[boy0hboy]

Hi all,
With all this hot weather and lots of time in the pool I think I need to get Liam into some safety gear.

Does anyone have any suggestions on good swimming vests or floaties? I have no idea what is best and thought some of the more "experienced" mums might have some tips for me!

Thanks in advance!


Mary (23)
DS - Liam (9/8/02)
DH - Ben (26)
Check Out Liam!!

[boy0hboy]

Anyone???

Mary (23)
DS - Liam (9/8/02)
DH - Ben (26)
Check Out Liam!!

[Boss]

I have a surf and swim vest for my daughter. I chose this over floaties because I wanted something I could use at the beach as well. Although when my daughter has swimming lessons they put one of those foam strap on bouyancy vests. The swimming pool supplies those with the lessons. Otherwise I may have purchased both. The strap on one is probably better for learning to swim because it doesn't restrict their movement as much. Safety wise the vest is better because it attaches securely and has a crotch strap.

Jo.
Mum to:
Vanessa 17/02/01
Alicia 29/06/03

[pipnjase]

Hi Mary, many years ago on TV there was a big campaign for the starfish vest as THE product to wear as it had even floatation over the body and didn't drag one part of the body out of the water like the floaty arms which could leave things like the head under. From memory Lawrie Lawence and swimming schools were endorsing it. So saying I am taking Caitlin (7mths now) for swimming lessons and they don't want anything so that if a child falls into a pool outside floaty vest time then they don't have false confidence in their floating ability and have a better chance at getting out
KR
Pip

[Party of 5]

I know this is a very old thread but the OP is asking the very same question that I was going to ask. So does anyone have new information that they would like to add to this thread?

[hannahbug]

Only ever use a fully compliant grade ONE Personal flotation device for children. They keep the child on their back and not face first.

Grade ONE is the only one the Hannah's Foundation recommends for the safety of children. Vests keep kids vertical in the water and there are not head rests. Happy to provide details if you email the foundation.

[*LucyE*]

Our swim school discourages the use of floaties/swim vests for pool fun/play time.

As a PP mentioned, it gives a false sense of security. If a child is young or inexperienced enough to require floaties, they should also have an adult with them anyway.

[hannahbug]

A vest is a swim aid. A LIFEJACKET or Personal Flotation Device (PFD) is a safety device it has a safety standard and complies with legal requirements for safety a vest doesnt. Please understand the difference and dont confuse the two. I will find another very LONG thread on this topic and refer you to that.

A life jacket should be encouraged because swimmers get tired and swimmer drown. I am amazed at how many parents are told NOT to use a life jacket when in open waters. It is necessary when swimming outside your normal environment.

Please just take note that just because your 9 year old can swim the 200m pool does not mean that they are safer or Okay in a river/lake etc at the same distance. The environment and water current is very different and the swim schools should be teaching you that a life jacket is your back up to when you get tired. As for vests I dont like them as they keep you vertical as opposed to a life jacket keeps you on your back to float when you are tired, y ou are able to swim with a life jacket forward motion but when you stop it will allow you to rest. A vest will bob you up and down like an apple, risking the inhalation of water.

[MrsLexiK]

A life jacket should be encouraged because swimmers get tired and swimmer drown. I am amazed at how many parents are told NOT to use a life jacket when in open waters. It is necessary when swimming outside your normal environment.

Please just take note that just because your 9 year old can swim the 200m pool does not mean that they are safer or Okay in a river/lake etc at the same distance. The environment and water current is very different and the swim schools should be teaching you that a life jacket is your back up to when you get tired. As for vests I dont like them as they keep you vertical as opposed to a life jacket keeps you on your back to float when you are tired, y ou are able to swim with a life jacket forward motion but when you stop it will allow you to rest. A vest will bob you up and down like an apple, risking the inhalation of water.

I really wanted to highlight what hannahbug has said here. As a person who grew up having swimming lessons and being a very good swimmer who holiday'd on a lake please take this advice. It is so different swimming around in a lake (even the shelted valley style lake we swam in) then swiming in a pool. Yup my child won't be wearing a life jacket or swimming vest or floaties in our pool - as they will only be allowed in when we are in the water with them, but the open water will be a totally different story. The smaller life jackets (pfd 1's) have a strap on them for younger/smaller children which stops the jacket coming up (I know alot of people don't like) For them to be comfortable with life jackets though means that we will have to do "lessons" with them in our pool from a young age with them. We will have to get them used to wearing them and how to rely on them (ie stop swimming and you will float onto your back) Much better doing it in your own pool at swim school then out in the open when something goes wrong and the poor child panics