weeks straight- 45 minutes each day. They apparently have great success. It would be a PITA to commit to that but it would probably be worth it. The next session starts the end of July.

[livinitup]

Jun 22, 2015 12:25:39 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

Jun 22, 2015 12:06:11 GMT -5 livinitup said:

I was a swim instructor and I hate flotation devices for anything other than short periods of play or a PFD on a boat for safety - because it screws-up their ability to learn to swim. So, I'll always recommend no floatation devices in the water with close, hands-on adult supervision in any water above their knees.

I think we are past that point honestly. She doesn't want to swim except if she has it on, but it is getting really tight on her arms. We did lessons last summer with a little success. The lessons in my town aren't great honestly. There is a great program 45 minutes away that is for two weeks straight- 45 minutes each day. They apparently have great success. It would be a PITA to commit to that but it would probably be worth it. The next session starts the end of July.

Then I definitely wouldn't give her a float. Let her chill by the blanket or chair until she wants to put a toe in or go in with you. Water adjustment is the very first step and if the puddle jumper has caused her to fear her own abilities around water, I would not encourage you to continue using it or anything else. Do you have a shallow kiddie pool or zero entry? Or is this a pool with only a shallow end, above her head?

[anna7602]

Jun 22, 2015 12:25:39 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

Jun 22, 2015 12:06:11 GMT -5 livinitup said:

I was a swim instructor and I hate flotation devices for anything other than short periods of play or a PFD on a boat for safety - because it screws-up their ability to learn to swim. So, I'll always recommend no floatation devices in the water with close, hands-on adult supervision in any water above their knees.

I think we are past that point honestly. She doesn't want to swim except if she has it on, but it is getting really tight on her arms. We did lessons last summer with a little success. The lessons in my town aren't great honestly. There is a great program 45 minutes away that is for two weeks straight- 45 minutes each day. They apparently have great success. It would be a PITA to commit to that but it would probably be worth it. The next session starts the end of July.

We sent DD to a camp with daily swim lessons the summer she was 5. She had taken lessons at the Y before that and spent plenty of time in pools with me, but it was the daily thing that made it all click in a way that it hadn't before. I don't know if it was the age or the peer pressure or what, but it worked. 

[zarapipe]

Jun 22, 2015 12:43:35 GMT -5 livinitup said:

Jun 22, 2015 12:25:39 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

I think we are past that point honestly. She doesn't want to swim except if she has it on, but it is getting really tight on her arms. We did lessons last summer with a little success. The lessons in my town aren't great honestly. There is a great program 45 minutes away that is for two weeks straight- 45 minutes each day. They apparently have great success. It would be a PITA to commit to that but it would probably be worth it. The next session starts the end of July.

Then I definitely wouldn't give her a float. Let her chill by the blanket or chair until she wants to put a toe in or go in with you. Water adjustment is the very first step and if the puddle jumper has caused her to fear her own abilities around water, I would not encourage you to continue using it or anything else. Do you have a shallow kiddie pool or zero entry? Or is this a pool with only a shallow end, above her head?

Yes there is one in town. Do you think she would try to learn to doggie swim and float or would she have to be taught that?

[livinitup]

Jun 22, 2015 12:16:05 GMT -5 @mrsgreeko said:

Jun 22, 2015 12:06:11 GMT -5 livinitup said:

I was a swim instructor and I hate flotation devices for anything other than short periods of play or a PFD on a boat for safety - because it screws-up their ability to learn to swim. So, I'll always recommend no floatation devices in the water with close, hands-on adult supervision in any water above their knees.

If you have two or three kids in the water who don't swim the floatation device might be the only way you can really take them swimming. Is it better to get them in the pool often with flotation devices or never take them because you can't have multiple kids not swimming in the pool with you? I mean I get this idea that this isn't going to help them learn to swim, but either is never getting in the water because it's hard with multiple kids.

You can play in the water with 3 kids and floaties, but its just play. Water adjustment and good skill building is best without floatation devices and with adults who can safely supervise the kids. I taught a class of 20 non-swimmers in both shallow and deep water, so there are lots of ways to safely supervise small groups in the pool. Do what you feel comfortable.  

