https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 20 May 2026 01:59:48 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swimming-when-did-you-lo-move-from-flotation-device-to-armbands#post-2105565 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 11:05:46 +0000 looch 2105565@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I am glad you found one! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swimming-when-did-you-lo-move-from-flotation-device-to-armbands#post-2105560 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 11:04:58 +0000 Ree723 2105560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: We started using a puddle jumper when E was about 13 months old. She was nowhere near the 30 lbs (15 kg) minimum weight recommendation but we were always in the pool with her and she had no trouble with it. She loves that thing - she doesn't even want us near her in the water as she prefers to be independent floating around! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swimming-when-did-you-lo-move-from-flotation-device-to-armbands#post-2105518 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 10:50:03 +0000 Cherrybee 2105518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LuLu Mom: @jetsa: Great! Thank you! </p> <p>I just bought one online! :happy: :happy: :happy: </p> <p>@honeybear: Brilliant, thanks for that. I really should take her more often because it's such an important skill to have and it's so much fun! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swimming-when-did-you-lo-move-from-flotation-device-to-armbands#post-2105092 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 09:02:31 +0000 jetsa 2105092@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My cousin teaches swim lessons and reccomends the puddle jumpers so thats what we've always used.</p> <p>After the infant seat we went straight to the puddle jumper, last summer (9 months to a year) he was a little small for it but he was never far enough away from us that it mattered.</p> <p>This summer he'll be almost 30 lbs so I expect it will work even better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swimming-when-did-you-lo-move-from-flotation-device-to-armbands#post-2105086 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 09:00:23 +0000 honeybear 2105086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I think frequency only impacts the pace at which the child develops the skills (I could be wrong, but I think that's the reason they do frequent, super short lessons in ISR?). Thus, if you're really in a hurry to get the child swimming, you'd need to go frequently, but if it's not a pressing concern because there isn't, say, a swimming pool in the backyard, then you could simply do the same gradual progression with less frequent visits. </p> <p>In any event, I think there's a natural progression to swimming skills that is highly correlated to the child's physical development. My 4 year-old swims, but he is far from doing the butterfly stroke and dolphin kick (or any kind of proper stroke, really)! The coordination for that simply isn't there yet. :) </p> <p>A progression chart like this may be helpful: <a href="http://www.larpd.org/aquatics/ARCSwimLevelsChart.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.larpd.org/aquatics/ARCSwimLevelsChart.pdf</a> (I haven't carefully studied it, but it looks to me like it's on the slightly conservative side of what's typically possible.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swimming-when-did-you-lo-move-from-flotation-device-to-armbands#post-2105013 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 08:42:26 +0000 LuLu Mom 2105013@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: Puddle jumpers are Coast Guard approved like other life jackets with these regulations: </p> <p> If the child wearing it is 30 to 60 lbs.<br /> If the water is calm and/or if the body of water is an inland body.<br /> OR If there is a good chance for fast rescue in or around the body of water.</p> <p>It is a Type 3 lifejacket, which is pretty standard in normal pool/lake situations. However, it will not turn an unconscious person to their back like many Type 2. However, my daughter is never further than arms distance when wearing it so i feel it is safe to use for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swimming-when-did-you-lo-move-from-flotation-device-to-armbands#post-2104986 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 08:35:43 +0000 Cherrybee 2104986@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Which category do "puddle jumpers" fall into? Life vest category or armband category? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swimming-when-did-you-lo-move-from-flotation-device-to-armbands#post-2104984 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 08:35:27 +0000 Greentea 2104984@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I agree- life vest or nada. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swimming-when-did-you-lo-move-from-flotation-device-to-armbands#post-2104981 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 08:34:07 +0000 looch 2104981@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As a former water safety instructor, you are better off using nothing or a life vest. The swimmies/armbands are a huge safety issue, because they tend to slide off if the kids put their arms over their heads and jump into the water. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swimming-when-did-you-lo-move-from-flotation-device-to-armbands#post-2104970 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 08:25:52 +0000 illumina 2104970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: Yeah, I think they are still a thing, at least where we've been swimming most young kids are wearing them. Never seen those puddle jumpers before though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swimming-when-did-you-lo-move-from-flotation-device-to-armbands#post-2104965 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 08:23:32 +0000 Cherrybee 2104965@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Okay, so the smallest puddle jumper I can find on Amazon starts at 15kg - so E is still too small for one. But she should be big enough by our holiday in September. </p> <p>I'm so glad I asked here!! </p> <p>@LuLu Mom: That is so cute!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swimming-when-did-you-lo-move-from-flotation-device-to-armbands#post-2104960 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 08:19:45 +0000 LuLu Mom 2104960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started using Puddle Jumper last summer when she was almost 2, she LOVES it, she talks to the turtle on it ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swimming-when-did-you-lo-move-from-flotation-device-to-armbands#post-2104958 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 08:18:24 +0000 Cherrybee 2104958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@illumina: Arm bands are still a thing here, aren't they?! I read the earlier responses and thought maybe I was stuck in the 1980s!