Are Water wings Safe for Toddlers and Babies?

Swimming is a wonderful activity the whole family can enjoy, including babies and toddlers. Early exposure to the water can help make learning to swim easier. But while much fun can be had, safety needs to be your number one priority when it comes to water activities with kids, especially if you’re considering using water wings or floaties for little ones.

Water wings can help nonswimmers safely experience the water, but only with proper adult supervision. The biggest danger posed by devices like water wings is that they can make it tempting to let your child explore the shallow end without watching them vigilantly.

If your baby or toddler can’t swim, using these floatation devices without being within arm’s reach and keeping your eyes on them can put them at risk of drowning. Find out more about the safety concerns of using floaties, and learn the best ways to keep your child safe in the water if you do use water wings.

The Safety Risks of Water Wings

There are a number of important considerations to evaluate before using water wings with your baby or toddler. The most crucial is to understand how they can actually increase the risks of drowning or injury. That said, water wings can be a fun and safe way to enjoy the water with your child. However, caution must always be used to ensure the child’s safety.

Potential dangers include that the wings can easily come off your kid’s arms, especially if they don’t have an attached chest piece. (Choosing a product with a chest piece helps to mitigate this concern.) The inflatable material can also puncture, deflate, or loosen. Plus, if your child rolls onto their stomach, the water wings may prevent them from turning over again, making it harder for them to get a breath of air.

“Water wings are a tool for parents to let babies experience the water, but they are not safety devices,” says Lauren Stack, former managing director of the regional division at the now-defunct National Swimming Pool Foundation.