Life Vest at the Beach/Pool?

Do your kids wear life vests at the beach or pool?

We are going away and I was thinking the kids (5 & 2) should be wearing one all of the time. Am I being neurotic? They can't swim and I'm not a great swimmer either. I would not be able to save anyone.

Re: Life Vest at the Beach/Pool?

My kids wear their puddle jumpers in the pool all the time. At the beach if we are only wading I'll let them go in without. If they want to go more than knee deep the puddle jumper goes on. That's at north shore beaches. At the ocean, they are always on.

Life Vest at the Beach/Pool?

My ds is learning to swim. He has a puddle jumper. It depends on if we are in the water with him.

Re: Life Vest at the Beach/Pool?

My 4 year old is just learning to swim on her own...she still has to wear a puddle jumper any time we are near the pool unless one of us is working with her. We go to the ocean a few times a week and if she wants to swim there (she rides the waves in the whitewater independently, swims out beyond the breakers with my husband and is learning to surf independently this year) she has to wear her puddle jumper. For us, it was easier to make it the rule so it's never a fight.

Life Vest at the Beach/Pool?

My son is 3 and can't swim. He wears a puddle jumper whenever we go to the pool or beach. We go to a very shallow lake frequently - doesn't even come up to my bathing suit and I still make him wear one.

Message edited 7/28/2017 6:52:05 PM.

Re: Life Vest at the Beach/Pool?

You're not being neurotic! You're being cautious.

Life Vest at the Beach/Pool?

My kids are the same ages. 5yo wears a life vest and 2yo wears a puddle jumper at the pool and beach and I watch them like a hawk.

Re: Life Vest at the Beach/Pool?

My 2 year old wears her puddle jumper in any water.
My 5 year old wears it always in open water, and in the pool if she can't stand in any part of it.

Life Vest at the Beach/Pool?

You're not being neurotic. Water is dangerous and they should learn they don't go in/near it without a safety device.

Life Vest at the Beach/Pool?

My kids are 5 and 6 and all three wear their puddle jumpers at the beach. When we go to a friends pool they also wear them. But when we go to the town pools they aren't allowed to wear puddle jumpers. I don't always go in with them but I sit at the edge of the pool with my legs always ready to jump in and they stay on the 3 ft side where they can stand.

Re: Life Vest at the Beach/Pool?

A tough one... when my kids were younger (under 4), I'd have them with floaties all the time. BUT they didn't know how to swim and I do agree with many town pools when they have a no floatie rule because it decreases parental supervision... I've seen scary things in ankle deep water with no parent in sight because they thought their child would be ok in shallow water without supervision.

Now with two "older" good swimmers (5&6), I have them without any devices except for if on a boat or in a deep body of water with a current (like a river)... essentially places I would wear a life jacket too. I have to be in the water with them or, when in a pool, right by the side but always watching (no relaxation time). We don't go into the beach with waves without hubby because I think that needs 1:1 coverage.

Life Vest at the Beach/Pool?

my 3 year old wears a puddle jumper at the pool- the whole time we're there. My 6.5 year old can swim pretty well, under water, etc... BUT i still have him wear one of the pool's vests when we're there. Juts because there are a lot of people there, and i can't always completely keep an eye on both of them if we're there without DH. I'm extra careful with stuff like this. When i was in 8th grade my neighbor's toddler drowned in a pond in their yard, while they were having a party. They are excellent parents- they each just thought the other one was keeping an eye on here.
So... i say you're just being careful and theres nothing wrong with that!!

Message edited 7/30/2017 8:52:58 AM.

Life Vest at the Beach/Pool?

Pool or boat yes. Beach absolutely not. The lifegaurds by me dont even allow childRen or adults in the ocean with life vest or floats (surf board or boogie board only). It's actually more risky because if they drift out they will not be able to get their feet on the ground and will be taken by the current.

Message edited 7/31/2017 11:03:42 AM.

Re: Life Vest at the Beach/Pool?

When DD couldn't swim she was in a puddle jumper at all times in the pool.
The only time we took it off was last year when we were teaching her to swim but as soon as we were done practicing the puddle jumper went back on.

At the beach never. She was petrified of the ocean and would only go down there with me and let the water barely touch her feet. Like less than ankle deep and holding my hand the whole time so the puddle jumper wasn't necessary

Life Vest at the Beach/Pool?

My kids typically don't use them because at our local pool, they aren't allowed.

I make sure I watch them at all times and if I cannot join them in the pool, DS 2 needs to stay in the low end (DS 1 is a good swimmer so he can go anywhere).