This post was sponsored by SwimWays as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
There are many steps a parent can take to ensure water safety with a pool at home including putting a fence around your pool and proper swim training. Learning to swim is a very important life skill that I believe all children should begin to learn from a young age, especially if you have a pool at your home. While they may not master the art of swimming right away, they can at least learn how to get out of the pool should they happen to fall in, hold their breath under the water, and learn basic swim strokes to stay afloat.
SwimWays, a leader in the swim safety and “learn to swim” industry has been a favorite brand of ours for a few years. The SwimWays website, teachmetoswim.com, has some really helpful resources for teaching babies how to swim. They have a simple three-step system which begins with introducing kids to the water using their Spring Float.
Learn to Swim: Step 1
Keep your baby comfortable and supported during their first adventure into the swimming pool in a SwimWays baby pool float. Their baby floaties are available in many styles and include security features for added peace of mind. Helping to create a positive water introduction experience is the first step in the SwimWays Swim Steps learn to swim program.
The Spring Float is a great floaty for babies both for at-home use and while traveling, and happens to be perfect for the first step of teaching a child to swim. We actually own two of these and recommend them to every new parent.
Step 2
“I’m ready to paddle and splash!” Provide the support your kids need to feel more confident as they explore the water for the first time.
SwimWays Swim Sweater helps kids explore the water with confidence, without restricting them from moving their arms like some of the other brands do. The swim vest helps your child achieve two important pre-swimming positions: floating upright and leaning forward to paddle.
The stable, circular design rides high on the child’s chest for maximum stability, and the heavy-duty rubber inner tube has a no-leak valve (the same kind on a bicycle tire) for security. The fabric cover is soft and colorful and provides 50+ UPF sun protection.
The SwimWays Swim Sweater has been a really important product for reintroducing my 2-year old to the water this year. She tells me she wants to swim, but prefers to always have some kind of floaty on, thank goodness. The Swim Sweater gives her the freedom to kick and splash around, but keeps her upright and helps eliminate that feeling of toppling over that toddlers hate. My little Kendall is very timid in the water and pretty much hates getting her face wet, so she’s loving her Swim Sweater.
I love that you air up the Swim Sweater like a bicycle tire. It helps prevent the air from leaking out, which is what happens with almost all other blowup pool floaties. The ring attached to the Swim Sweater is really well-made and doesn’t collapse when pressure is applied in the water.
Since the beginning of swim season this year, I have noticed quite an improvement in Kendall’s confidence in the water. She even tends to get a little more daring with her floaties on. As parents, we want our children to be confident and sure of themselves, and I couldn’t be more proud of the progress Kendall has made so far.
Learn to Swim Step 3
The SwimWays Power Swimr swim vest is a graduated swim training system that has everything parents need to teach their children how to swim. Simply add or remove the flotation pads to gradually move your child into a proper forward swimming position. It’s like training wheels for the water!
- Graduated flotation advances swimming ability at your child’s own pace.
- Includes 9 removable flotation pads.
- Hidden pockets keep flotation pads secure.
- Adjustable side cords help create a snug fit while leaving your child’s arms free.
- Adjustable leg strap keeps the vest in place.
Both of my girls are enjoying the Power Swimr. I can easily adjust it to fit Kendall or my 5-year-old, Charlotte. It gives them the freedom to swim around, but gives me the piece of mind that they are still afloat if I happen to look away for any reason. Since Kendall isn’t quite ready to be on her own with the Power Swimr, Charlotte tends to use it more often.
I can’t thank SwimWays enough for giving me the tools to help teach my girls to swim, and for providing them with hours of fun in the pool. Maybe one of these days I will get myself an adult Spring Float so I can relax in this hot California sunshine.
To Buy: You can shop SwimWays’ products at Toys ‘R Us or ToysRUs.com.
We also love SwimWays’ pool toys. You can see some Trolls themed pool toys in this post.