[livinitup]

Jun 22, 2015 12:46:14 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

Jun 22, 2015 12:43:35 GMT -5 livinitup said:

Then I definitely wouldn't give her a float. Let her chill by the blanket or chair until she wants to put a toe in or go in with you. Water adjustment is the very first step and if the puddle jumper has caused her to fear her own abilities around water, I would not encourage you to continue using it or anything else. Do you have a shallow kiddie pool or zero entry? Or is this a pool with only a shallow end, above her head?

Yes there is one in town. Do you think she would try to learn to doggie swim and float or would she have to be taught that?

Play in the kiddie pool or zero entry, just keep it fun and easy. Let her trust being around a pool with a puddle jumper. She can stay knee deep until she starts to like the water again.

Floating and treading water come with ease and trust - you can do that together. Just get in the water with her and make sure YOU are all the way down in the water - so you are eye-to-eye. Hold her, smile, blow bubbled with your lips. Get your faces wet. Have her tread while you stay close. Practice floats (stay LOW in the water, keep your shoulders under the water while she tries to float). She can even put her head (face up) ON your should as you walk backwards. She won't float on her own, but she will if she trusts you, and that comes with having fun together - over and over. Don't encourage doggie swim, just let her learn to swim with her face down and arms rotating out of the water. If she won't put her face in the water, get goggles and practice good water adjustment, face in the water, blowing bubbles, holding breath, floating, kicking - it will all come together, but seriously, skip the doggie paddle, it will delay good stroke development.  

[6fsn]

Send her in without anything and you right there. If she won't go in don't force her. If it's shallow enough start with letting her walk on her hands and kicking her feet behind. Get her to jump off the sides while you are holding her hands, but only let her go in as much as she's willing too.

I feel like the every day swim lessons have had greater success amongst my friends. If there is anyway to do it at all it's worth a shot. You might also ask around for private teachers.

I'm no expert.

[Deleted]

Private swim lessons or life jacket.

[holly116]

I thought I'd sign in to commiserate after this weekend.

DD (almost 5) loooves swim lessons but with a busy spring, we took a break for a few sessions. Also, we went to a lake and went boating recently so I had her in her puddle jumper and she realized how fun it is to float around the lake and the deep end of the pool. With three kids four and under, our first few trips to the pool with me by myself with the kids this summer has had all of them in the puddle jumpers.

So yeah, yesterday with both parents there and DD excelling in level 3 swim America lesson over the winter, the stinker was petrified to jump in or do a thing without that stupid flotation device. She wanted to go down the big slides but totally failed the swim test.

I immediately signed her up for twice a week lessons starting in July last night. No more puddle jumper. I can tell that she's too reliant on it just from a few weeks at the pool. I say rip off the bandaid. Get her in that program across town and we can bitch about it together later .

[Deleted]

My kid is 3 and a half.
She outgrew the puddle jumper and I started using arm bands. She can't be as lazy with them. She has to think about her body and has to kick her legs.
I think after a couple weeks, I will try her without them. But until she can swim really well, she needs them. Holding her is hard. I am not a swim instructor. And this way she can go all over the pool and jump in and I am not paranoid the whole time.

[mrslisa]

DD2 swam all around the pool in an inner tube last year. She was four and wanted to be like the older kids but was too scared to learn to swim. We got the small inner tubes from the $1 store and she went everywhere in that. She got pretty fast and I think the kicking helped her when she was ready to swim on her own.

[darnkatz]

We just moved my six year old to a Speedo UPF 50+ begin to swim vest. It's not bulky and she really likes it. 

Swim lessons are not in the budget right now at all, and I have a two year old who likes to think she can swim and just tries to jump out of my arms. So, that's fun. 

[Deleted]

Stay in the shallow end? I took years of lessons and couldn't swim until puberty. No floatations devices.

[darnkatz]

Jun 22, 2015 20:20:04 GMT -5 @mrswindycity said:

Jun 22, 2015 19:58:51 GMT -5 darnkatz said:

We just moved my six year old to a Speedo UPF 50+ begin to swim vest. It's not bulky and she really likes it. 

Swim lessons are not in the budget right now at all, and I have a two year old who likes to think she can swim and just tries to jump out of my arms. So, that's fun. 

How does this run? My kid is 5 but reading some of the customer questions, I think I should get him a M because he weighs ~38 lbs.

My six year old weighs 43 pounds and fits in the medium well, so I say go for the medium for sure.

And you should definitely use a rash guard with it, btw. It will cause some serious chafing without one.