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As you may remember from recent posts, we have an Easy Set pool at our house. It's a pretty big one, and we have floatation swim suits for our three youngest boys to wear, although we keep the pool shallow enough that all of them can walk around in it and still have their heads above water. Last year when I bought the suits the baby was 1 and the better quality suits did not come in his size, so I got a cheaper one, which he had continued to wear this year.
The other day the kids were playing in the pool while my husband and I sat on the deck watching them and chatting. Our youngest, who is now 2, lost his footing in the pool and very quickly was floating face down in the water. Fortunately my husband saw it right away and got to him within just a few seconds, so everything turned out ok.
BUT
The problem is that this suit was not designed to flip a child over onto their back if they needed to rely on the floatation! Our baby was helpless, face down in the water. He would have actually been safer with no suit on at all, since he would have been able to stand to his feet after losing his footing.
It only takes a very few moments for a little one to drown. I am so thankful we were right there with our eyes on the pool happenings.
We tossed out that suit and today I went and bought him one of the better ones, that are designed to keep a kid floating on their backs. Just thought someone else might appreciate the reminder. Go check and see if your little one's floatie suits will flip them to their backs in their moment of need.
Friday, June 24, 2005
Floatie Swim Suit Safety Alert
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3 comments:
Whew! So glad you were right there (like all parents should be, but sadly aren't).
I can't help but giggle at those Soup Bowl pools. I so want to get in one and play "Cannibals are cooking me - toss me a carrot." (But alas, Target had two in stock on a day they had an awesome sale. Now THERE'S a huge surprise!)
Hi Dolly Mama,
Which type of flotation suit is better - the one with floaters in front only or the ones with floaters on the front and back or the ones with floaters on each side? Appreciate your suggestion.
SFMOM
The best float suit is the one that keeps your kid above water and so they can breathe! :)
I have not looked at any with the floats on the side, so cannot speak to those. The ones we have and like are brand Stearns Kids and we got them at Walmart for a little less than $20 each. They have floats built into the suit. The front floats are longer than the back ones, so if the kid needed to be suspended by the suit, it would tip them slightly backwards. They hate it and it makes them feel weird, but it's a lot less weird than the sensation of drowning to death, I daresay.
I think the suit we had trouble with is one that was designed for helping a child to swim, AKA they can get forward in the water and paddle. it assumes they can touch the bottom and hold their head up. NOT for 2 year olds in a 4 foot deep pool!
Hope this helps!
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