Great Toys For Water Play Safety

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in every five drowning victims is a child. That’s amazing when you consider all the various security tools at a parent or caregiver’s disposal, including child swim lessons and water safety toys. Private swim lessons are the gift the keeps on giving throughout a child’s life but toys are what make water play so fun.

A pool toy encourages your young child to swim and keeps him or her safe while they learn. Summer is here, so now is the time to book swimming lessons for your budding swim champ and to stock up on some toys for water play safety.

The Basic Floaty (but not water-wings!)

A floaty is a good place to start when shopping for water safety toys because it builds water confidence and strengthens gross motor skills. There are many different options out there for infants and toddlers but look for something that includes:

• Child safety valves
• Dual floatation chambers
• A sun canopy

These added security features prevent the device from suddenly losing air and protect your child from the harsh sun. You also want a floaty that comes with a seat in the middle, as opposed to water wings or flotation devices that only circle the arms. These place your child in an unnatural position for swimming.

For an added bonus, get a floaty that comes with an interactive playstation and teething rings to give your baby something to chew on.

Pottery Barn Inflatable Balls

Pottery Barn takes the inflatable ball to the next level to improve water safety and fun. With your little one secure in a floaty, you can use these balls to get them kicking. Each ball has a fun friend inside, like a colorful unicorn, that your child will love chasing around the pool. Strong legs mean a strong swimmer. If something goes wrong with the floaty or there isn’t one, your child will naturally be drawn toward the ball, too, and be able to use it to stay afloat.

Kickboards

Kickboards are another tool that improves motor skills and develops strong kicking abilities. Look for something that is designed for toddlers with easy grip cutout handles for grabbing and colorful enough to catch their eye in an emergency.

Double check when kickboard shopping to ensure you purchase a pool product made for a child two years and older. Kickboards designed for older children are not appropriate for toddlers because they might chew on it and choke.

Zoggs Kids Seal Flips Swim Training Toy

The Flips Swim Training Toy and other toys like it flip in the water with a little encouragement from your child. By blowing hard through the mouth, your child will have tons of funs flipping and improve lung volume and function at the same time.

A Few Pool Toy Safety Tips

The right toy is a must for babies and toddlers learning to swim but there are some common sense precautions parents need to keep in mind. When out of the pool, make sure to securely store any pool toys, so your little one isn’t tempted to try to go swimming without you.

Focus on age and skill specific toys, as well. You want to avoid providing toys that exceed your child’s level of training. Babies and toddlers don’t need diving toys, for example, unless they have developed that skill. Check for safety labels before buying a toy to make sure it is appropriate for your child and that it is safe for water use.

Infant swim lessons help build a foundation for safe swimming and can reduce the risk of drowning in case one of the safety devices like a floaty or water wings fail. Combined with water play safety toys, you can provide your child with enough tools to learn to love the water and respect it at the same time.