Your child will feel more at ease in the water and will stay afloat thanks to swim aids. From armbands that are easy to put on and take off to life jackets that go across the chest, the right swim aid for your child will help you both feel more comfortable in the water.
What to Think About When Buying Arm Floats
Even though most life vests and arm floats work pretty much the same, they are not all the same. Think about the following before you buy:
Size
Children of various sizes and weights can wear a variety of brands and types. Most floatation devices have age and weight recommendations, and you should always make sure that the one you choose doesn’t fit your child too tightly or too loosely.
Design
Some arm floats are just simple pieces of rubber that are inflated and worn high on the arms. Others are attached to a vest to make sure they stay in place and give babies and young children more protection.
No matter what style and design you choose, there are good things about each one. For example, chest vests offer more protection and make you float higher, but they can feel tight. Arm floats on their own make it easier for people who are just learning to swim to move around more in the water.
Material
The majority of arm floats are made of non-toxic PVC, which maintains buoyancy in the water. Modern arm floats are made so they don’t chafe the skin or cause nasty rashes in the water, but they can still be a little rough on sensitive skin, especially in saltwater.
Tip: If you are worried about your child’s skin, look for brands of floats that have a fabric cover. This will give the same level of buoyancy without hurting the skin.
Benefits
Your child can enjoy how it feels to float in the water with arm floats. The ability to use their arms and kick their legs as a result provides them the confidence, they need to begin swimming.
Nevertheless, some parents do not strongly support the use of swim aids because they believe that children grow too reliant on them and that the floating position results in poor posture for effective swimming when the swim aids are removed.
