We all know that safety is the number one priority at the pool. And it can be fairly nerve-wracking for parents of pre-swimmers to let them enjoy the freedom of a pool day. Float suits and traditional life jackets can be cumbersome, and inflatable arm “floaties” aren’t safe enough since they can leak air. I was reprimanded at a local city pool for allowing my child to wear floaties, even while holding him. Fortunately, there’s a safe, comfortable, and fun solution to the water safety drama: the Stearns Puddle Jumper Life Jacket.
Safety
It really only took me a few minutes before I was a fan of this product because it does the most important thing a floatation device should do: it allows my child to float! The combination of the chest and arm pieces makes your young child completely buoyant. He or she can bob around the pool freely, either floating or trying some actual swim strokes. Made of durable nylon, the Puddle Jumpers are Coast Guard approved. Not only are they perfect for the pool, but they can also be used while out boating or at the beach. I brought mine with me to a local aquatic center, which generally allows only their own life jackets to be used as floatation devices. But the lifeguards gladly let my three-year-old son use his Puddle Jumper in the pool. And I soon saw why: they themselves offer Puddle Jumpers in addition to tradition life jackets for those still learning to swim.
Freedom
My son has always put up a fuss when we’ve tried to get him to wear floaties or life jackets. But, to our surprise and relief, he immediately took to his Puddle Jumper. Prior to buying it, we generally just had to hold him when we went in the pool. But now that he’s able to move about on his own, his confidence in the water is increasing all the time. The more freedom of movement he has, the more he sees that the pool isn’t a scary place to be at all. Instead of needing (and wanting) to cling to mommy and daddy all the time, he wants to kick, splash, and maneuver all over the place. The Puddle Jumper seems to be so much more comfortable than a life jacket, since there is nothing confining up near the child’s head and neck. It allows for substantial range of motion of the arms, so a child can practice real swim strokes, too.
You can find Puddle Jumper Life Jackets in a variety of stores, but I purchased mine from one of my favorite retailers, Amazon. It was less than 20 dollars and came in a bright blue color with a really cute turtle on the front. There are, of course, a variety of designs and colors to choose from. The Puddle Jumper is designed for children weighing between 30 and 50 pounds. Since my son just passed the 30-pound mark, we’ll definitely get our money’s worth out of this product until he learns how to swim independently. There’s only one problem: my seven-year-old swimmer wants one, too!
