two yr olds- what are they wearing in the pool- ideas please ??

my two year old is very fearless, and wants to copy his brothers by dunking his face down into the water (giving me heart failure )

we have 2 different floaties and both of them I dont feel great about.

I dont think he's old enough (or mature enough) for the arm floaties. HE will be 2 in a few weeks.

help? post links or photos please.

we have this

and this

and with both, he leans way over and just wants to get into the water..

am i holding him back and being too paranoid ? My other boys werent in a vest yet at 2... I think closer to 3.

Re: two yr olds- what are they wearing in the pool- ideas please ??

Emily turned 2 in october and so last summer she wasn't yet 2 years old. I have to tell you that we just had a basic pair of 1.99 swimmies and she was ALL over the pool swimming like a fish.

Again this year, except I got a great pair of roll-up speedo ones that are so easy to get on and off. I think that if they have the confidence it is OK at 2 to use swimmies. It's been 2 summers for us now and I love when she tells me "mommy, I wanna swim all by myself."

Try it and see what happens!!!

Re: two yr olds- what are they wearing in the pool- ideas please ??

That second one doesn't look age appropriate for a 2 year old. There is no swimming or kicking with that, it's really for a baby. I would just get a life vest for him. It's the safest by far.

Re: two yr olds- what are they wearing in the pool- ideas please ??

I have Lukie 17 months using swimmies (arms). It takes him some time but he knows how to stay upright in them. Jeremy started using them at 12 months and was floating by 15 months. Of course you need to stay very close by. I dont know if Jeremy is more the exception than the rule but the boy 3 1/2 is swimming unassisted now

Re: two yr olds- what are they wearing in the pool- ideas please ??

We have this one for Damien. He was great in it at 3 years old. At two he was still going forward in the water unless one of us was holding him. I think at two he may still be too young to understand to tread water.

Re: two yr olds- what are they wearing in the pool- ideas please ??

Swim vest. And I even put swimmies on her too and she loves the pool and gets around like a champ. I am still right there with her though.

Re: two yr olds- what are they wearing in the pool- ideas please ??

Jeremy is 22 months and I put the arm bands on him today for the first time. He loved them! He loves the water and he loved it even more that he was a bit more mobile than mommy holding him tightly like normal. I still hold onto him but I am more comfortable knowing there is a backup in case he slips or wiggles out of my arms. Also, at 7 months pregnant, I can't really hold him as tightly as I would like

Re: two yr olds- what are they wearing in the pool- ideas please ??

Last year Hayley wore a vest and swimmies and she was able to let go of me and float. (she was almost 2)

This year we just have the swimmies and she is like a fish!!! She jumps off the steps into the water...more like belly flops.

Hayley hated being in that boat float as an infant, I can't see an almost 2 year old liking it. If your in the water with him, let him use the swimmies and see how he does. If he is able to stay afloat let him, by showing your fear might make him afraid of the water in my opinion.

Re: two yr olds- what are they wearing in the pool- ideas please ??

thanks for the ideas everyone!
I guess im being too paranoid. i'll get him a vest and swimmies.

even though i dont think he understands to keep his head up and try to balance, etc. Im sure it will come with practice/experience.

I was also worried that I would make them scared of the water, which I would HATE! (Ive always been a big water person and a great swimmer, so Id hate for them to be afraid. my older two are in the water on their own (with me a few feet away and swimmies/vests) but are completely fearless and always trying new things.

thanks again

Message edited 7/20/2008 11:30:21 AM.

Re: two yr olds- what are they wearing in the pool- ideas please ??

DS has been using arm swimming for quite a while now (pretty sure he was around 2)

Re: two yr olds- what are they wearing in the pool- ideas please ??

Elena is almost 3, so a bit older than your littlest guy...but we use a floatation swimsuit with arm swimmies and she does great. She was jumping off the diving board yesterday, despite Mommy being a nervous wreck!

Suit