Re: Swimming, Swimming... advice

In article <6ln2d21vfej9leu3vl7or6htjteftd4185@xxxxxxx>,
Rosalie B. <gmbeasley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Ericka Kammerer <eek@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

chickenfishies wrote:
There are LOTS of products out the to help kids learn to swim.... the
swim suit with floatation sewn in, the little arm marshmallows (as my
older child dubs them), Now there is an inflatable swim suit of all
things! My 3 y/o is at the point where she can go under water, blow
bubbles, kick, etc.... Has anyone else tried this other stuff? I've
seen the inflatable swim suit at our pool but it looks just
uncomfortable.... their bellys are in the air while the rest of them is
in the water! My older child never wanted any of that and I swear is
1/2 fish. My 3 y/o however isn't taking so fast. She does a once a week
swim class and I take her 1-2x's a week to the community pool. She
loves the water and is at that "independant age." Doesn't want mommy to
hold on to her 100% of the time. I wouldn't dream of at least not
having a floation on her.....

--the pool we go to is 1 1/2 ft deep and she can stand up in it.

I can't imagine why one would use any sort of
flotation device in an 18 inch pool for a 3yo. I have
a 3yo (just turned 3 in July). I never put anything on
the kids. I just keep an eye on them in the kiddie
pool, and am within arm's reach in a deeper pool. No
type of flotation makes it safe for them not to be
under constant surveillance. Virtually none of those
solutions, short of a Type I PFD, can be relied upon
to keep her afloat with her face out of the water.
Personally, I'd skip the flotation devices and keep
her in the kiddie pool if she didn't want me right
by her.

I agree. Either a PFD which will keep her face out of the water, or
no floatation device and the parent within arm's length. Because
there is a significant risk (and I've seen it happen several times)
that the kid will think they can swim and will take off the device and
jump in, or will slip in by accident and panic when they don't float.
Do NOT use floatation devices.



I spent a chunk of time a few weeks ago at a private pool with my sister
and her kids and two other families with two or three kids, all under
the age of five. The DID use some flotation devices, but ALSO stayed
within arms reach. It helped with the issue of being outnumbered. I
know I used them the few times I was in a pool with my twins when they
were young. I STILL stayed within arms reach, but it allowed me to
have them in the pool with me.

The kids didn't have them on ALL the time, so they still knew what they
could and couldn't do without them on, but their parents would have them
wear them when they started to get tired, or when their sibilings wanted
to come in the water, too, so Mom would be outnumbered.

They are like any other tool: capable of misuse, and even of being
dangerous, but helpful in some situations.

--
Children won't care how much you know until they know how much you care
.

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