The best baby swim floats and swimming aids for toddlers

Suitable for babies aged 0-12 months (up to 11 kg) and 12-24 months (up to 15 kg), this Zoggs Baby Zoggy Inflatable Trainer has a secure seat with a pillow back to help your little one sit upright comfortably and get used to kicking their legs in the water. One parent reviewer was very pleased with the quality of the product and the fact that the edges of the material were smooth, so it wouldn't hurt their child's legs or arms. they said it was easy to blow up and safe for him to sit in. They felt very comfortable seeing their child safe in it, and said, "We bought this pool seat for my 3-month-old son who weighs 15lbs. He just fits in it comfortably with lots of potential for growth which is ideal."

It's available in two colours and inflates and deflates easily, making it great for travel and popping in your suitcase. However some parents have found it not to be as straightforward to inflate. One reviewer says that inflating it takes a bit of effort, as there are four separate valves that each need filling. However, he was very happy with it overall and happy to recommend it, saying they'll be using it lots over the coming months. Another reviewer who was happy with the value for money and said the product was good quality and a reputable brand, felt it was a bit of a faff to inflate and described it as difficult to juggle with carrying little one at the same time. Once in the pool though, they said little one love it and they felt confident moving around the pool with her.

**Shortlisted in the 2020 Mother&Baby Awards Best Travel Product Under £30 category.
**
This Splash About Kids' Go Swim Vest is great for keeping your little ones warm, as well as being a buoyancy aid to assist children learning to swim and gain water confidence. It's available in sizes for one to two years, two to four years and four to six years, as well as seven lovely colourways. Our mum tester Karen says, "there are several child-friendly and interesting designs for little ones to like - we had the gecko's which my daughter loved." She found that it was of great assistance whilst in the swimming pool as it means that you care not holding the whole weight of your child in the water. She says, it also offers some peace of mind knowing they'll stay above the water.

We love this vest for travelling with, and it's perfect for taking with you on your family beach hols. Mum tester Jodie says, "It is quite slim when folded, so it doesn't take up much room in your luggage. Our son has been going for swimming lessons for a while; however, he doesn't like his head getting wet or being in deeper water. The swim vest meant that as our holiday progressed, our son's confidence slowly increased so that he was happy to float and start to kick between us both."

In terms of usability Karen describes the vest as soft and being able to bend easily around the child so that it's comfortable for them to wear and not too bulky. She says her husband found it difficult to carry their daughter whilst she was wearing it though, due to the extra circumference, which might be something to keep in mind. However, they said it's really easy to pop on the little one with a durable zip. Mum tester Julie, on the other hand found it was perfect for her to hold her child on my hip in the water. She says, "This product gave me the confidence to take my really hyper, fearless 2-year-old to the swimming pool for the first time. It's so simple putting the vest on your child, it's reassuring knowing you can't put it on wrong."

Read our full Splash About Kids' Go Swim Vest review

If armbands are your child's preferred flotation device, you can't go wrong with these Zoggs Armbands. They're made from PVC, with flat contoured underarm gussets for comfort, and come in sizes suitable for under one year, one to three years, three to six years and six to 12 years. Parents agree that these arm bands are comfortable for their kids to wear in the pool and swim with. Keep in mind that the arm bands can puncture, and some parents have reported this happening in reviews. The design accounts for this by including two air chambers in each band.

One mum reviewer thought the quality was very good and that the armbands were made from durable material. She says, "They felt a bit harder to inflate than expected, but it's not a big deal for me. I am happy to recommend these armbands and would buy them again." Another reviewer liked that they were easy to use and worked well, but they warn against inflating them too much, saying "they will squeeze the kid’s arms and leave red marks on them". However, they were still more than happy to recommend them as a swimming aid.

Available in sizes 1-2 years, 2-3 years, and 4-5 years, we love this float suit for girls as it comes in a variety of cute girly designs – like the pink owls and pussycat design, and the apply daisy design with no zip. They also offer some lovely designs for boys too, like sea life and tug boats.

The Splash About Kids UV Sun Protection Floatsuit will help promote the natural learn-to-swim position with the floats arrangement, that works by tipping your child forward so that their shoulder automatically move towards the water, and all this without bulky armbands getting in the way so that they are encouraged to find their water balance and gain confidence in the water.

