Seeking Advice About Keeping Toddler Safe at Pool

My daughter was two last summer. I had two 5 year olds as well. Caroline wanted to get out, walk around, and be free to do what she wanted to do. So, she always wore a life jacket. She just called it her "jacket" and put it on before we went to the pool. I always watched her but I knew that if she fell in outside of my reach she would be safe. I felt better and she was used to it. Kind of like seatbelts are today.

my sis & I grew up in boats, & we always had to wear life jackets. In fact, they were put on before leaving the car...before hitting the boat dock.

We have followed this policy with our own children, & the life jackets just become a fact of life. All of our children could swim as toddlers, but still used the jackets until much older....they were allowed some freedom by age 7 or 8. Seriously, that's how firm we were with water safety. Our youngest are 12 & they know they have to have the jacket on before the boat leaves the dock.

For at the pool, we relied on water wings or the marshmello float device which straps onto the waist (like a ski ring). With a lifeguard present, we thought the wings would give us the time needed.

my son is 2 1/2 and over this winter we have been taking him to my brother's apartment complex - they have an indoor pool. here's what we experienced. i looked for water wings or a ring, but they are impossible to find in november, so we just used his life vest, and it worked pretty well for him just paddling around. he has not been a whole lot and has never had lessons so he hung onto my finger a lot, but with my help he had a blast. the last time or two he got more confidant and actually truly swam a bit, but with the life vest on it was hard for him to keep his chest forward and feet out, he kept bobbing back into an upright position. but i felt totally safe with him in it (i stayed within arm's reach still). and he had fun regardless. this spring i have now bought the water wings, but we haven't used them yet. i should also say that my son is really big for his age, coming past my waist and weighing 41 lbs already. i'm not sure a two year old is old enough to be let loose in a public pool, but that could just be mine. the only way i've found that my mind rests easy is if #1, i'm with him, and #2, he's IN the water. as soon as he's out he wants to run and it makes me a nervous wreck. good luck and have fun!

I know that they seem hot, but safety is worth it. I put my son in a life vest. The swim suit ones will keep him floating, but they do not give any stability (so he will be floating, but his face may be under water). Water wings (& float swim suits) are for kids who are learning to swim, not toddlers. You could try a toddler float 'toy' - the inflatable things that you put infants in for the pool - if he will stay in it.
Personally I think you are better off buying a life vest that are made for boating (make sure that it has a crotch strap). That is what works best for us.

God bless!

We spent alot of time at the pool when my younger boys were 2 and 4. I put both the boys in life jackets and that was the rule...if we are at the lake or at the pool. Neither one minded and I felt that they were safe. It didn't seem to be too hot or bothersome to them. When "adult swim" was called, we'd sit and wait and while they were sitting, they could take off their jacket. Good luck!

the pool we go to won't let anything in the pool that isn't life guard approved so the kids wear life jackets and don't seem bothered by it. The water keeps them cool. They aren't allowed to wear arm floaties which aren't that safe to use anyway, or the built in float swim suits or other blow up float devices. It is good to get them started with life jackets anyway as that is the safest and anytime they are on a boat they won't mind wearing them at all times. We also go boating a lot so our kids have grown with being used to life jackets.

I have two little ones so I can't possibly keep track of both. They wear life jackets and do just fine. They don't mind and I feel better.

My opinion would be since he is two to just keep the life jacket on at all times. He may be hot and cumbersome as you stated, but it is the safest option...not to mention he will probly be so happy just to play in the water the jacket won't even phase him. I figure, rather safe then sorry :) My family raised me around the water, and even though i could swim, my jacket was always on . Good luck with your plan!

I seem to be in the minority here, but at a pool (is there a lifeguard?) I never put my kids in life jackets. With the 0 depth these days, most kids it seems don't really want to go over their head in the water. I do however make them wear life jackets when we're at the ozarks (or any lake), and they must wear them whether they're swimming or just doing down by the water or on the dock. You might be surprised at how well toddlers do in a pool, playing and splashing and running, but being careful none the less.

K.

PS. At the lake I think that the life jackets are more cumbersome and hot than they would be at a pool, since I make them wear them swimming or not, but kids don't seem to mind this sort of thing as much as we do. If it's a jacket that he thinks is cool, it might help!

what i used for my kiddos when they were small is a type of swimsuit that had a round innertube sewn inside if them. i like this kind over the other because its like a kid with a swim ring on. the other kind of suit will keep them alfoat, but not nessisarily head up, as i found out one year. ( my daughter fell int he pool and was stuck upside down the suit kept her up, but in the wrong direction)

Those body suits (orange ones) with the ring in them are Awesome!!! We have a pool in my backyard and i taught the boys to lay back and just relax and float with it on so there head wouldn't go under the water. When my kids were little they knew they couldn't even go inside the fence without me - without having that on.

Our little guy wore a life vest the whole time. Yes it is cumbersome, but his life is more important.

Ours was able to take swim lessons this past month, but I still plan on putting the life vest on him at the pool until he can demonstrate that he swims well without it.

I get the onestepahead magazine (you can probably look at their website online) and they have a few options that vary from life vests such as suits with built in flotation devices, a ring for them to wear, etc. My DD will be staying with my mom 1 day a week this summer and they have a pool so I am already looking into this! They also have reusable swim diapers!!

All three of my kids sunk like rocks with water wings on. The Speedo life vests didn't even keep them afloat. I guess they're just super heavy for their size? Anyway, I just had to keep them either with me in the big pool, or in the baby pool, and watch them the whole time. I also did lessons. Sorry, there's no substitution for watching them carefully.

Infant Swimming Resource. This was the best investment we made. www.infantswim.com. Our instructor is Chuck Teasley. There are only 2-3 instructors in STL. Not sure where you are located.

Mama Carrie in the previous post makes a good point....never let him alone at a public pool!! My daughter will be 2 next month, and she has been swimming since last summer (and through the winter via vacations). We got her a combo of water wings & a vest that has a front/back float. Look for a brand that uses a "Safety Seal"...a little seal character on it. It is totally adjustable. The sides have cords to pull tight and there is a strap that goes between their legs. My daughter & niece have both used this combo and have a ball in the water wherever they've gone. Again, always stay with your child!