Do you already know which children’s floats to choose, to ensure the right safety your child needs? For the little ones, bathing in any ‘waterhole’ is much more than a form of entertainment.
Playing with water helps them strengthen their muscles, develop their psychomotor skills and also acquire some independence. Floats for children are therefore a must-have accessory for any parent.
If you are looking for the best products on the market or you want to know the features you should always pay attention to, continue reading our complete guide, in which we will explain everything you need to know about these products.
Here we had listed out the best floats for kids that are given below.
Buying Guide to Select the Best Floats for Kids
If this is the first summer you spend with your child you may have some doubts about floats and other accessories for safety at the sea or in the pool. It may also be that your indecision stems from the desire to try new products: whatever your case below, you can read our answers to the most common user questions.
What Are Children’s Floats and Their Advantages and Disadvantages?
The floats are accessories made with expanded polystyrene, cork or plastic layers capable of keeping both the little ones and the adults afloat. For children ready to start their adventures in the water, the use of these products offers great advantages and some drawbacks including:
Advantages
- They keep the children afloat
- They give safety during the bath
- They come in various shapes and sizes
- They can be air or solid
- They have an advantageous price
Disadvantages
- There is a risk that when the child moves they will not function properly
- They do not replace adult supervision and supervision
Although the advantages offered by floats are numerous in this case you must pay more attention to their drawbacks. It is important that you keep in mind that you will not be able to leave your child alone at any time, even if he is using a float since he can always move around in the water. You will also need to be able to choose a product that is also comfortable for your child.
How Many Types of Children’s Floats Are There?
If we talk about floating systems for children we find five main models: traditional life jackets, armrests, floating belts, tubes and, the latest invention, floating costumes. The first four types are the best known and are usually used, obviously depending on the age of the child and his needs. Costumes with built-in floats are great for the sea and large spaces.
How Should You Use Children’s Floats?
It may seem obvious, but for correct use of the floats for children you will have to carefully follow some simple steps, and even if they don’t have any mystery for you in this way you will keep your child safe and you can enjoy the bathroom without risks. Get a pen and paper and let’s get started!
- Wear Floats: this aspect is one of the most important. It is essential to follow the instructions of each model to wear it correctly so that the child is comfortable and maintains his mobility.
- Supervision: we will repeat it a thousand and one times: the use of these flotation systems does not exonerate parents from having to maintain constant supervision over their children for the entire period in which they are in the water.
- Deflate and Clean: (only deflate the plastic floats). The cleaning of these products is also essential both for the health of the baby’s skin and for increasing the durability of the floats. The ideal would be to rinse them with fresh water after each use.
You also need to check that the manufacturer has not added any special precautions to take into account. In general, however, you will have to repeat these simple four steps every time you use any type of float. By following this routine you will ensure maximum safety for your child and as a parent, you will be much more relaxed.
What Precautions Should Parents Take when Using Floats?
To be sure that the child is protected and safe at all times and that he is making proper use of the floats as parents, we should take into account some aspects. The following tips are safety instructions that you must always check before purchasing any type of float for children.
- The float must adapt to your child’s morphology so that he cannot lose it during use.
- The closures must be sufficiently solid and secure.
- The float must allow your child to move in the water without hindering him too much.
- Production materials must be resistant so that they do not deteriorate quickly due to friction with sand or the edges of the swimming pool.
- It must not rub your baby’s skin to avoid making signs or reactions appear.
- It is advisable that it has a bright colour that does not blend easily with water.
These are just some of the most frequent suggestions by experts in the sector: if the chosen float meets all the requirements, your child will not run any danger and will be able to think only of having fun and moving in the water. We add, of course, that the child will still have to be in the company of an adult.
Are There Any Regulations Governing the Use of Floats?
The floats are regulated by two different regulations as they are considered both as toys and as life-saving and floating objects. On the one hand, even if they are considered as toys, classic round life jackets must comply with the requirements of the 89/646 / EEC regulation and bear the CE (European Conformity) mark.
On the other hand, in relation to the reliability of this type of items, they must comply with the European standard of the Italian Standardization UNE-EN 13138-3: 2015 which includes the safety requirements and test methods of the floats, in particular those with a seat used by children.
Purchase Criteria
Here are the top five criteria you will need to consider when making your purchase.
- Safety
- Weight and age
- Use
- Materials
- Quality
Safety
Without a doubt, safety must be the fundamental criterion to remind every parent. Any float without the corresponding seal and therefore not in compliance with the regulations we mentioned in the previous section is not valid. In no case.
It is very important to be restrictive on this issue, as your child’s ability to enjoy the bathroom without being exposed to any risk will depend on it. Being in the water offers many benefits to children but at the same time, it can be much more dangerous than we imagine. Security is not an issue to be taken lightly.
Uses
Another key purchasing criterion to consider when you are about to choose the float for your child is how you will use it. For example, if the goal is that your child learns to swim, there are floats designed specifically for this purpose, with different models suitable for each stage of learning.
If, on the other hand, you want a simple float to take to the sea or swimming pool to enjoy a nice bath, your child would be ideal to use a life preserver with a seat, especially in the first two years when your child has less strength, so that he is comfortable and don’t fall.
Materials
As seen previously you can find floats made of very different materials, although the most common are plastic and polyethene and this is due to the high buoyancy. Another factor you still need to consider in relation to materials is toxicity.
Do not forget that the float will come into contact with your baby’s skin and that somehow it may already be irritated by water or swimming pool products. So avoid items that use harmful substances such as BPA (bisphenol A), which can cause allergic reactions to your baby’s dermis.
Quality
The quality sections considered together all those mentioned above and the fact that it is the last does not mean that it is the least important. For every product you buy for your child, quality must be one of the most relevant factors, but it is also true that for some items it is difficult to determine the size.
Help can be provided by the opinions of the experts or other users who have purchased the product, and of course, consider all the tips we have given you along with this guide.
Conclusions
For each parent, there are few things that exceed the joy of taking a dip with their children and cooling off in the water on hot days, but for there to be room only for fun and the little one does not take any risk we must rely on the floats designed to take care of children while they bathe.
Although these accessories are an ally during the bath, you can not lose sight of your baby at any time. Some factors will help you at the time of purchase so that you can choose the most suitable float for your child and your needs. Then you can finally have fun!
