We’ve had babies ages 0-4 in the water the last four summers. Needless to say, we’ve tried quite a bit of floats on the market and have had a range of young non-swimming children in the water.

Here are our go-tos. Of course, like most baby products, every one has their favorites and what one person may swear by another kid may hate. The longer I travel down this parenthood road, the more I realize every baby and every kid is different and what works for one doesn’t for all.

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Stage 1: Swim ways baby Float

Click here: Swimways Baby Spring Float Sun Canopy – Blue Lobster

Baby (0-6 months)…maybe even up until 12 months depending on your kids’ personality. Our winner is the swim ways baby float. We bought this when our first was 9 months and it worked well the next summer when his baby brother was 3 months and the next summer when that same brother was 15 months (he would tolerate it for a little while), and the next summer when baby boy #3 was 6 months. Let’s just say this baby has definitely gotten it’s money worth.

Pros: cheap, folds up, easy to inflate, has a shade canopy

Cons: I can’t think of many though if you have a baby who doesn’t have great head control yet, maybe try this other version made for infants with a lounge seat.

Water Mesh Ring Sling- click here: Water Sling Baby Wrap Carrier

I’d also be remiss if I didn’t recommend my favorite water mesh ring sling for tiny babies during the summer. This thing is made of athletic short material, so it dries really quickly. When baby was tired, I’d simply put him in the sling, bounce and walk around and then I’d be able to enjoy the water with my older children. You can see a video tutorial of how to use it and my other favorite baby carriers here: Baby-wearing 101, a comparison of my 6 carriers

Stage 2: Free Swimming Baby Float

Click here: Free Swimming Baby Inflatable Baby Swimming Float Ring

A friend recently shared this with me (shout out, Lindsey!). I am so thankful! Our baby is 17 months old and from the moment he could move at 5 months, he pretty much hates being held or forced somewhere he doesn’t want to go. He is also very aware of being left out of things since he has two big brothers, and he’s fearless. He went under the water several times the other day and laughed when I pulled him out. So in short, I’m slightly terrified and want to watch him like a hawk. We tried the puddle jumper, but he isn’t quite big enough for it yet.

This float is awesome. It’s basically like a traditional ring float that has a little strap/attachment so you connect it to your baby and they wear it. The shape prevents them from dunking their head under water. Of course, I’d always keep them within arms reach and be diligent to watch them, as this is not a life vest, but it does allow our quite persistent-never-wants-to-be-left-out 1.5 year old be able to experience some freedom in the water.

Stage 3: The Puddle Jumper

Find it here: Puddle Jumper Child Life Jacket

This option is found just about anywhere from our local grocery store to Walmart to Amazon, and seems to be the float of choice for everyone these days. It is great from about 2 (it says 30 pounds)- whenever they start swimming. Our boys haven’t been exposed to the water a ton (a half dozen trips each summer is about all we’ve been able to handle with having 3 “colicky” baby boys in 3 years), but I’m hopeful this summer they will learn some more and start feeling more comfortable in the water.
We got one for our oldest when he was 21 months but he was (and is) huge for his age. I know many children who are able to be rather independent (please, please please watch your babies!) in these, but my boys haven’t quite figured them out yet. They also make one that has over the shoulder straps that seems a little more secure.

We also own a couple of life jackets, but my boys hated wearing them – it made it difficult to move and try to swim.

So that’s basically a wrap for us:

Swim ways Baby Float (0-12 months or so), Free Swimming Baby Float (12-24 months or so, but can be used younger or older according to the specifications) and Puddle Jumper (2+)

Find these shark ponchos here: Hooded Towel for Kids & Toddlers

Happy Swimming!

A word of advice to to the Mamas who fear being around water:

It seems almost daily in the summer I hear about or read about another young child drowning. It is the leading cause of death in children under 5, and so I think we have a right to be afraid. To be completely real, I fear this so much so we have said no to some pool parties. With three very mobile/energetic boys under 5, none of which who know how to swim well, I feel like I don’t have enough eyes to watch them. And even if we could possibly be a perfect parent most of the time, none of us are perfect all of the time. Story after story begins, “I never thought this would happen to me.”

This story wrecked me: read it here.

There are many things to fear in this huge world with little ones: sicknesses, death, small objects, grapes, falling from climbing, kids left in hot cars, kidnappings, light sockets the knife drawer…the list goes on and on. Some of us are more naturally bent toward fear and anxiety than others (I am definitely in that camp). I want to be a brave Mama so my boys will be brave. I don’t want them to constantly walk in fear, but I also know fear isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes it can be a gift- sometimes it can keep us physically safe as we exercise caution. I want my boys to think through situations before they jump: “Is this a good idea?“, “Is this too dangerous?” But where is the line? And what constitutes this may cost you your life or result in a broken bone (for example, jumping off a building) vs this will be an amazing confidence-boosting experience (participating in a ropes challenge course).  But sometimes, fear can be detrimental to walking in faith where God is leading us. So what do we do when we have fear? How do we discern if it is good and healthy kind or the crippling variety? There is a very fine line between fear and pure joy.

