Hey i dont use anything for lo in the swimming pool either but i do feel that he maybe needs something until hes strong enough to go it alone. I also got a swim jacket from Home Bargains they are fantastic because lo has the support and doesnt realise it. I do think they need that support just incase also if u have another lo in the pool you can pay as much attention to each of them then without having 1 lo stuck to you. I hth also there are cheaper floatation devices id shop around i also got a floaties seat for 2.99 out of Home Bargains and some arm bands for 49p! as my parents are takin lo away and id rather be sure hes safe and confident.

dont use floatation things as i dont think it teaches lo about water, my dd is 3 and ds is 18 months we go to the pool once a week and we stay mainly in the shallow part where they have enough depth to jump about go under the water and practice to swim but then if they just want to stand and paddle they can, this way they learn how to cope if the fall under the water (did swim babies with dd and a real vital lesson for babies to learn) its up to you but i personally wouldnt waste my money

both dd's have only ever had armbands from 4months.  They currently have fifi ones that cost a pound from poundland they do them in roary too and they are great beacuse they are quite narrow at the bottom and it does not restrict arm movements.

My ds also got bored of the ring he sat in, and didn't want to be held in the water. I got him arm bands and put them on hom at home to get used to them, then we put them on at the pool and got in. he can mainly float on his own with them. and if he see's them now he gets very excited lol.

I guess it's trail and error, my ds loves water so will put up with anything to be in the water..each to their own lol

I bought a swimming ring  from online, it's really cool, it lock it on my little one's neck then she can swim and safe....she had lots of fun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8SJbVS7eoI

I have brought one of these suits from home bargins and it was only £4.99. The smallest size was 2-3, but seems to fit my son well (he is only 14 months). I have not yet tried it in the pool, but he gets fed up with armbands and for that price its worth a try.

hahaha , its a ase of not never ever, but never apart from once lol i forgot abt that day i tried them on him....

my friends lo (going to be 1 this month) she puts arm bands on him and lets him swim/float/drink the water (lol) in front of her, and he's fine, ive tried them once on my lo and he hated them to begin with, but once they where on for 5 mins he realised he didnt need to told me and could go off on his own (me behind/beside) so they may be better for u instead of paying out the £20 for a suit...

No i do understand what you are saying and I may decide not to get anything for him. I find it a bit of a struggle though as I have a 3 yr old also who is pretty much ok on her own with armbands on but sometimes she wants me to help her or play with her and it is difficult while I have hold of ds. Also he doesnt like being held in the water, he wants to be free and constantly tries to move my hands away which is why I thought one of those suits could be good. You have made me think though now that maybe I shouldnt...lol   

i personnally would say they are all rubbish... i have never used any floatation device on my lo ever, he is now 15 months and is now ready to go himself he has in the past 6 weeks, swam very short distances himself (going towards me) every time we go swimming he sits on the ledge and we sing humpty dumpty, and he jumps in at the end, and he goes under and swims up to me... we do loads of other nursery rhymes with him going under in lots of them.... i dont hold him lose to me, ill hold his hands so he either uses his legs or just lets himself be pulled along, or i hold his belly and he 'swims'.

these swim float sets u talk about are great for when ur not going to be right beside them, but i personnally think they hinder them learning to swim, they creat a false sense of ability... but each to thier own....

hope some one else gives u the advise ur wanting

My ds who is 15 months nearly has decided that he no longer likes his inflatable seat thing for swimming, he just cries when we put him in it and I end up holding him constantly which is a bit of a pain. I was thinking about getting him either a swim jacket or floatsuit but wanted to know what anyone thought of either of these before I paid £20 for one. Any advice is appreciated x