My cousin puts a life jacket on her 9 yr old son to go in the pool?

Question

she thinks she is being a "better" mom to do that-

is there ANY way I can suggest to her gently to stop becuase I can just see the humiliation in his face when he is around the other kids-

she also insists he let her sunscreen him (wont let him do it himself) & leaves a big white stripe nown his nose.

awful-

Answer 1

She needs to start listening to someone! How humiliating for that poor child. We all worry about our kiddies, especially when they are in the pool, but as long as she is watching him and never leaves him unattended, there is no reason why he needs a life jacket. It certainly doesn't not make her a better mum, that's for sure.

Answer 2

If they haven't learned to swim yet, a lifejacket is a good way for them to enjoy the pool with their friends. Of course a parent should always be there.

Answer 3

Poor kid. She has to learn to trust him. She has to lossen her grip on the kid. Stop with the lifevest thing and let him swim like the others. You got to encourage the child to do things by themselves like putting on sunscreen. Tell your cousin that she has to lossen her grip on her child because it's not working 4 him. And if she dosen't things could get ugly in the future.

Answer 4

If he's a strong swimmer, then of course it's a bad idea.  If she's not trying to teach him to swim, that's a bad idea, too.  But have you considered the possibility that he really can't swim yet even though he might be taking lessons or something? There's nothing wrong with a life jacket if the alternative is drowning....

I still put sunscreen on my 9-year-old sometimes (sometimes I let her do it herself but under my supervision, because she really misses a lot of spots).  She doesn't care at all.  It's easy for a 9-year-old to put on sunscreen, but not easy not to miss a spot, and if they're prone to sunburn it's not doing them a favor to let them learn from their mistakes.  Skin cancer is a pretty harsh consequence for a 9-year-old who always misses a spot....

As for the white stripe, couldn't he just rub it in?

Answer 5

maybe suggest she enrols him in swimming lessons so she is more confident in his abilities. Explain he is getting too old to wear a life jacket as he is embarrasssed. As for sunscreen, I will still apply my son (also 9) if we are around water as better safe than sorry. As for the stripe just tell him he has some not rubbed in on his nose and he can rub it in

Answer 6

Ask her to buy those arm-thingies. And also, tell her that actually that is bad parenting, because you are not letting him experience trial and error by himself.

Answer 7

If she is worried about him that much make him be in this....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mckeephotog...

http://www.littlewhiz.com/prod_images_sm...

Buy him one of these...

http://www.toysplash.com/Product/SwimTra...

http://www.toysplash.com/Category/Kids

Answer 8

Suggest to her that he take swimming lessons. I can understand the sunscreen - you don't want to mess with cancer.

Answer 9

The life jacket is a bit extreme, she just needs to be there watching him if she's concerned about his swimming skills.  I'm not going to go against the sunscreen idea, it's her responsibility to protect him from sunburn and sun damage, and face it, 9 year olds really can't be trusted to do it consistently or correctly, especially on his back.

Answer 10

Maybe you can suggest a swimming class at the YMCA, or something. That way, he get's to spend time in the pool with other kids, without a life jacket. It may also ease mom's fears, if her boy can't swim yet.