Gain Water Confidence With Stearns Puddle Jumper

This post brought to you by Stearns Puddle Jumpers®. The content and opinions expressed below are that of The Suburban Mom.

It’s pool season, and my girls have already begun the daily request to go swimming after school. When school gets out in a couple of weeks, we will probably be in the pool everyday. While my oldest has turned into a fish, diving and swimming, my little needs a bit more confidence. She is taking swim lessons, but for now she prefers to stay on the steps. To help her gain confidence in the water, I got her a Stearns Puddle Jumper.

Stearns Puddle Jumper

I introduced Sissy to her new Stearns Puddle Jumper this past weekend, and she was so excited to try it out. At first she was a little hesitant to step off the first step into the pool without my hand. But once I talked her into and she realized she could float — she was all giggles. 

She even practiced her swimming moves, showing me how she could put her face in the water and kick.

Eventually she even gained the confidence to jump into the pool for the first time, floating quickly back to the surface with her Stearns Puddle Jumper.

Although my ultimate goal is for her to swim unassisted in the pool, when we go to the beach in a few weeks she will need something to help keep her afloat in the ocean. With the Stearns Puddle Jumper I will feel confident in knowing that she can splash happily in the water bobbing up and down with the rest of the family. 

I was also thrilled to learn that because the Stearns Puddle Jumper is U.S. Coast Guard approved (Type V PFD) so we can also use it when boating in place of a bulky life jacket. And because she loves her Stearns Puddle Jumper, I am hoping she won’t give me a hard time when I make her where it the whole time we are on the boat. 

Now she feels confident in the water with her Stearns Puddle Jumper, even chasing after big sister. And I have peace of mind when we go to the beach and out on the boat that she has her Stearns Puddle Jumper to help keep her safe in addition to mom’s watchful eye.

The Stearns Puddle Jumper is designed for kids 30-50 pounds and comes in a variety of colors and designs and is available from StearnsFlotation.com.

Pool Safety Tips

1. Always have an adult focused on the pool. In a party situation, take turns having someone designated to watch the pool.
2. Keep extra toys not in use out of the pool so adults have clear view of the bottom and they don’t block the surface for young swimmers.
3. Keep pool fences and gates locked when pool is not in use. 
4. Have young children wear U.S. Coast Guard Approved flotation device for children like the Stearns Puddle Jumper.
5. Enroll children in swimming lessons.