Do you make your kid wear a life jacket at the beach all the time?

[Anonymous]

Though this topic is several years old, on the off chance that anyone comes across it - please don't put your foolish sense of "looking uncool/foolish/lame" over the all too real risk of losing your child to the ocean. What is with this pride induced form of parenting? It has nothing to do with being vigilant; your child being swept out to sea isn't something that only happens to "careless" or distracted parents. That's just ignorant. Nature is unpredictable, and the ocean in particular can change in seconds. A few days ago, a mother was walking along the shore of Kitty Hawk down in the Outer Banks with her four year old son. Holding. His. Hand. "The mother of the missing boy reported the two were walking in ankle deep water about 3 p.m. Tuesday when they were struck by a wave that knocked both to the ground. The boy was ripped from her grasp and quickly carried away, reported the Kitty Hawk Police Department. She got up and scoured the water for her son as another wave rushed in, and then “lost sight of him in the surf,” U.S. Coast Guard officials told the Washington Post."

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article210125894.html#storylink=cpy

His name was Wesley Belisle and his body washed ashore on Monday morning, 5 days later. Who are you trying to impress by flaunting your self-assured sense that you're stronger and faster than the literal ocean? Would a life vest have helped in Wesley's case? We'll never know, but maybe it would have given his mom something to grab onto (children's vests have a grab loop at the top for this purpose) when his little hand slipped from her grasp. Or maybe it would have lifted him from the second wave long enough for her to spot him in the surf and reach him in time. This poor mother was right there holding his hand like so many of you claim is perfectly safe. It is not. Things happen. The OCEAN happens. Don't be an idiot and risk giving your child a chance because you're trying to impress... What exactly? Crabs? Sea grass? Random onlookers whom you don't even know? Your own ego? This isn't bubble wrapping your kid. It's keeping your child safe from an unpredictable, fierce, and beautiful aspect of nature. Great, you didn't wear one as a kid and you survived; here's a blue ribbon. You also probably went to school in buildings with asbestos in them, but you wouldn't even think about letting your child be exposed to that stuff now would you? Learn and evolve; don't risk your kids. Seriously, the ignorance and ego in some of these responses is gross. Your kids deserve better. be better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Totally over thinking it. We live at the beach over the summer. Go everyday from 10-4 usually. I have a 1.5 yr old and 4.5 yr old. Neither wear a lift vest at all times. With that said if your younger one is a runner with zero common sense, maybe you need it. Most of the kids that have to wear at all times are wild beasts that can't be controlled

You're doing it WRONG woman.

You're supposed to go BEFORE 10am and AFTER 4pm.

+1. The sharks will thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Though this topic is several years old, on the off chance that anyone comes across it - please don't put your foolish sense of "looking uncool/foolish/lame" over the all too real risk of losing your child to the ocean. What is with this pride induced form of parenting? It has nothing to do with being vigilant; your child being swept out to sea isn't something that only happens to "careless" or distracted parents. That's just ignorant. Nature is unpredictable, and the ocean in particular can change in seconds. A few days ago, a mother was walking along the shore of Kitty Hawk down in the Outer Banks with her four year old son. Holding. His. Hand. "The mother of the missing boy reported the two were walking in ankle deep water about 3 p.m. Tuesday when they were struck by a wave that knocked both to the ground. The boy was ripped from her grasp and quickly carried away, reported the Kitty Hawk Police Department. She got up and scoured the water for her son as another wave rushed in, and then “lost sight of him in the surf,” U.S. Coast Guard officials told the Washington Post."

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article210125894.html#storylink=cpy

His name was Wesley Belisle and his body washed ashore on Monday morning, 5 days later. Who are you trying to impress by flaunting your self-assured sense that you're stronger and faster than the literal ocean? Would a life vest have helped in Wesley's case? We'll never know, but maybe it would have given his mom something to grab onto (children's vests have a grab loop at the top for this purpose) when his little hand slipped from her grasp. Or maybe it would have lifted him from the second wave long enough for her to spot him in the surf and reach him in time. This poor mother was right there holding his hand like so many of you claim is perfectly safe. It is not. Things happen. The OCEAN happens. Don't be an idiot and risk giving your child a chance because you're trying to impress... What exactly? Crabs? Sea grass? Random onlookers whom you don't even know? Your own ego? This isn't bubble wrapping your kid. It's keeping your child safe from an unpredictable, fierce, and beautiful aspect of nature. Great, you didn't wear one as a kid and you survived; here's a blue ribbon. You also probably went to school in buildings with asbestos in them, but you wouldn't even think about letting your child be exposed to that stuff now would you? Learn and evolve; don't risk your kids. Seriously, the ignorance and ego in some of these responses is gross. Your kids deserve better. be better.