Not only that, but the suit is UPF50+ to help protect your child from harmful UV rays when you're swimming outdoors. On parent reviewer loves the fact that the floats in each chamber are made up of two foam pieces, making it easy to customise the buoyancy and balance little one out, reducing the number of floats as they get more competent in the water. They say, "Our 18 month old loves how he can be so independent in it."

Read our full Splash About Kids UV Sun Protection Floatsuit review

A fab alternative to traditional inflatable armbands, Zoggs Float Discs Armbands are a fantastic aid to help increase your little one's confidence in the pool. The removable discs mean that buoyancy can be adjusted - start with two floats per arm and remove one from each arm as their confidence grows. They're durable, puncture-proof, don't require any inflation, and are suitable from two to six years.

One parent reviewer said they like that the bright colours make it easy to spot their kids in the pool, but that they felt the arm bands, despite being safe and comfortable, were a bit bulky, which has been mentioned by more than one reviewer. This may be one of the reasons why it is recommended that these arm bands only be used for short periods of time – up to 30 minutes per session, and parents are advised to regularly check for any signs of rubbing which may occur during use.

This dad of three said, "My kids had trouble with the arm bands staying in place. Sometimes it slipped down their arm and had to be adjusted multiple times". He also thought the recommended age range is quite broad and that perhaps they're not as suited to very young children if prone to slipping down their arms. On the other hand, some have said they felt that kids could easily grow out of them. We think it just depends on your child.

This bestselling baby swim seat is suitable for babies that are 0-12 months and is perfect to keep your baby stable and upright while they get used to the feeling of being in the water. The sturdy vinyl material on the Bestway Baby Swim Safe Seat is durable and long-lasting and is designed with a comfortable seat to keep your baby afloat while they learn to enjoy being in the water. One mum reviewer said, "I took my three-month-old swimming in this, and I cannot explain how much he LOVED it. He didn't want to come out and was so happy just floating and kicking about." She says it was extremely sturdy and that there was no chance of it tipping over. Her little boy sat nicely above the water level and she said she would definitely recommend the baby swim seat to everyone.

The seat is easy to assemble and you can inflate with a hand pump, electric pump or even by mouth. Reviewers say it doesn't take long at all, and they they didn't even get out of breath when doing it by mouth. Although the age range is 1-12 months, one reviewer doesn't recommend the float for babies that can't sit up by themselves yet – they say that they should be using a lying down float rather than one like this. Another reviewer also comments on this, saying the float will be better the more core-strength your baby has. "We have a 5 month old who was flopping forward a tad but she is quite tall" they say, "saying that, we've tried a few others that all felt much less sturdy and we pretty much had to hold them at all times, but this thing is so sturdy and felt very safe for the little one."

If you're looking for a baby swim seat that's suitable for younger babies, the LAYCOL Baby Swimming Float is designed with a cover to protect them from the sun. The OPF50+ sun canopy is completely breathable, and it can be detached and folded when not in use, which also makes travelling with this product much easier as it'll fit into your car book no problem. One reviewer bought one for their one year old when going on holiday abroad and said it was ideal and attracted many admirers. They said it's sturdy and doesn't flip – which is always a worry! Also, that it was easy to blow up with a pump and it blocked the sun nicely.

It's great for little ones learning to swim as it supports two swim ways, both breaststroke and backstroke, so you can teach them to not be afraid of the water and they can get used to being in it in all positions. The product is also packed with safety features. It has a five-point connection meaning little one is kept securely in place, and the removable buoyancy ball add to this stability while also ensuring they don't tip forwards into the water, or worse, slide out! The float ball in the upgraded model is a great addition and added safety feature that prevents them from rolling backwards too. All this, and the fact that it is made from durable, leak-proof PVC that has passed all necessary safety tests, making it 100% non-toxic for your baby's skin. You might notice a strong smell initially from the material – It is recommended to open the product and leave it out for a few days so that the smell of the material can dissipate naturally before use.

To help with their kicking technique and develop their strength, Konfidence The Original Jacket is available for ages 18 months to 36 months. Improving their confidence in the water is what this brand is all about, as well as keeping tot safe while they have fun in the water. What sets this one apart from the rest is the featured fully adjustable and detachable support strap. In fact, it claims to be the only jacket to provide a completely detachable support strap to suit the needs of your child. It's also recommended by renowned experts at Starfish Aquatics Institute and backed by 25+ years of expertise and experience, in designing and making children’s swim vests and swimwear world wide, giving you complete peace of mind that you're getting your money's worth.

