Just Swimming Along With Some Help From Swimways #SwimSteps

Disclosure:  As a SwimWays Ambassador I receive products to review in exchange for sharing my honest opinion.

Last year I became a SwimWays Ambassador and since my kids still are learning or need extra help, it only became fitting that I do it again.  Now being in Chicago, we seriously have some crazy weather and this year has been the strangest.  We’ve had a very rainy June and then days that are either super hot or in the 50’s.  It’s days like those that I want to move somewhere tropical or at least South of the Midwest!  So this Summer I have a just about 3 year old, 6 year old and a 7 year old.

Where are they at with their swim levels?

Olivia (3):  She is taking lessons, but really she needs help.  She can’t keep herself above water but she doesn’t like anything bulky to wear.  She is fearless in the water, but does somewhat understand that its not safe for her alone.

Gavin (6):  He has been taking lessons one day a week for about 10 months now.  He is very confident in the water (sometimes too confident) but is not used to water above his head yet.  He can swim but is used to water he can reach the bottom.

Aidan (7):  Aidan was very scared of swim lessons when we tried them before then we found an amazing swim school by us that has really helped him.  He has gone there for 10 months now and is becoming quite the fish.  He is still hesitant in the water though without a life vest or tube.  He needs an in-between product.

What is great about SwimWays is they have a line of products called Swim Steps.  Now in Swim Steps there are three levels that kids work their way through starting as young as 6 months.  The levels are Water Introduction, Water Exploration and Swim Training.  Each step allows kids to get used to the water, learn to swim and hopefully learn to love the water.  My kids are in the Water Exploration (Step 2) and Swim Training (Step 3.)  I received products for each kid to try out this Summer and they are a hit with them!

First I’ll start with Olivia.  She got the Swim Vest in pink of course, its also available in blue and green.  This vest helps kids float while still learning to swim.  There are sturdy foam inserts and it has an adjustable harness between the legs to ensure the vest stays in place.  It zips on quickly, which is great since she always wants to hurry and get in the pool!  This is a one size fits all kinda thing and while it says ages 2 to 4, my daughter is tiny for her age and its a little big on her.  Still though Olivia did great and floated around the pool like theres no tomorrow.  I do wish I was able to adjust the sides of it, but it still did the job of keeping her up and able to float upright or lean forward to paddle.

For my boys I received the Sea Squirts in size Large, which is perfect for the level they are at.  Its not bulky like a life jacket, its a fun style, and it has three removable floatation pads.  The pads help to adjust the buoyancy as your child develops swimming confidence and skills.  My boys like that it quickly zips on and off, no straps or buckles.  It is also not meant to keep you afloat like a life jacket would, to me it just gives that extra confidence to kids to stay straight and swim when the water is deeper than they are used to.  It is very thin and lightweight as well.  Last year we used the Power Swimr System mostly but this year my boys feel more comfortable using the Sea Squirts.  The Power Swimr System doesn’t have the piece that goes between their legs either, which is nice as my boys feel they are getting too old for that anyways.

Overall, I love how Swimways makes products in steps for kids who are at different swimming levels.  Their products have really been a great help for my boys and hopefully we get a lot of use out of them this Summer!  I hope to share more of my boys swimming adventures as the Summer goes on.

BUY IT:  SwimWays products can be checked out online and found at various retail stores across the United States and on the SwimWays website.