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Pool toys/safety devices for toddler?
I have an 18-month-old sister, and babysit her often. My grandparents, where I babysit her, have a large backyard pool that is now just open for the season. Since it's been in the 90's for temperatures here for the past few weeks, it's gotten me thinking about taking her into the pool this summer. She's obviously too little to swim, and so I've been looking at flotation devices to keep help keep her safe in the pool while she's in there with an adult. I can take her in there without anything, but I think it would make her (and me) feel a little more comfortable to be buoyant. I've run across baby inflatable floats, water wings, live jackets, life preservers, even baby wetsuits with foam in them. For parents who have gone through this, what do you recommend?
We have a child's pool as well for her and our 9-month-old cousin to use, but it would be nice to be able to take her into the larger pool when the rest of the family is in there.
6 Answers
- SosumiLv 61 decade agoFavorite Answer
She actually isn't too little to learn how to swim...or at the very least float. The safest thing you could probably put her in is a life jacket or a wetsuit with the jacket built in. Also never ever let her out of your immediate reach. Water wings won't do anything if she doesn't know how to tread water on her own. Baby floats or preservers can tip over and keep the child submerged. A jacket is the best thing to keep their head above water.
ADD: I just want to add. that this is a great time to start teaching her about floating and treading water. Water safety can never begin early enough.
- 123Lv 71 decade ago
a life jacket! as a former lifeguard, a life jacket is the safest thing. get a coast guard approved one -- any brand will do. coast guard approved vests naturally flip upwards if your baby goes under. make sure it's snug. wet suits with foam, floaties, water wings, and baby floats will not flip back right-side-up if she happens to go under. stay away from things you blow up too, because they can pop and get too hot in the sun.
when I lifeguarded, we wouldn't let kids in the pool unless they had a coast guard vest on.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
I think you might find these sorts of things will just get in the way with a 1.5yo. Pool safety with toddlers = focused adult. "baby wetsuits with foam in them" = horrible marketing con :(
The little boat-like inflatable things are for babies to have fun in, not to keep them safe.
- ?Lv 71 decade ago
my cousin, that age, has this and he loves it:
http://www.amazon.com/Swim-School-Baby-Float-Aquar...
just be sure that someone has a eye and hand on her at all times.
edit: i am aware that they can flip, which is why i said to always have a hand on the float while shes in it. from my experience, toddlers and babies HATE life jackets.
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- 1 decade ago
Others will recommend you on what you have asked. I have another recommendation for you , with your parents you should consider floating lessons.
