Ds will be 3 in August. He absolutely loves the water and is fearless. Last summer we had one of those rings the kid steps into and it is a vest with a ring that is filled with air. It worked well but he hated wearing it unless he was in the water because it was very bulky. We would take it off when he was done swimming but several times he ran and launched back into the pool without it on, forcing one of us to have a mini heart attack and jump in after him. Dh ruined a cell phone during one of those episodes. This year I want something better. I was eyeing those swim vests they have at Target and it says kids can float with it on or lean forward to "swim" with it. Do they really work? I don't want to use those arm floaties because he could whip them off if he felt like it and that makes me uneasy.

Sorry for the novel, but the pool opens this weekend and I need to figure this out. He is amazingly coordinated and independent, so I want him to be able to motor around by himself without having to hold onto one of us every second. Also, those of you that "know" me know that he is the size of a 4 year old - he is 40 pounds and 41 inches tall. The vests come in medium (35 to 45 pounds) and large (45 to 60 pounds). They both seemed to fit him about the same. Which should I get? Do they stretch out when they get wet? Or do you have some other device that you love that I need to look at? Thanks!

We have had a swim vest for ds since he was 1 (we're big water people, ds first surfed at 11 mos and could maneuver with floaties in a pool by 14 mos). It did not work well for him, it was too bulky and he had a hard time keeping himself straight up. You ds may have an easier time though since he is older.
We have had better luck with just floaties (water wings), ds has an easier time keeping himself upright. We actually blow them up more after we put them on, then they are tight and hard to get off.
Ds was also fearless when it came to water, even big waves, he would charge right in. Then one day he fell over at the harbor, in a very small wave, and went under the water. It spooked him and since then he is much more cautious, even at MIL's pool. It was good for him to have a little scare.
HTH!

My girls have a neoprene life jacket. They don't mind wearing it. They wear it in the pool and in the river. I let my 5yo take it off and swim around in the shallow area when we are in a pool. She does know how to swim without the jacket but for now we require her to wear it when in the water.

Jackets DO stretch when wet. I would get the smallest jacket that fits comfortably. When he gets in the water it will be less likely to ride up on him.

I'm so happy it is swimmy season!!