INFANT WATER SAFETY (Summer Is Around the Corner)

the best thing we bought for our daughter was a puddle jumper from dicks sporting goods. it goes on there arms and around the waist and then has the 2 straps that go under there legs and its so comfortable for them. My daughter hates the life jackets and loves the puddle jumper. It allows them to float straight up in the water and not on there back or on the front like some life jackets make you fall to the back or front in the water. It also helps her learn to swim. It is Coast Gaurd approved! We love it and will only buy those. Def. dont do arm floaties because to many kids slip out of those and they can make them tip face forward in the water.

When we have gone on vacation children were only aloud to wear life jackets (no water wings, floats, etc) that were lifeguard/red cross certified as being a proper safety device. At 9 months though I would have him in carrier that is approved for the water.

Buy a good lifejacket. My son was about 6 months last summer and hated the lifejacket (and he had no neck so his fat cheeks were squished), but that was the only thing that made me feel okay about the baby being around the water!! Even if your 10 month old can swim, babies can't grasp the concept of what to do if they get a cramp, hit their head (or arm or leg)... you need something that will keep your little one alive and afloat in case of emergency! What wings and inner tubes are not safety devices. Get a lifejacket :)

For the swimming pool, I would say just a ring for him to sit in would be fine. I tried water wings & the kids don't understand to tighten up their shoulder muscle so their arms go straight up in the air like they're calling a touch-town or something & their head goes under.

The ocean with a 9 month old makes me nervous. I would see about finding a life-jacket his size. It's happened too many times..... we're having fun in the waves just bouncing along with them. Then one is just a few inches taller than the others, breaks sooner & we're topling head over heals, face in the sand for 5 seconds. But that's enough for you to not have your son anymore..... In a life vest, even if he's pulled from your arms for whatever reason, he'll bouce back on top.

And don't forget, sunblock like crazy! Nomatter the ethnicity. :) Have a great trip!

I didn't read the other posts, but there are baby lifevests you can use. We got one for our daughter. These are better for a small child because, unlike water wings, the vest forces the childs chest to always float upward.

Just be sure to get the vest with a strap that goes between the legs. The first vest we purchased didn't have one and everytime we put her in the water the vest would ride up and try to cover her face.

Instead of water wings I would suggest getting the swin shirt (for boys) that has a built in flotation device. Some even have it where you can remove it when you're not swimming.
My daughter enjoyed the floating ring thing at that age. Like this...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00253T7R2/ref=sr_1_1?ie...
I think at 9 months it's more about the parent's comfort of a child in water, rather then them learn.
Have fun.
ETA....if you do go with the built in flotation device, check the laws in your state for boating. Everyone still needs a life jacket while on a boat here in California, so the built in device wouldn't be in accordance with the law.

He's too young for water wings or swim classes. I highly suggest getting one of the Baby Bjorn style neoprene infant carriers so you can put him in it and "wear" him into the water. I enjoyed mine SO much with both of my children! I also enjoyed the little inflatable floating things with seats and leg holes. You can put them in it in the pool and hold onto it while they float around. Swimways makes a great one that folds up and only has a little bit to be inflated. And the lifejacket rec is a good one too! We have the ones for our boys and have since infancy that have head support in back, so if they go off a boat or get away from you for some reason, they automatically are turned and float face up with their heads out of the water.