Hellobee Boards

It looks like the answer is that there's no swim ring/float that is particularly "good", since it's not meant to be (nor do I intend to use it as) a safety/lifesaving device......I'll just buy whatever is cute/fun looking to supplement the life jacket/puddle jumper.

Just so no one thinks I'm being lazy with my daughter's safety, she always wears a life vest if we're going to be on the boat/in water where the adults can't touch, and until now has worn a Konfidence suit to help with her bouyancy in water where the adults CAN touch, but she can't, and she's a decent swimmer). I was just looking for something fun so she can be lazy in the water with the rest of us

@looch: That's good to know - I was under the impression that the puddle jumper tipped kids forward a bit into a "learn to swim" position, which is not what I want in this case (for her or for me!) She can swim, but I want her to be able to just float around having a lazy relaxing time with us if she doesn't want to properly swim around - it's hard work for little bodies! And yes, last summer I did sometimes put her in a swim ring in a life jacket in very deep water, the ring let her float a little higher up than the life jacket alone (at more ribcage height in the water instead of neck height) - more comfortable, I thought.

@Mamaof2: It worked for us with the Swimways float to feel secure having DD in very deep water (jumping off a boat in the lake/ocean, not a pool) - the life vest fit fully inside the opening of the float, and she sat in the crotch sling looking pretty comfortable, not packed in the way you'd think she would be :)...that's why I was wondering if anyone had done a similar setup with a float intended for larger kids. I agree, I definitely wouldn't feel ok using a big kid ring (no crotch sling/strap) alone, especially in deeper water. I'm going to see if we can try out a puddle jumper.