I am taking my 2 year old swimming for the first time, what would be better for him? A ring or arm bands??

Question

He is quite big for a 2 year old.

Answer 1

A ring will probably make him feel more secure and comfortable in the water especially if it's his first time in a pool. You can get those rings yhat have the little seat thingy in the middle so he definately won't fall out. If you're trying to get him used to the water start him off in a ring and then when you want him to start learning to move around a bit more you can start using arm bands. When instructors are teaching kids to swim they use arm bands because this gives both the kid and the instructor more freedom, and allows them to learn to dog paddle and float on their own.

Answer 2

Arm bands because he will be able to move around easier and will be able to grab you more easily if he gets scared. The closer you are, the more he'll enjoy it until he gets used to going swimming:-) Hope you have fun.

Answer 3

bring both so you can try both.

then you can select your preferance.

i would start off with arm bands. (:

(hope im chosen as best answer)

Answer 4

I think you should use both on him...

Answer 5

a ring please pick me as the best answer!!

Answer 6

Arm bands! Haha I used them when i was a young'un, and my brother also. It's what help us learn to swim properly, as we had the freedom of using our arms and legs, whereas a ring is more restricting, the kid would just be lounging in it, floating most probably

Good luck!

-xox

Answer 7

Arm bands will be the best option.

Answer 8

I am very disheartened that so many people are advising you to pick the armbands.  Anyone with a swimming background will tell you these are no good on so many levels.  First, any floatation device promotes a false sense of security.  The armbands place the swimmer in a position that is not conducive to learning how to swim.  The armbands frequently slip off, or leak, but only one, which actually holds the swimmer underwater.  Get the ring with the shirt attached.  The ring is a tire material, holds air much better, and doesn't break down so quickly.  I only put air in mine every 2-3 years.   Also the ring is toddler sized.  It says 3-6 but he will be fine with this.  Once he is water adjusted you can upgrade to a back bubble which is a styrofoam piece on a belt.

http://www.nexttag.com/swimtrainer

The first 6 are exactly what I am talking about.  They are hard to find, and I don't know why because they are the best things on the market, and have been for 35 years.  I could not find one website with both.  The first 4 are the tire ring with the attached shirt, and then the back bubble.  I have used the polyform swim trainer for more than 25 years (teaching lessons), it was used on me 35 years ago and it is the best swim aid on the market bar none.

Answer 9

i would say the armbands.

allow me to explain why the armbands are better then the rings.

the armbands will probably not fall off. the ring of course might be too loose for a two year old. i think it might be better and safer for the two

year old to wear armband.    

Answer 10

How about the long tube shaped floats. They sit underneath the arms and bend upwards. I am having trouble finding a picture for you on the net but I will keep looking.

They allow movement of arms and legs and you can support him easily and it doesn't matter how big he is.

Answer 11

neither he should be holding on to you but if i had 2 pick it would be the rings because he could fall out of the circle

Answer 12

Wow this is a great idea you will certainly have fun. The very first time you will spend it mostly on getting him confedent in the water. I would stick to the baby pool, build his confedence first and you will have no issue teaching him how to swim. Create fear early on will take alot to get him on his own.

Start with little games and splashing, then i would move onto a ring that has a bottom strap in it so he can sit in it like a seat and you can hold on and you can teah him how to kick.

Enjoy your time, you will find it fun yet very exhausting!

Answer 13

for first time he more likely to spend most of the time cuddling you :) Don't take anything yet. Arm bands are the better option from my experience but who knows what will work for your little one? Ring is a bit restictive at first and when tipped over child may end up up side down (don't worry, it is not that scary )

Answer 14

i woulod say armbands are probably better however a ring can be more fun . i say get both so he can play with the ring while he has his armband on

Answer 15

my opinion armbands would wokr much better

Answer 16

Sounds hard school - but I would suggest neither ring nor arm-bands.  Swimming is quite a natural thing and even if large your son is unlikely to sink like a stone - if you are right beside him, taking all due care.

It's true we can all panic if suddenly gulping mouthfuls of water - cutting off our breathing - and fearing drowning.  But natural survival instincts normally make us breath out instead of in.

The problem (as I see it) is that rings and arm-bands  - and cork floats - actually delay the way of learning how to swim.  Such artificial aids only enhance the fear of drowning since they suggest that without such, we would sink like stones.

The other day - in 90 degree temperatures  - I was amused to see a woman hurl a tennis ball into a lake - which her dog went to retrieve.

He was of course a hot-dog - unable to remove his furry jacket in the heat - and of course he did doggie-paddle in the cool water, quite naturally without a ring or arm-bands.

And I doubt he'd ever had a swimming lesson in his life.

I fiddled about with arm-bands etc for years - until I realised they were delaying the 'learning' process. Obviously we mustn't take risks - but letting kids do what's natural is better than artificial aids.

Answer 17

honestly, speaking as a lifeguard in training, i'd say neither unless you are going to be in the water and supervising him very closely. if this is his first time swimming, he may not be aware of the dangers and could possibly not be able to tread water to keep his head up. i'd suggest a life jacket, but if you cant get one, let him use arm bands. the ring can be dangerous because he could get stuck in the ring and possibly drown if he tries to get out of it.  

Answer 18

I think the best think for my your 2 year old to go swimming for the

first time I would say arm bands