Swimming for 32 Months Old..

Hi F.,

I used a life jacket for my daughter who is now three years old. It is easy to hold on to her with the straps and all and it will keep her afloat. Arm floaties are good once they are used to the water and not afraid of their head going under...my daughter just started to use them last year. My daughter is only about 30lbs and about 3 feet tall... She is small too. She is now swimming basically on her own as long as I stay near. so try a life jacket you can get them just about any sporting good store.

C.

The YMCA does not recommend arm floats either. I know that they use floats that are on the child's back and have like a belt that goes around the waist. Some Ys usually sell them. I have also seen the bathing suits that have floats in them, but when I tried them my daughter just rolled over on her face. Good Luck!

r.

Hi F.,

My daughter is 4.5 years old. Up until this year, she always used a life vest, nothing fancy. It gave her confidence and helped her learn to control her muscles for balance. This year I can not find the vest anywhere and she uses the arm wings now. She is doing great in the water.

Hope this helps.

I have been taking my kids to the pool for the last couple of years, and the only thing that I will use for my little ones is a life vest. I use a coast guard approved, actual life vest. (the same one they go on the boat with) I also do not let them out of arms reach. I bought them at walmart for around $15-$20 i think. my daughter just turned 3 and is only about 30 lbs, and that is what we used last year for her too.

Hi, We have a pool and I bought one of those floation suits for my boys. They worked great. They are built into the suit itself, so there is no bunching up around the neck or the bulkiness of the arm floats. It really helped my two learn. We also taught them to hold their breath underwater and how to always swim near the edge so if they get tired they are close to the edge. The biggest thing I think is that they don't panic. Both mine have fallen in unexpectedly and because they didn't panic, they just got to the side and got out. Get her swim lessons too. If the Y is too expensive, check with the Red Cross, they sometimes provide public swim lessons that are a little cheaper.

My daughter is two and is also around 28 lbs. I bought this swim suite that has a tube around the middle at Toys R Us. It works well. I wouldn't have her in the pool in it without me in the pool but I feel fine standing next to her and not holding on to her. She can then kick around the pool herself. I think the arm floats are for more advanced swimmers who would be kicking the whole time to stay a float.

F.,

Just my opinion... swimming lessons! Your local YMCA or even your pool should have info on swimming lessons for kids your daughter's age. They are usually (I've been involved with 4 YMCAs, cuz we moved so much) very patient, very good teachers. They won't push her, but will allow her to learn at her own pace. Since from what you said she's not afraid of the water, she should be swimming on her own in no time! After she learns how, all she would need is you to keep an eye on her... or even more fun, you to get in with her!

If you think she's not ready (and you know her best), you could try the swimsuits that have the flotation things in them... or even just a life jacket.

Hope whatever you do, you have a great summer!

M.

As a lifeguard, I would recommend one of the suits with the removable floats built in. walmart sells them. She will still need you right by her in the pool. If you haven't already, you might also look into swim lessons. The arm floats are really dangerous. We don't allow them at our pool. They can lose air, slip off, etc. Kids getting in and out of the pool or hanging on the sides also tend to tear holes in the arm floats. Good luck!
H.

Our family has always used the inflatable tube that goes on like a shirt (Put it on over the head, and arms through the arm holes). I'm not sure what the real name of it is, but we call it a swim sweater. It keeps the kids upright and they aren't afraid to go in the water at all. They all love to swim on their own - without an adult holding them.

I bought a swim suit that has some things in it and it comes in sizes that are right for her weight. I got it at walmart and the girls has girly things on them. For my son his has Spider man on it. They think it is cool because you do not have to hold them and they can learn to swim on their own. No do not get the arm things they do not work. Thinks P. Email at ____@____.com with any other questions.

