What's Your Favorite Life Jacket/Floatie

Honestly, I prefer arm floaties personally. I am sure some swim instructor will tell me that they dont help them learn to swim on their own, or that they are not cost guard approved for life saving, but that is not what I am looking for. I find life jackets, and even those that you found at Big lots, to be difficult for the kids to balance well in. I have 4 (almost 5) kids and arm floaties have worked for all of them! The oldest two swam at about 4 or 5, with no problems. And, of course, I am always right with my little ones with floaties on, but it gives me the extra assurance that we can all enjoy the pool as a family without worrying about them nonstop. By best advice is when you find the ones you like, buy several pair for each child. If/when you lose one, or it pops, they are nearly impossible to find again. I just bought about 5 pairs for my two youngest. I hope that helps..enjoy the pool!! ~A.~

They make suits with built in floats that I have heard are wonderful. I have not used them personally as my son is only 9 months old but my niece and nephew both have them and seem to have no problems swiming with them on. Since it is a full suit you dont come across that problem of it moving up over their ears.

We used the intertube seat when my kids were very young (and loved it), then moved up to the vests when they were 2 or 3 (and didn't love it). It always seemed uncomfortable for the vest to be riding up over their ears, or they'd randomly flip over and have difficulty correcting themselves. And yes, we even tried the one with the layered foam that you could remove in stages.

I agree with Amber that they inflatable arm bands worked best for the pool (we still used the vest when we were at a lake or ocean). As the kids got to be better swimmers, we took a little more air out of the bands.

Good luck!

My son has had two of the zip up suits (Body Glove) with the built in float in the chest/back area. It is shorts/short sleeve and has UV protection too. He is 6 now and a good swimmer, but when we go to the lake, especially when he is swimming off my inlaws dock, we prefer he wear one of these. He has really liked them and they don't ride up like the vests do. I believe we got them at Sam's or Costco.