Inflatable ring or arm floaters?

[Godzgirl]

My daughter Hannah is 2 and a half years old and will be staying with grandma for a week and they have a pool which my daughter loves to play in. :D So i wanted to get her some arm floaters but then saw the inflatable rings and didn't know which one to get her. :? Any suggestions on which one is best?!

[luvmy4sons]

I always used the arm floaters since they are more firmly attached to their body. But they can come off as well. But at least they can swim a little or try to learn to float. My boys all swim WELL now. That is what we used up till they could swim. They say the center piece that ais actually in the swim suit is the safest. But adult supervision is key no matter what, which I am sure she will have! :)

To be perfectly honest I don't recommend EITHER, we have tried both float rings and arm bands and find they don't do much to aid the kids at all.

We invested in a WAHU for each twin which is basically a life preserver but specifically built as a child's swim aid so it's not strictly exactly the same as something you'd put on while going out for a day boating.

The WAHU has a clip around the sides and a clip between their legs so it cannot fall off. It is much less strain on the guardian having to hold them up in the device such as you do with a float ring or arm bands... you can hold their hands lightly and swim without fearing they will fall out of the device or having actual weight in your arms.

We use the WAHU's when we go beach fishing just incase one of the kids is knocked by a wave or something.

It won't completely keep the child floating upright, so you can't just watch the child until they learn to control themselves in the water by kicking their legs. We just found it 100% better and safer than anything.

I can side stroke and hold one of the twins hands to keep them upright without having to freak out about holding their head up or ensuring they don't fall out of the swim ring.

Recommended 100%!!!

Aussie Mum

For swimming we've always preferred a life jacket to anything else...Angela used to think if her head went under she was drowning...so the life jacket kept her up perfectly :D Floaties come off under pressure (almost lost a niece that way) and ofcourse we all know those rings have minds of their own :lol:

[stephwhiz]

Actually sometimes when mine were that age I would use both at the same time. It keeps them afloat really good and they loved it! Stephanie

[justmeNmine]

Last year my son really enjoyed his bathing suit with the floaties built right in.

[mamallama]

Last year my son really enjoyed his bathing suit with the floaties built right in.

That's what we use with our three-year-old. She uses that in conjunction with a floaty. She can touch her feet to the bottom and scoot around, but even if she couldn't, I don't worry about her toppling over.

[love2bmom]

WE PREFER SWIMSUIT WITH THE BUILT IN FLOTATION DEVICES. HOWEVER, MY SON HAS NO FEAR OF THE WATER SO WE ARE GIVING HIM SWIMMING LESSONS. HE MAY NOT DO THE BREAST STROKE, BUT HE WILL AT LEAST KNOW HOW TO STAY AFLOAT AND THE DOGGY PADDLE.

[Godzgirl]

Thank you all for your responses. I may be going with the floaters built in the swimsuit since my daughter is not afraid of the water and knowing her she will probably refuse to wear the floaters. :roll: (she is very independent. I just want to get her something that will help her learn to swim while attended. I by no means wanted to get something that would substitute me being there. That would be foolish on my part.