Yes this happens every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids are 2 and 3. They wear Puddle Jumpers (coast-guard approved life vests) whenever we are at the pool or beach. It's the first thing they put on and the last thing they take off.

Until they can jump in the pool and swim to the side without trouble, I intend to keep this rule.

Just to be clear, puddle jumpers are approved s toys, not in the same category as life vests.

[Anonymous]

How many deaths a year are caused by rip currents? As a surfer I wear one because the ocean is powerful and you can get in trouble real quick. If you get in trouble a least you can stay above water. When you run out of energy you can still float until you get help. Also waves are known to take out people on the beach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids are 2 and 3. They wear Puddle Jumpers (coast-guard approved life vests) whenever we are at the pool or beach. It's the first thing they put on and the last thing they take off.

Until they can jump in the pool and swim to the side without trouble, I intend to keep this rule.

Puddle Jumpers are coast guard approved toys. They are not life vests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are 2 and 3. They wear Puddle Jumpers (coast-guard approved life vests) whenever we are at the pool or beach. It's the first thing they put on and the last thing they take off.

Until they can jump in the pool and swim to the side without trouble, I intend to keep this rule.

Puddle Jumpers are coast guard approved toys. They are not life vests.

They are Coast Guard approved life vests. I'm looking at DD's right now. It's printed in giant letters right on it.

[Anonymous]

I do not have kids wear flotation devices at all at the beach - 2 and 5. However they don’t go in/near the water without an adult. 1 adult per child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are 2 and 3. They wear Puddle Jumpers (coast-guard approved life vests) whenever we are at the pool or beach. It's the first thing they put on and the last thing they take off.

Until they can jump in the pool and swim to the side without trouble, I intend to keep this rule.

Puddle Jumpers are coast guard approved toys. They are not life vests.

They are Coast Guard approved life vests. I'm looking at DD's right now. It's printed in giant letters right on it.

Puddle jumpers are approved by the Coast Guard and are considered a type III personal flotation device.
https://www.lifejacketadvisor.com/kids-life-jacket-vs-puddle-jumper-vs-swim-vest/

[Anonymous]

I was told by a lifegaurd at the beach no floaties noodles or lifejacktes especially the shallow river that it would carry us out we were 11 and 12.... Now with my kids in the Oregon coast we haven't used a life jacket my daughter was caught in a wave next to me while building a sandcastle I was able to grab her she was 8 at the time but it still toppled her over and took her breath away. Now I'm wondering if we should use life jackets even though we don't play in the waves much or would it carry them out. Or would it carry them out regardless so it would be better to have a floatation device to help find them.....we have a huge respect for nature.

[Anonymous]

When mine were little they wore small ski belts.
I watched them & stayed near them also, but my thoughts were that a ski belt would
give them valuable flotation should a wave or rip tide grab them.

Them were comfortable enough that they could play like they were not even on.

[Anonymous]

None of my three have. We always make them wear them when on a boat, whether it be the ocean or a lake--but at the beach, no.

The older two are competent swimmers, as we tend to be a family that swims a lot/is around water often. The youngest will be within a few feet of me or in my arms at all times anyways, so I don't bother.

[Anonymous]

We are at the Delaware beaches now w our 4 year old and he wears a life jacket when he goes to the water and must be with an adult at all times. The current is really strong here and we both got clobbered a few times by waves. It’s no joke.

[Anonymous]

Both of my kid (3 and 6)s wear puddle jumpers when playing in the sand/ocean. I’m also a bit paranoid, but I could totally see my 3 year-old getting knocked down , even at the ocean’s edge, and being dragged out. Can’t be too careful in unpredictable water until they become strong swimmers, IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was told by a lifegaurd at the beach no floaties noodles or lifejacktes especially the shallow river that it would carry us out we were 11 and 12.... Now with my kids in the Oregon coast we haven't used a life jacket my daughter was caught in a wave next to me while building a sandcastle I was able to grab her she was 8 at the time but it still toppled her over and took her breath away. Now I'm wondering if we should use life jackets even though we don't play in the waves much or would it carry them out. Or would it carry them out regardless so it would be better to have a floatation device to help find them.....we have a huge respect for nature.

It makes sense to me to not have floats or noodles in open water, as there are stories about kids being carried miles out. But a life jacket/puddle jumper is a very different thing- if they do get submerged or carried out w a current, the life jacket/puddle jumper will keep them from drowning.