To use Floaties or not to use floaties

I debated that one too. Ultimately, my sister and I had 6 kids under 5 (4,3, triplets 2,2,2 and 1), so we bought coast guard recommended, boating life vests for them all. They were so conditioned that they never ever stepped in the back yard without a life vest on. They enjoyed the confidence of "independent" swimming around the pool, jumping off of the side, etc. until age 5, when they were physically strong enough to swim for long stretches without a vest. Using the vest for years, never seemed to hinder anyone of the kids from eventually learning to go without it. But, I clearly see the rationale for teaching kids to swim without it, from the beginning.

"Only a life lived for others, is the life worthwhile" - Albert Einstein

When I use to watch 4 children of a police officer, I know they did not believe that using floaties was a good idea. I attended swimming lessons for his children and the swimming instructor said what you said. Kids need to know how to be in a pool without depending on floaties. My 18 mth old begins swimming lessons in 1 week, so I'll see what they say at this fitness club. I'm like you when it comes to using floaties. But, I see their point of view also. I'm curious to learn more about the right technique.

One Happy Mom in Arizona.

I don't think there is a right or wrong way as far as using floaties or not. You clearly said you watch your kids very carefully and as long as you also have discussions with them on their level about safety and do get them into swimming lessons, I don't see the problem.
I know a few moms that their kids just know that they don't even get near the pool fence without their safety gear.
Today’s society has a tendency to over exam things I think about SOME issues. My mom put me in floaties and I didn't go diving in hary cary cause I had them. Neither did my friends, and probably most moms would say the same as well.
I know accidents can happen even with the best of intentions, so ultimately you have to go with what is right for your family.

bookworm_mom ~ mommy of twins

I used floaties with both of my nephews when they were young. I taught them both how to swim by myself and Im not a lifeguard or anything. Everytime they were in the pool I was with them and they felt safe with me. Everyone in my family has always used floaties and they have never came off you just have to make sure they are blown up all the way. We just used the generic plain old floaties. I also started using the cloth ones for my youngest nephew and he loves them.

My daughter is 5 and I never used them with her. I didn't want her to become reliant on them and then have a problem getting her away from them.

I guess i'm one of the few mom who used floaties.. . And for my youngest I found a suit with styrofoam sewn inside (costco) - it was really bulky, but she loved it. She used it one summer when she was three - but by the next year she was swimming on her own.
I didn't rely on the devices to protect my kids, but it gives them an opportunity to have more fun, and play with their older siblings. Just my opinion anyways....

I do not see anything wrong with floaties but I think it is important to teach kids to swim without them. My dad is trying to teach her, or at least give her a little headstart for when she starts swimming lessons on June 16th. He only allows her to wear the floaties for a few minutes then they come off. It is slow but he is trying to teach her to doggy paddle, to at least get to the steps or to the side, and to paddle. She really wants the floaties but needs to not be dependant on them.

DD 3 years old brand new baby Luke David born 6/9/08 9lb 1oz 21 1/2 inches long

We used them but not much. My daughter picked up swimming very quicly and without lessons. I think for most kids it's probably better to take lessons instead but that really depends on your particular situation. Go with your gut - you probably know what's best for your own kids.

we tried them a few times, but my son didn't like them, and we also tried one of those floatie suits and the vest, and they were kind of awkward...he'd pitch forward and have his face half in the water...........so we just put him in lessons at Swim Kids when he was about three and he took to it easily....he was swimming on his own in no time.
I think if your kids have fun with them, there is nothing wrong with using them, but overall it benefits them to learn how to swim on their own as soon as possible.

I agree there is a false sense of safety when in fact a child can still be unsafe with them. I'd say just stay in the water with them - assist them around. Swim lessons build so much confidence and safety in the child. You are right to debate...its a tough decision.

LisaMommy is a 38 year old discussion leader for arizonamoms.com from the Paradise Valley/Scottsdale area. Her two boys are ages 7 months and 3 years old.

With all three of our kids we used a swim top that had a tube built into that. It did not hamper their learning to swim and it was constructed in such a way that we could work with them on their swim skills. I think this is really a choice of your comfort level and the important thing is that you work with them one on one without the floaties when you have the opportunity.

JuneSlager is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com, raising three children (ages 15, 14, & 11) in Northeast Phoenix.

Love the floaties. My kids had no fear of the water because of their floaties - of course they were always supervised. I would play water games with them and teach them how to kick properly. Then we worked on putting faces in the water. I taught them how to float on their backs. All with floaties. Both my kids would swim with their faces in the water and kicking. Then as they learned more about swimming I would not blow the floaties up all the way and we worked on arm strokes (supervised of course because they weren't as tight on the arms).

Even after my kids quit wearing the floaties regularly they sometimes wanted to wear them because they enjoyed how they would pop up after jumping in.

When I was young, I was certified as a lifeguard / swim instructor (both Red Cross and YMCA). Here's my take. It's totally okay to use floaties. If it's no fun to be in the pool, and if the kid feels totally out of control or scared in the shallow end, it's next to impossible to teach him/her to swim.

I'd much rather take a kid who has had a great time playing in the pool with his/her floaties and is ready to try to learn to swim without them. It's like training wheels.

The one thing I am adament about: water-baby classes. There's no reason not to do it. You absolutely, positively, have to know that if your baby or toddler ends up in a body of water, s/he will be floating on his/her back -- totally oblivious to any adult panic.

We bought a house with a pool when my daughter was 4 yo. She never wore floaties. It took her about a month to learn how to swim.

I can see how they say that floaties can give kids a false sense of security.

jesshod is an arizonamoms.com discussion leader living in Surprise.