I don’t have an easy answer. I do know One who holds it all together (Col 1:17). I know that He is Sovereign. He is kind. He is good. I know that He cares about our anxieties and wants us to throw them on Him (1 Peter 5:7).

When we are afraid, we can trust in Him. Psalm 56:3

In God, I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 56:11

I know He’s not surprised by our big Mama fears- there are countless passages of Scriptures that say “when I am afraid” and “fear not”- so He definitely knows that fear is something that we would walk in at times, it’s part of our human-ness.

I also know He calls us to do some scary things for His Namesake (a young Shepherd boy, David taking on a 9 ft giant, Goliath, Gideon and only 300 men taking on a huge army of thousands upon thousands, Joseph marrying a girl who was pregnant with a Son who wasn’t his, Ananias taking in Saul, a known persecutor of Christians, to name a few examples)- to build His Kingdom and I am often too afraid to take a step out of my comfort zone, held captive by the long list of “what ifs” or the if onlys. Sometimes He calls us to do things that don’t make sense. Sometimes it requires more faith to take a step (Abraham, Hebrews 11), and sometimes more faith means waiting and not acting at all (Sarah should’ve waiting on the Lord to bring about the fulfillment of His promise of a child in His own timing instead of passing off her maidservant Hagar to her husband to conceive).

So He reminds me, I must hear Him. I must be connected to Him daily- praying, acknowledging His presence, reading the Word. If I’m not, I simply won’t know what He’s calling me to. The static of the world blocks out His Voice, and I begin to forget what He sounds like.

When it comes to allowing our children to participate in certain activities- how do we know when they are ready? How do we know if it’s safe? Is it age appropriate? Will they get hurt? Is the experience going to be crushing our character-building? Are they too young? Is it too soon? Should we send them to this school or that school or keep them at home? Are we motivated by fear or love? This is the hard place we live as mothers- the tension of holding on and letting go, of both protecting and preparing. All I can say, is thank you Jesus that you are with us and we do not have to make these decisions alone. Because if there’s anything mothers know it’s that once we get used to one stage, we’re on to the next one and we’re back at square one.

The other day I was distracted for a few minutes putting our middle son down for his nap. My oldest (4) was playing with my baby (17 months) in his room. Suddenly, the four year old bursts into the 3 year old’s room and says, “Mama! Baby is climbing my ladder!” (he has a bunk bed). I rush in to find my baby hanging off the top of the bunk bed like a monkey- overhand grip style on the edge of the bunk bed on the opposite side of the ladder. He was holding on for dear life and screaming. I quickly got him down and praised my oldest son for saving his baby brother. The whole experience scared me. Hours later, I kept thinking, “what if….” He could have broken his legs, his neck, fell and hit his head on the corner of the night stand just below- what if my son wouldn’t have come in and gotten me? This isn’t the only time I’m felt this immense guilt as a parent, and it probably won’t be the last. I just kept praising the Lord- thanking Him for protecting Him. Thanking Him for seeing him when I didn’t. I cannot be everywhere at every moment. I cannot be a perfect Mom. I have to trust in my perfect Father- who works all things for His glory and our good. All things– even when it doesn’t seem like it, or even when our baby gets hurt or God seemingly doesn’t come through- when He isn’t faithful to fulfill my individual plans (which He never promised to do). He will always be faithful to fulfill His plans and purposes.

 

So this Summer, there will be water, and I will most likely be a little afraid. But, I’m pressing on, preparing and asking for wisdom to know when to say, “yes” and when to say, “no.” Praying for you today, too Mama.

 

One of my favorite quotes on fear is from the super-cheesy movie a Cinderella story: “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.”

 

And another from the Chronicles of Narnia series:

Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion.” “Ooh” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion”…”Safe?” said Mr Beaver …”Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

And in case you missed it, and are wondering what to do with your kiddos all summer long check out this post here:

Summer Activities for Moms of Littles- How to Savor and Survive with 3 Under 5

Other Posts you may like:

Gospel Hope for the Good Mom: Freedom from the Shoulds of Motherhood

If Only

Double Strollers that can be Rigged as Triple Strollers: More bang for your buck!

Must Have Baby Registry Items for your 2nd (or 3rd) Baby and Why you should still Register

 

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