{"id":4196,"date":"2014-05-16T11:00:12","date_gmt":"2014-05-16T15:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/?p=4196"},"modified":"2023-05-08T11:53:20","modified_gmt":"2023-05-08T15:53:20","slug":"swim-vest-swim-tubes-and-swimmies-which-swim-aid-is-best-for-beginners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/swim-vest-swim-tubes-and-swimmies-which-swim-aid-is-best-for-beginners\/","title":{"rendered":"Swim Vest, Swim Tubes and Swimmies:  Which Swim Aid is Best for Beginners?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If you have little ones who are learning to swim, choosing the best swim aid for beginners can be confusing if you don\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2t know the difference between a swim vest, swim tube or swimmies.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 Most young children love splashing in the water, so it\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s easy to introduce them to the pool, but choosing the right swim aid is a critical step in keeping your new swimmer safe.<a onclick=\"javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('\/outgoing\/www.diycontrols.com\/c-440-swim-aids.aspx');\"  href=\"http:\/\/www.diycontrols.com\/c-440-swim-aids.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-4203 alignright\" style=\"margin: 10px;\" title=\"Swim aids for beginners.\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Swimmies.jpg\" alt=\"PoolMaster Learn-to-Swim Arm Float\" width=\"270\" height=\"236\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><em>Personal Flotation Devices (PFD or Life Vest) vs. Swim Aids<\/em><\/h2>\n<p>Many consumers confuse \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c5\u201cswim aids\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c2\u009d with water safety devices that are designated by U.S. Coast Guard as \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c5\u201cpersonal flotation devices\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c2\u009d (a.k.a. PFD, life jacket or life vest). \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0But it&#8217;s <strong>very\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0important that parents know the difference<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>PFD or Life Vest<\/b> &#8212;<b> <\/b>USCG-approved personal flotation devices are <b>designed for safety<\/b> to give the wearer more buoyancy and help them stay afloat in the water. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0The USCG has <strong><a onclick=\"javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('\/outgoing\/www.pfdma.org\/choosing\/types.aspx');\"  href=\"http:\/\/www.pfdma.org\/choosing\/types.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">five categories of PFDs<\/a><\/strong>.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0<a onclick=\"javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('\/outgoing\/www.diycontrols.com\/p-8146-texas-recreation-super-soft-uscg-child-life-vests.aspx');\"  href=\"http:\/\/www.diycontrols.com\/p-8146-texas-recreation-super-soft-uscg-child-life-vests.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright\" style=\"margin: 10px;\" title=\"Children don't mind wearing this Super Soft Type III life vest because it's so comfortable .\" src=\"http:\/\/www.diycontrols.com\/images\/Product\/medium\/8146.jpg\" alt=\"Texas Recreation SUPER SOFT USCG Child LIFE VESTS\" width=\"225\" height=\"225\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Children\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s life vests are either Type III \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c5\u201cFlotation Aids,\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c2\u009d which can be used to\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0<strong><a onclick=\"javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('\/outgoing\/www.diycontrols.com\/p-8146-texas-recreation-super-soft-uscg-child-life-vests.aspx');\"  href=\"http:\/\/www.diycontrols.com\/p-8146-texas-recreation-super-soft-uscg-child-life-vests.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">teach beginning swimmers<\/a><\/strong>, or Type II \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c5\u201cNear Shore Buoyant Vests,\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c2\u009d which are recommended for babies and non-swimmers. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0When selecting a life vest, note that fit is important and that <strong>life vest sizing is based on the child\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s weight<\/strong> and not chest size, as with adults.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Swim Aids <\/b>\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u20ac\u0153 Swim aids or swim floats (such as swimmie arm bands) are designed to <b>teach beginning swimmers<\/b> how to float, balance and paddle and help them build confidence as they learn to swim.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 Swim aids, however, are <i>not<\/i> USCG approved.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><em>Swim Tubes \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u20ac\u0153 A Great First Step to Build Early Confidence<\/em><\/h2>\n<p><a onclick=\"javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('\/outgoing\/www.diycontrols.com\/p-8909-poolmaster-learn-to-swim-tube-trainer.aspx');\"  href=\"http:\/\/www.diycontrols.com\/p-8909-poolmaster-learn-to-swim-tube-trainer.