Testing the Waters With @SwimWays #SwimSteps

My girls are both enjoying their summer fun in the pool, even though we had a rocky start with my almost 4 year old. You can read about her previous swimming experience where I mentioned how she had a bad lesson with a swim instructor. We really didn’t know how she would be able to bounce back from that, but after spending a lot of time in the pool this summer, she is gaining confidence and getting better. Just this past week, she let go of the side of the pool and trusted the SwimWays Swim Vest to keep her afloat. She was so proud of herself and I was extremely excited that we took some baby steps to get her over her fear of the water.

I should mention that my daughter doesn’t go anywhere without her trusted lovie. Her lovie is a stuffed animal that she brings with her everywhere and provides her the security she needs. When she’s in the water, she can’t have her lovie with her, so Swim Ways provided her with a Pooligan. A Pooligan is not a floatation device, but she was able to hold on to her pink dolphin, Hibiscus, in the water without fear of it getting ruined – because it was made for the pool! They are made from anti-microbial fabric and stuffing, so there is no fear that these fun animals will mold from being wet. Of course, we always lay Hibiscus out in the sun to dry after taking a swim. You can find Pooligans in 4 varieties – pink dolphin, blue shark, penguin, and polar bear.

While my preschooler was making great strides in overcoming her fears, my 14 month old was just getting started on swimming. Immediately after putting her in the water in her Swim Ways Baby Spring Float. Within a few minutes of being in the spring float, she wanted to be set free, but obviously has never had any experience in the pool before. We tried other floatation devices, but she would prefer to be held and splash along. Ironically, she doggy paddles, and I’m hoping this is the beginning to a great swimming experience for her where she can trust her instincts in the water and learn to swim.

We are fortunate to have access to a pool for the rest of the summer where my little girls can learn to swim and gain confidence. I’m very excited to be part of the Swim Ways ambassador program to try out their products and bring you updates on my girls’ progress!