Float for a 2 year old

[jilted]

Hello all,

Our little guy is about to turn 2.

The infant float from last year isn't cutting it, and the floats from Academy all seem to be something called Phase V which basically means it won't keep their face out of the water. He's basically goes crazy when you get him in the pool he is so excited! Only I can seem to hold him for longer than a few minutes without being completely worn out!

Anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks!
-stephen

[aylad]

Water wings worked pretty well for my neice, while we taught her to swim. Two years old isn't too young to learn to swim....

[jilted]

I wasn't sure if wings would work unless they make some smaller than normal ones. But yeah he's going back to "mommy and me" lessons as soon as mommy gets done with school for the year. We took him to a few lessons last year where they just do some simple things like getting them to hold on to the side without help and count to 10. It seems like all the ones I find are either for younger or older than he is now!

[aylad]

Where in Louisiana are you?

[jilted]

Northshore, up I-55 from New Orleans.

[aylad]

Look in the phone book for your local Parks and Recreation department (city government). They have swim classes for all ages that are open to the public....

[sosspenc]

One of my kids was too small, (well actually too skinny) for water wings also. What ended up working was one of the life jackets with the crotch strap. I thought it would be too bulky, but she didn't seem to mind. It held her head out of the water, she could paddle about, and my arms got a rest!. By the end of that summer, she was 2 and could swim, but she still got tired quickly, and would actually ask to put on her "mermaid suit" after a while. Also Sam's and Costco sell bathing suits with integrated floats that some of my nephews have worn around age two. Those also seemed to hold their heads up decently.

Stella

[Watermom]

When my kids were small we had a little vest with a sewn-in intertube around the belly. It wasn't a vest like a life preserver, but a fabric suit that you slipped over the head like a shirt with armholes. They could "swim" all over the pool and stayed upright easily. Of course, it never takes the place of an adult in the pool with them!

I just did a quick search and found this one which was similar to the one we had. Scroll down a little ways on the page. It is called POOLMASTER Learn to Swim Inner Tube Trainer.

http://www.poolcenter.com/pooltoys_childrens_swimming_aids.htm