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright\" style=\"margin: 10px;\" title=\"A learn-to-swim tube supports children in an upright position.\" src=\"http:\/\/www.diycontrols.com\/images\/Product\/medium\/8909.jpg\" alt=\"PoolMaster Learn-to-Swim Tube Trainer\" width=\"183\" height=\"183\" \/><\/a>For toddlers and young children under 35 pounds, a <strong><a onclick=\"javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('\/outgoing\/www.diycontrols.com\/p-8909-poolmaster-learn-to-swim-tube-trainer.aspx');\"  href=\"http:\/\/www.diycontrols.com\/p-8909-poolmaster-learn-to-swim-tube-trainer.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">swim tube learn-to-swim trainer<\/a><\/strong> is a <strong>safe way to introduce them to the water\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0and build confidence<\/strong>.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 Swim tubes are basically a rubber tube that the child wears like a piece of clothing.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 The cloth tank top slips comfortably over the child\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s head and the bottom strap fits securely between the legs. Wearing a swim tube, children will <strong>enjoy freedom of movement while floating upright or in a swimming position.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><em>\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c5\u201cSwimmie\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c2\u009d Arm Floats \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u20ac\u0153 A Good Next Step for Beginners<\/em><\/h2>\n<p><a onclick=\"javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('\/outgoing\/www.diycontrols.com\/p-8908-poolmaster-learn-to-swim-arm-float.aspx');\"  href=\"http:\/\/www.diycontrols.com\/p-8908-poolmaster-learn-to-swim-arm-float.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright\" style=\"margin: 10px;\" title=\"Inflatable &quot;swimmie&quot; arm bands give beginning swimmers just enough bouyancy.\" src=\"http:\/\/www.diycontrols.com\/images\/Product\/medium\/8908.jpg\" alt=\"PoolMaster Learn-to-Swim Arm Float\" width=\"162\" height=\"162\" \/><\/a>Floating in the water doesn\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2t come naturally for many beginning swimmers. <strong><a onclick=\"javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('\/outgoing\/www.diycontrols.com\/p-8908-poolmaster-learn-to-swim-arm-float.aspx');\"  href=\"http:\/\/www.diycontrols.com\/p-8908-poolmaster-learn-to-swim-arm-float.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Learn-to-Swim Arm Floats<\/a><\/strong> \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u20ac\u0153 often nicknamed \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c5\u201cswimmies\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c2\u009d \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u20ac\u0153 are inflatable arm bands that offer beginning swimmers comfort and dependability.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 Swimmies are <strong>great for beginning swimmers who already know how to keep their head out of the water<\/strong>.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 They provide just enough buoyancy so children can relax in the water and focus on learning their strokes and kicks.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><em>Life Vests Can Also Help New Swimmers<\/em><\/h2>\n<p>Although not specifically designed for learning to swim, a child\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s life vest can be used to provide buoyancy and security in the water.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 Of the two types for children, Type III life vests are best for swimming.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0<b>Type III life vests<\/b> are designed for comfort and come in styles for different boating activities and sports.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 A <strong><a onclick=\"javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('\/outgoing\/www.diycontrols.com\/p-8146-texas-recreation-super-soft-uscg-child-life-vests.aspx');\"  href=\"http:\/\/www.diycontrols.com\/p-8146-texas-recreation-super-soft-uscg-child-life-vests.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Type III life vest<\/a><\/strong> <b>works well for beginning swimmers who have experience in the water<\/b> because they offer comfort and mobility. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0Type III life vests are designed for use in calm water where there is good chance of fast rescue. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0Wearers must be able to put themselves in a face-up position, but they may have to tilt their head back to avoid being face down in water.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Type II life vests are recommended for toddlers and non-swimmers.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 <\/b>\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0This style has a padded head support collar, grab handle and crotch support and is <strong>designed to turn an unconscious wearer to a face-up position<\/strong> until rescued.