</p> <p>@Mamaof2: Wow! They're awesome! I just looked on Amazon and you can get them here - but I'd never heard of them before! </p> <p>@honeybear: We don't really go that often to make this a possibility.... but maybe we should? </p> <p>Thanks for the advice, everyone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swimming-when-did-you-lo-move-from-flotation-device-to-armbands#post-2104948 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 08:11:14 +0000 Smurfette 2104948@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She used a puddle jumper last summer. We will this summer too. Then maybe summer 16 she will be able to swim on her own. Depends on how her lessons go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swimming-when-did-you-lo-move-from-flotation-device-to-armbands#post-2104940 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 08:08:48 +0000 Mamaof2 2104940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We used a puddle jumper at age 2 - not sure if you have those where you live </p> [attach=4342/15/nl3oio.500x500.Puddlejumpers_Main_picture.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swimming-when-did-you-lo-move-from-flotation-device-to-armbands#post-2104917 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 07:52:09 +0000 illumina 2104917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started her with arm bands around 14 months? She got too big for her infant float thing and I think she prefers arm bands to being restricted in a float/ring. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swimming-when-did-you-lo-move-from-flotation-device-to-armbands#post-2104916 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 07:51:17 +0000 blackbird 2104916@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In the US, they recommend puddle jumpers over the arm swimmies now! I RARELY see the swimmies, but I distinctly remember my brother wearing them like crazy! My mom still finds them and sends them to us, though. They have arm band portions, but also a chest part which is helpful </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swimming-when-did-you-lo-move-from-flotation-device-to-armbands#post-2104908 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 07:47:00 +0000 wonderstruck 2104908@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think we'll ever use the arm ones - they give a little help/confidence to kids who aren't completely secure in their swimming abilities, but as you noted, it doesn't help their head from going under. If we're in a situation where they need something like that, a life jacket is the only thing I'd be comfortable with. During swim lessons we don't use anything though, but we have our hands on him at all times - which obviously won't always be the case but at only 22 months he's definitely not actually swimming yet!</p> <p>I guess maybe if L knew how to swim but was new at it I'd consider the arm things. But until he can swim, they'd make me nervous. Maybe I'm paranoid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swimming-when-did-you-lo-move-from-flotation-device-to-armbands#post-2104865 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 07:06:31 +0000 Anagram 2104865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think this year, we are getting her either a swim sweater or a "puddle jumper" because I've recently seen kids using both of those and they keep their head up really well. We don't have regular access to a pool ( we live in a city with no public pool and we live in a building with no pool), so LO has had no lessons and I absolutely don't feel comfortable not putting her in something until she's older and has had lessons.</p> <p>swim sweater: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Scuba-Choice-SwimWays-Swimming-Trainer/dp/B007XJ52WW/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1426161966&#038;sr=8-9&#038;keywords=swim+sweater" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Scuba-Choice-SwimWays-Swimming-Trainer/dp/B007XJ52WW/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1426161966&#038;sr=8-9&#038;keywords=swim+sweater</a></p> <p>puddle jumper: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stearns-Puddle-Jumper-Deluxe-Jacket/dp/B00364E1DE/ref=pd_sim_t_5?ie=UTF8&#038;refRID=1S3APR5A9ZNV9156153E" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Stearns-Puddle-Jumper-Deluxe-Jacket/dp/B00364E1DE/ref=pd_sim_t_5?ie=UTF8&#038;refRID=1S3APR5A9ZNV9156153E</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swimming-when-did-you-lo-move-from-flotation-device-to-armbands#post-2104840 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 06:38:59 +0000 honeybear 2104840@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We used a swim vest and gave him a kick board to hold, but I always kept a hand on him. I slowly lessened the amount of support I was giving (fully holding on, just a hand under his belly/back, then just a fingertip) until he was comfortable on his own. Now the kick board is for body surfing. ;) We primarily swim in the ocean, though, and there's some surf to contend with. When we were in the pool I usually just held him and used the kick board. Waves and current make the vest useful even now, but I don't think you need it in the pool. However, a little kick board is the best $10 you can spend! So useful and fun, and I think it's important that swimming be fun. </p> <p>It's a slow process, and the chief life preserver is you. ;) I got a lot of exercise towing him around on my back as I swam! The key at first is simply to get them comfortable in the water. (We didn't do ISR, so I thought I'd offer an alternative approach that I know works...I've got a swimming 4 year-old as proof. I've no particular beef with ISR other than that it's quite expensive where I live.)</p> <p>ETA: Our swim vest was a different model of this: <a href="http://www.speedousa.com/product/index.jsp?productId=18942066&#038;cp=3124328.3128428.3131889&#038;cid=1062161" rel="nofollow">http://www.speedousa.com/product/index.jsp?productId=18942066&#038;cp=3124328.3128428.3131889&#038;cid=1062161</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swimming-when-did-you-lo-move-from-flotation-device-to-armbands#post-2104826 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 06:11:25 +0000 Bluebonnet 2104826@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: We didn't do arm bands either. We also took ISR lessons and haven't introduced any sort of flotation device. If we were on boats, we'd introduce a life jacket. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swimming-when-did-you-lo-move-from-flotation-device-to-armbands#post-2104812 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 05:21:16 +0000 brownie 2104812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We never did arm bands ( because they create an up and down position instead of a horizontal position in the water). We taught him to swim and float using ISR techniques. Doing it again, I would spend more time introducing and using a life jacket. Because those are much more applicable to real use. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swimming-when-did-you-lo-move-from-flotation-device-to-armbands#post-2104811 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 05:14:06 +0000 Cherrybee 2104811@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm just wondering, really. </p> <p>E is really slight so she still fits in her inflatable swimming seat. We tried her with armbands when she was 14 months but she was scared - and not really strong enough to hold herself up!! </p> <p>She's 19.5 months now...... is it time to try the armbands again? </p> <p>When did your LO start using armbands? Ir if he/she doesnt. how do you stop him/her drowning in the pool?! </p>