Swimming Aids

The best swimming aid is for them to know how to swim. They are way overdue to learn. It is a necessary life skill. In the meantime, I would buy life jackets and keep them in the shallow end only.

A 9 yr old who loves the water should really know how to swim. It's really a safety matter rather than just fun. Get a coast guard rated life vest and then check with your local Y or Red Cross for swimming lessons when you get home.

Absolutely nothing! If they can't swim, they stay in the shallow areas or kiddie pool. Flotation devices simply make you and them less vigilant and more careless about constant supervision and the depth of water.
Swimming is a life skill, not something you can take or leave, in my opinion. Skip the swimming aids, teach comfort in the water without any extra devices, and enroll them both in swimming classes ASAP!

I would bring a coast guard approved life vest with you for them to use while they are swimming. My son while he swims well, he does wear a lifevest sometimes in the lake when we are on vacation. While I am watching him and close by, he wants to keep up with the older kids and this helps him do so without getting over tired.

I think you shouldn't have the kids in anywhere they can't stand flat footed in the water. It's too dangerous. Take them to the Y and get them in swim lessons. They are both old enough to be swimming.

I do think a life jacket might be an okay option if you can't get them swimming in time.

DO NOT put them in any sort of suit that has floats inside. They are dangerous. Kids drown in them because the suit stretches and the floats move up and up and up and up until the kids head is below the floats and they can't get out of the water to breathe.

The debate goes on. I'd want to be safe so please do some reading and decide which version will provide your child with the best protection.

http://swimming.about.com/od/swimlessons/qt/Should_Flotat...

A USCG approved life vest would be the best option. You can get them relatively inexpensive at Costco for example.
The Seattle Parks and Rec. also offers very affordable swim lessons (no membership fees required unlike a gym or the Y).
Have fun!

If your nine year old is staying in the shallow end of the pool with you he shouldn't need a swimming aid. If he will be in the deep end, or in the pool alone I would have him put on a life jacket. Please get both kids in swim lessons asap.

I would just use a life vest. Any other type of arm floaties or something similar just isn't safe. You should also put your kids in swimming lessons. Have fun on your trip!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000REOZ9G/ref=wms_ohs_p...
This is what we got for our kids. This is what they used in their early swim lessons. As they got better they would remove a layer at a time until they could swim without it. They are called swim bubbles.
They really helped but of course do not replace being there with them.

I bet that he will be swimming by day two. If he's 9 and developmentally able, he will be fine. Just keep him in the shallow end.

Lots of inner city kids never learn to swim. You'd be surprised!

Does your son know how to paddle around a little? Or he can't swim at all?

If he can't swim at all, he needs to stay were he can stand or wear a real life vest. Real life vests are the safest, but the hard part about them is that a child can't do any swimming in them at all, because they are designed to flip them onto their back to keep them safe with no effort.

For when my son was a beginning - but not strong - swimmer, we got a snorkeling vest. We would put some air in it to give him buoyancy, but he could also dog paddle and/or breast stroke on his own. It was a good middle ground. BUT (and this is big), this is because he did know a bit of how to swim, he just didn't have a lot of stamina.