My child still wears floaties

“But they’ve got floaties on… they’re fine!”Sound familiar?

As swim instructors, we hear it all the time. Parents, grandparents, or well-meaning caregivers pop floaties on little arms and feel instantly reassured. It seems logical — they keep kids afloat, right?

But here’s the truth that isn’t talked about enough: Floaties can actually increase your child’s risk around water.

What Floaties Don’t Teach

Let’s break it down.

Floaties:

Don’t teach children how to float on their backs when they’re tired or in danger.
Don’t teach how to turn, paddle, or move toward safety.
Don’t teach how to get out of a pool, or what to do if they fall in unexpectedly.
Don’t encourage natural water confidence — they give the illusion of safety, not the skills to be safe.

In fact, children who wear floaties regularly adapt their posture and movements to artificial buoyancy. When they’re suddenly without them — even just for a moment — their body doesn’t know what to do.

It only takes a second.Floaties slip off. Deflate. Pop.Or your child decides to jump in without them.

💔 The False Sense of Security

We’ve spoken to parents after close calls.“I only turned around for a moment.”“He always wears floaties, I didn’t think…”“She thought she could do it on her own.”

The scariest part? The confidence floaties create doesn’t reflect your child’s actual ability in the water.

A child wearing floaties may feel brave enough to jump in — but without them, they may not know how to float, swim to the edge, or even keep their head up.

So What’s the Alternative?

Education. Consistency. Real skills.

That’s what we focus on — starting from baby swim classes all the way to independent swimmers.

We teach:

How to hold breath and submerge safely
Back floating and safe breathing
Paddle and kick movement to move through water
How to turn and grab the edge
Confidence in different types of entries and exits

These aren’t just cute tricks for the pool.These are life-saving foundations.

What Makes Our Approach Different?

At Bubble ‘n’ Kick, we use a child-led, trust-based swim program that’s delivered by highly trained, nurturing instructors in a warm magnesium pool that feels just like a bath.

Our group sizes are small so every child is seen, and our teaching pace adapts to your child’s needs — whether they’re a little shy or full of energy.

And yes, you’ll start to see progress from the very first week. Many families say their child starts building independence in just 5 days.