Swimming and flotation aids (floaties)

Swimming and flotation aids, often called floaties, are designed to help children stay afloat in the water.

There are many different types of floaties available including:  

  • armbands
  • rings that go around the waist, sometimes with a seat for younger children
  • small boards that sit on the back, strapped around the waist
  • vests that have padded floatie material around the arms and chest. 

Floaties can help your child feel more confident and comfortable in the water. It’s important to remember they are not life-saving devices. They do not replace adult supervision.

Children must be supervised at all times when they are in or around bodies of water. This includes: 

  • pools
  • bathtubs
  • the beach
  • rivers, lakes and ponds. 

See Pool Safety for more information.  

Floaties safety tips:

  • if using floaties, also give a child some 'floatie-free' time to help them feel their body in the water and practise swimming skills
  • always stay in the water with your child, within arm’s reach
  • enrol your child in formal swimming lessons as early as possible.

Important to know: 

Using floaties can sometimes give a false sense of security about a child’s swimming ability. Floaties might also:

  • deflate or slip off during play
  • tip a child face-down if not fitted properly
  • push up over a child’s mouth or nose if not fitted well
  • stop natural body movements in the water.

Tips for buying a floatie: 

  1. where possible, have your child try on different types of floaties on land to see how they feel and move
  2. check that the floatie fits your child properly and is fastened securely
  3. buy products that are age and weight-appropriate for your child, replacing as your child grows out of them
  4. always read the instructions for use. 

Formal swimming lesson

Participating in formal swimming lessons is associated with an 88% reduction in risk of drowning in children between the ages of 1 to 4.

Mandatory labels on swimming and flotation aids

  • Flotation aids- WARNING. WILL NOT PROTECT AGAINST DROWNING. USE ONLY UNDER CONSTANT SUPERVISION
  • Swimming aid vests- WARNING. WILL NOT PROTECT AGAINST DROWNING. USE ONLY UNDER CONSTANT SUPERVISION. NOT FOR USE IN BOATING 

Floaties are not the same as lifejackets or a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) that is used in emergencies.  

All children should wear a lifejacket in open water environments, even if they can swim. 

This includes activities like: 

  • boating, jet skiing or sailing
  • using watercraft such as canoes, kayaks, paddle boards
  • fishing, including rock fishing.