One reviewer says it's great for kids who have grown out of arm bands but still need swimming aids, but to watch out because they can undo the zip easily themselves, so you need to trust them to keep it on, and obviously still keep them within reach in the water. Another reviewer points out that it's fine for bigger kids because it doesn't hold them completely. It's more like a support for those who are trying to learn how to swim. One reviewer describes how this jacket not only saved their little one in the water, but also helped when she fell around the pool! They say she never hit her head once due to the size of the jacket and within a week found complete water confidence wearing it. While the design doesn't necessarily account for falls around the pool when it comes to safety, this could certainly be something to think about if you're worrying about a bulky fit.

This baby swim vest offers complete freedom of movement while in the water to help your toddler develop the natural swimming position and gain confidence in the water. One dad reviewer says, "Obviously it’s not going to hold them perfectly upright and out of the water but that’s not what it’s for. This gives my son much more freedom and I just hold his hands. He likes swimming so much more with this!" Made from neoprene Zoggs Swim Jacket has UPF 50+ sun protection so it's perfect for taking with you to the beach or on trips to the outdoor pool. It has built-in floats that are puncture-proof to aid with buoyancy as your little one learns to swim, so no need to worry about floats deflating while you're out for the day, and it's suitable for children two to three years old and four to five years old.

One mum reviewer bought the swimming jacket for her daughter who was a complete non-swimmer to wear at her lessons after realising she needed one where you could remove the floats a few at a time. She says, "Now she has a bit more confidence, this suit is perfect as it gives enough floatation to keep her head above water, but she doesn't rely on it to do all the work." Reviewers have reported that the jackets tend to come up a bit on the small side, so this might be something to consider if you want them to have room to grow

This swim vest acts as a buoyancy aid for tots. The Speedo Tiger Cub Float Vest helps with developing your little one's confidence and independence in the water. Made with built-in foam inserts, the vest ensure they're held up in the water, allowing plenty of movement while they learn to swim. One reviewer says, "Our son loves his new swim vest so much. He finds it much easier to swim than the annoying armbands". Another reviewer says, "It's alright but doesn't keep little one afloat as well as armbands."

We think it depends what you're looking for, but that this product is designed to allow your child more opportunity to develop their swimming skills and providing just enough support in the process. Another parent demonstrates this in their review saying they bought one for their 2.5 year old and she absolutely loves it. They say, "It still gives her room to play in the water but gives me a bit more peace of mind. She can jump in and her head will still go under so she gets used to going under the water, but I still catch her and bring her up. Seems good quality too."

Some reviewers have reported that the vest comes up large. If you're worried about this, one reviewer offers a solution. They say, "it was slightly big for their quite large 2 year old so would size down for a smaller child. We paired with armbands & he happily floated round the pool unaided & should last him through next summer too!"

If it's confidence your child needs, Swimfin Swimming Aid will absolutely do the trick. It keeps your little shark afloat without restricting movement or getting in their eye line, so it's perfect for when they reach the big pool. It also has adjustable straps, so it will be easy to wear and adjust as they grow, meaning it's suitable for two years and over.

Our mum tester Charlotte Walsh tried this product out on her two kids, aged two and four. She described it as bright and easy to use, ideal for helping kids with their positioning in the water. She says, "My two children loved them from day one, on land as well as in the water! The SwimFin was easy to get on and off, and it holds the child upright when treading water with minimal effort."

the fin is designed for little ones who are already confident in the water, so your younger child may need some extra support and encouragement. Charlotte says, "my two-year-old took some getting used to the water, however once he had established himself in a float vest he had no problems at all." Her older daughter was struggling with keeping her bottom up while swimming forward and she says the SwimFin gave her the buoyancy needed to keep her up. This led to her having the confidence to swim on her own in just two weeks.

Another reviewer bought it for their six-year-old son who hadn't mastered swimming. They said it gave him real confidence in the "big" pool. "It is just enough to help them see afloat without blocking movement" they say, "great for swimming on their back too. I would recommend it if you have a child who has some experience in the water but is not 100% capable of independent swimming."
**
Read our full Swimfin Swimming Aid review**