Swimming Help

Last year we did the little tube thing with the shade cover that they sit in - they were 1 year old... but now they weigh too much for that at 30 lbs and 21 months and I'm struggling to figure out what kind of flotation device to get them so that if I want to meet the ladies at one of their houses to take the boys in the pool I could safely be with both of them without help from another mom... is this even possible?

If so, do I get arm floaties, a bigger version of the innertube floaty with a seat thing, a vest, or something I haven't even seen yet. I just want to make sure we are safe and I can give both my attention and have them learn to swim a little.

I'm probably insane - it's entirely possible. Either way, I was online today and at Walmart this afternoon stressing over forty different options and not wanting to waste money - so if you guys have done this before and you have some advice, I'd LOVE to hear it

 

I am not sure how well your little ones swim on their own, but if they do then the arm floaties or vest would be good. The float is also a good idea. We have a 4' deep pool and plan on using the floats. We would like to sign them up for swimming lesson and once they have them is when I will use the arm floats/vest. Good luck!

 

I have taken my girls to a pool myself with the bodysuit flotation devices. A friend who has an inground pool got a boating vest for her DD to use in the pool.

 

There's a thread about this in the 2-4 from last week, with lots of good information. If you can't find it, my opinion is that floaties aren't a good idea because they make kids feel like they can swim when they really can't, and more accidents then happen when those kids are around water without floaties. That said, it's not realistic that all people will stop using floaties immediately.... and I do recognize that being able to bring both kids in the water is a good thing. So... second best are vest floaties. Arm floaties are really and truly not a good idea. If a child starts to sink, arm floaties keep their arms above water, not their heads. Vest floaties do a better job of keeping the important parts above water.