F.,
I have found the best swim vest for you!! It is made by Speedo. Here is the link http://www.speedousa.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/products.de... I have a 6 year old daughter who loves it. Let me tell you some of the advatages! It is easy to get on and zipper up, there is also a strap that goes from the vest and between the legs that clips so that it stays on, it doesn't give you strange tan marks like the arm bands do, it is colorful & attractive looking, they have removable foam inserts as they learn to swim you can remove them, it is easy for the parent & child to use!! I found one for my daughter when we were vacationing in Ocean City, Md 2 years ago at a Sunsations and she still uses it. It is apart of her routine and we don't fight about it--EVER!! I have come across them at Sports Authority too. They run about $20-$25 but it is well worth it when it comes to their saftey and teaching them how to swim!! I would recommend something like that for your daughter. Hope it works well for you & it is a start.
Happy Swimming!
H.

I've seen vest type things at the store and in other's pools. My daughter wears the arm muscles/water wing things but she's a good eight inches taller than our pool is deep, so it's more of a security thing for her. Plus, I'm right there if she's in the water.

My daughter in law's mother uses the vesty things for her grandchildren though, and they really seem to enjoy them. Plus, since it straps right on, they really can be swimming and still be safe.

I found this at walmart.com http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4787052
That's what they wear. Hope that helps!

I'd sign her up for swim lessons, maybe at the local YMCA. If she loves water, you want her to be as safe as possible. We have a pool in our backyard, and I had my boys in swim classes when they were toddler. One of the very first things they learned was how to drop into the pool and immediately turn toward the wall and grab on. That was invaluable, because one time when I was looking away for just a second, he fell right into the pool and automatically turned to the wall and grabbed on and yelled!
We did use the swimmies on the arms, and they worked out great for us. The boys learned to paddle with those, and we gradually let air out of them until they were doing it on their own. There are lots of cool, low profile swim vests on the market, too. But I've never tried those. Of course, all flotation devices have to be used with supervision.

Hi! Try those suits with the floating pad built right in. Most are padded around the chest and some have a button-on pad right behind the head that gives added protection to prevent her head from going under. She can wear a swim diaper right under them. I used them for my kids and they never seemed to mind and could feel like "big boys" while using them. They can be found at Target, Walmart or a pool store. Avoid the arms bands b/c if they are submersed under water long ebough or deep enough the seam will burst. Some stores also carry inflatable vests which are good for older kids and pack easily for vacation. Good Luck!

you may want to consider a life jacket. you should be able to find a small enough one for her, but you may need to go to a boat supply store or catalog. the size is based on weight. those floaties are a toy and not considered a safe floatation device.
S.

We have used several products from a company called Swimways based out of Chesapeake, VA. My son uses a vest-type of floatation similiar to that used by the YMCA. If you really want good advice call the Y or other community swim programs and ask where to order the "bubble" that they use. That's the squares of floatation material that is embedded in the straps that fit over your child's head, through the arms and hooks under the belly button.. Not sure what all centers call these, but our Y calls it the bubble.

F.,

I have a daughter just like yours. She loves the water soo much that the baby pool just doesn't cut it. She just turned three by the way. Anyway, I decided that instead of trying to keep her from it, I would help her with it. First I bought her one of those bathing suits that have the floaties built into it (around $20 at Walmart). Then I enrolled her in private swim lessons at the YMCA. I figure that if she can learn how to swim in the water she will be safer. She doesn't know how to do it by herself yet, but she is learning.

That is what I would recommend. Good Luck!

L.

they sell these bathing suits that float now they are like 15 dollars they work great but you still need to stay close they give them the freedom to swim like the big kids. my now three year old loved it last year she almost went to bed in it. they sell them at walmart and go by weight.

I agree with everyone's advice! Also, check out speedo.com- they make a vest that buckles between the legs so it doesn't ride up on them and bunch up around the ears. That's what we're going to do for this summer with my 3 year old. She LOVES the water! We've also taken swim classes at the Y (we've done mommy and me classes)- she does great with them AND I ALWAYS swim with her- even if we're in her little blow up pool in the backyard. I have LOVED swimming always and hope my daughter always does too! We're secretly hoping that swimming will be the sport she picks in high school- it's so good for you, isn't hard on the body and joints, and to be good, you have to have a powerful, athletic, HEALTHY body- not the 'bag of antlers' look that most teen girls seem to strive for! (I'm a high school teacher- I see this body image junk with my kids toooooooo often!) Ok, I'm off my soapbox. Good luck and stay safe this summer!
C.