Pool swimmie options for my little guy..

Hey All,

We are leaving next week for a cruise.. My 4.5 old son loves the pool. He had this floatation thing that went around his arms like swimmies but it also has a band that went around his waist.. He has outgrown it and i don't like just the swimmies.. Any recommendation? I can't find anything.

No floatation devices are allowed in the pool, since there is no life guard, if your child cant swim, he wont go in.

Now, what ship are you on, because if there is a water park on board, like the Fascination, the Fantasy, and others, he wont need a pool! That's a child party central kind of place!

No floatation devices are allowed in the pool, since there is no life guard, if your child cant swim, he wont go in.

 

Now, what ship are you on, because if there is a water park on board, like the Fascination, the Fantasy, and others, he wont need a pool! That's a child party central kind of place!

Guess i'm a rule breaker, he's going in the pool.. Looking for recommendations, not criticism.. I was thinking one of those swimsuits that has built in floatation..

No floatation devices are allowed in the pool, since there is no life guard, if your child cant swim, he wont go in.

Not exactly true.

From carnival.com

Floatation Devices: For the comfort of all our guests, rafts, tubes and floatation devices other than those used as life preservers (water wings) cannot be used in the swimming pools on board.

As to what form that may take if he doesn't use water wings, that seems to be up to interpretation. But, a small life-jacket would seem appropriate. Not the most stylish pool wear, but it's probably going to keep his head above water.

An example....

http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Recreational-Life-Jacket-for-Kids/product/1211011247/

I have a 4 1/2 year old grand daughter that has out grown the water wings. We just bought a life vest. It's not too bulky and has a strap that goes between the legs to keep the vest from coming off over their head. She has autism and last summer learned to unzip things. She did unzip it in the deep end and came right out of it, but we watch every second as I'm sure you do so we just zipped her in it again and off she went.

Another vote for the recreational life-vest with the buckles and the crotch strap. I suggest you take him to the store and try them on. Look for a snug, but not chest-compressing fit when the buckles are done. And nice, wide arm holes for freedom of movement. These life-vests are excellent for kids his age. Both my DDs used them for years here at home, in the Atlantic and Chesapeake Bay.:)

Another vote for the recreational life-vest with the buckles and the crotch strap. I suggest you take him to the store and try them on. Look for a snug, but not chest-compressing fit when the buckles are done. And nice, wide arm holes for freedom of movement. These life-vests are excellent for kids his age. Both my DDs used them for years here at home, in the Atlantic and Chesapeake Bay.:)

I could save some cash and just grab the orange one in the room...

I could save some cash and just grab the orange one in the room...

Which of course has the ship's name prominently displayed, so you would be asked to leave the ship at the next port.

If your son is learning to swim, life preservers or PFD's are not the best option, since they are designed to keep the head upright and out of the water, meaninng a pretty vertical orientation. This is another reason not to use the ship's lifejackets, these are SOLAS type I PFD's which are designed to turn an unconscious person face up, so they tend to tip you a bit on your back.

Actually, the bottom line is that if a child that age is in the pool THE PARENT MUST BE RIGHT THERE WITH HIM. No two ways about it. For the last few drownings/near drownings I've read about in cruiseship pools, the child was pulled out by another passenger. No sitting on the edge or in a nearby lounger, IN the pool.

Actually, the bottom line is that if a child that age is in the pool THE PARENT MUST BE RIGHT THERE WITH HIM. No two ways about it. For the last few drownings/near drownings I've read about in cruiseship pools, the child was pulled out by another passenger. No sitting on the edge or in a nearby lounger, IN the pool.

I disagree that that is the bottom line here. The OP was asking for recommendations on flotation devices, not parenting advice. He never implied that he would not be in the pool with the child. Yes, there are horrible parents, ignorant parents, selfish parents, distracted parents, and oblivious parents out there. But do we need to assume that the OP is one of those?

I used a life jacket from Target for one of my daughters. She could swim, but many ship pools have no shallow end at all, so she liked having the floatation since she couldn't put her feet down (and I liked her having it when she was playing in the ocean). Nice thing is they don't weigh much in the luggage, though they do take up space. We never had a problem on any ship, though they all ban items in the pools because of space, I'm assuming something the child is actually wearing doesn't count.

Best,

Mia

My boys used the swim suits with the built in floatations devices, they would wear swim trunks under it so they could talk them off when not in use. The ones we had were from Costco not sure of the brand. Try a sporting goods store or Amazon you may have to get expedited shipping.

The pools for kids are shallow...the arm floats should be sufficient! And, there are swimsuit vests that some kids wear...

I could save some cash and just grab the orange one in the room...

You forgot the smiley to show you qwere joking. I hope.

Just in case - emergency equipment is for emergencies only.

My daughter uses a puddle jumper. Obviously, I'm in there with her.

I could save some cash and just grab the orange one in the room...

Hope you get the reaction you are fishing for. I just know it will be the highlight of your week!!!:rolleyes:

No floatation devices are allowed in the pool, since there is no life guard, if your child cant swim, he wont go in.

 

 

!

Yeah, not exactly right. My daughter used a puddle jumper the last 2 years in the pool. There is no shallow end or steps, only ladders on the side of the pool.

Another vote for the vest - it leaves arms free and makes it easier to learn to swim. Also, depending upon the vest, you can remove some of the flotation foam as your kid gets bigger and it helps make a gradual transition to independent swimming.

Another vote for puddle jumpers! My lo loves hers, she finds the life jackets with the crotch straps uncomfortable. I saw lots of kids in the pool and ocean with these, they truly are great! If your kid is between 30-50 pounds, I highly recommend them.

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HN94EEY?keywords=puddle%20jumper&qid=1453945352&ref_=sr_1_5&s=boating-water-sports&sr=1-5

Puddle jumpers are great, but my 4 1/2 year old grand daughter is 55 pounds and they became uncomfortable at about 50 pounds. So life jacket for us.

We also bought a life vest. My DD is 6.5 years so too big for arm floats or puddle jumpers, but she doesn't swim yet. We'll always be in the water with her but am still more comfortable with her wearing it..especially at the beach.

Sent from my ONE E1005 using Tapatalk

If she has some beginner swimming skills, I would recommend something like this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00MUATU54/ref=mp_s_a_1_20?qid=1454220194&sr=8-20&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=floatation+device+for+kids&dpPl=1&dpID=51Yc8a6S0uL&ref=plSrch&th=1&psc=1

Or

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00B8ZS2CY/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?qid=1454220591&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX220_SY330_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=floatation+swimsuit&dpPl=1&dpID=41haphuIrFL&ref=plSrch

It'll help keep her boyant. But it's not a life jacket, which would roll her to her back to keep her face out of the water.

My kids are 5 & 6 and wear the life vests. They are both 43 lbs so the 30-50 lb ones are what they have. I was planning on bringing these on our next cruise, I had never heard beg weren't allowed??