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><em>More Water Safety Tips<\/em><\/h2>\n<p><a onclick=\"javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('\/outgoing\/www.diycontrols.com\/p-9576-new-safety-turtle-20-child-immersion-poolwater-alarm-kit.aspx');\"  href=\"http:\/\/www.diycontrols.com\/p-9576-new-safety-turtle-20-child-immersion-poolwater-alarm-kit.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright\" title=\"An alarm sounds at the Safety Turtle base station when a child or pet wearing a Safety Turtle wristband or collar tag goes into the water.\" src=\"http:\/\/safetyturtle.com\/media\/catalog\/product\/cache\/1\/small_image\/210x\/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95\/c\/h\/child_kit_st-sq.jpg\" alt=\"New Safety Turtle 2.0 Child Immersion Pool\/Water Alarm Kit\" width=\"210\" height=\"210\" \/><\/a>Adult supervision is the best way to keep babies, young children and non-swimmers safe around open water. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0As another line of defense, have all non-swimmers wear a water immersion pool alarm like the <strong><a onclick=\"javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('\/outgoing\/www.diycontrols.com\/m-444-safety-turtle-rje.aspx');\"  href=\"http:\/\/www.diycontrols.com\/m-444-safety-turtle-rje.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Safety Turtle<\/a><\/strong> wristband.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 If the wearer falls or jumps into the water, an alarm will sound immediately.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 Pool owners should also keep a <strong><a onclick=\"javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('\/outgoing\/www.diycontrols.com\/p-9368-mustang-life-ring-wtape-orange.aspx');\"  href=\"http:\/\/www.diycontrols.com\/p-9368-mustang-life-ring-wtape-orange.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">throwable ring buoy<\/a><\/strong> on hand that can be tossed quickly to anyone struggling in the water.<\/p>\n<p>Providing your beginning swimmer with a <strong><a onclick=\"javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('\/outgoing\/www.diycontrols.com\/c-440-swim-aids.aspx');\"  href=\"http:\/\/www.diycontrols.com\/c-440-swim-aids.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">swim aid<\/a><\/strong> or <strong><a onclick=\"javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('\/outgoing\/www.diycontrols.com\/p-8146-texas-recreation-super-soft-uscg-child-life-vests.aspx');\"  href=\"http:\/\/www.diycontrols.com\/p-8146-texas-recreation-super-soft-uscg-child-life-vests.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">life vest<\/a><\/strong> will help them float and get used to the water as they learn swimming skills.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 Parents should also be sure that the backyard or community pool where their children are playing is protected by up-to-date <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/swimming-pool-safety-begins-with-a-fence-and-gate-alarm\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pool safety equipment<\/a><\/strong>, including a <strong><a onclick=\"javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('\/outgoing\/www.diycontrols.com\/c-202-pool-alarms-gadgets.aspx');\"  href=\"http:\/\/www.diycontrols.com\/c-202-pool-alarms-gadgets.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pool alarm<\/a>, <a onclick=\"javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('\/outgoing\/www.diycontrols.com\/t-doorgate_comparison.aspx');\"  href=\"http:\/\/www.diycontrols.com\/t-doorgate_comparison.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pool gate alarm<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a onclick=\"javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('\/outgoing\/www.diycontrols.com\/c-342-pool-fencing.aspx');\"  href=\"http:\/\/www.diycontrols.com\/c-342-pool-fencing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pool safety fence<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you have little ones who are learning to swim, choosing the best swim aid for beginners can be confusing if you don\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2t know the difference between a swim vest, swim tube or swimmies.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 Most young children love splashing in the water, so it\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s easy&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/swim-vest-swim-tubes-and-swimmies-which-swim-aid-is-best-for-beginners\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4203,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[396,5,900],"tags":[586,411,3,38,414,306,584,585,587,588],"class_list":["post-4196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-child-safety","category-pools-alarms-accessories","category-pool-safety","tag-learn-to-swim-arm-floats","tag-life-vests","tag-pool-alarm","tag-pool-gate-alarm","tag-pool-safety-fence","tag-safety-turtle","tag-swim-aids","tag-swim-tube","tag-swimmies","tag-throwable-ring-buoy","clearfix"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4196","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4196"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4196\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11213,"href":"https:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4196\/revisions\/11213"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4203"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4196"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}