My opinion - floatations devices

I read this article from Parenting magazine, and thought that their opinion mirrored my own pretty well.

Parenting article

My least favorite flotation device are the blow-up water wings.  I've seen them pop or slip off, and that can be a safety hazard.  Among other flotation tools are life vests and the extremely popular puddle jumper.


Pros:
-They provide a safe option when you have to attend to more than one child at a time.
-The child can explore the water and build confidence.

Cons:
-Children can depend on the puddle jumper and use it as a crutch, delaying independent swimming.
- Along, with the above point, I've seen children jump in deep water, forgetting they're not wearing their aid.  Overconfidence mixed with lax parental supervision can lead to scary moments.
- Children are not in the best position(vertical) to learn to swim.
- Their movements are restricted.
-Parents can develop a false sense of security.


Final suggestion:
Please bring your child to the pool!  Use the puddle jumper if it gives you peace of mind, but try to let him/her swim 50% of the time without the swim aid.  That might mean having another adult watch one child while you bob around the deep end with the other.  Or you can keep one in the flotation device while you hold the other.

I like to compare them to exersaucers.   They were a safe option for periods of time when our attention was somewhere else.   We taught our children to walk by giving them opportunities to walk.  Let's give them opportunities to swim.