Floaties keep toddlers safe in the pool

What the research found

Official US guidance says floaties, arm bands and water wings do not prevent children from drowning. They can slip off easily, especially when kids jump in. The same guidance says they can create a false sense of safety for both parents and children, and that a properly fitted, approved life jacket is more protective.

A 2021 scoping review of how children learn aquatic skills found that flotation devices have not been proven to help skill learning. Official Victorian guidance also says swimming skills in under-5s may not work in an emergency, so parents should never rely on them.

Guidance points to layers of protection instead. These include fencing on all four sides of a pool, close and constant supervision, swimming lessons, life jackets and knowing CPR. Research cited in this guidance suggests fencing can prevent more than half of young children's pool drownings.

What it doesn’t mean

• This does not mean all flotation gear is useless. A well-fitted life jacket is described as more protective than floaties, but it still does not replace an adult watching closely.
• Toddlers can drown quickly and silently, in as little as 5 centimetres of water. An adult should stay in constant visual contact, and the US guidance says within arm's length when a child is in or near water.
• Consider an infant or child first aid and CPR course. Talk to your GP or child health nurse if you want advice on swimming lessons or water safety at home.