Swimming and flotation aids are designed to keep children afloat, in water. You might know these better as floaties. 

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 be used to help a child get familiar with being in water. They do not replace adult supervision and are not a life-saving device. 

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.  

If you choose to use floatation aids for your children when they are swimming, it is recommended to also have periods of ‘floatie free’ time.  This is so they can get used to the feeling of their body weight and movement in the water, and practice basic swimming skills.

Parents and carers can support their child in getting familiar with water by:  

• being in the water with your child, holding them or having them at arm’s reach
• enrolling them in formal swimming lessons.  

Support in the water from floaties can give parents, carers and children a false sense of security and confidence in how good their child is in the water. Floaties are not a life-saving device and can sometimes stop your child’s body from moving naturally in the water. This can cause issues when they are used too much or in place of learning how to swim. 

Other safety issues with floaties can include: 

• deflating or popping during use
• pushing up over the mouth and face if not fitted well, causing suffocation
• slipping off in the water during rough play or if not fitted well
• tipping a child face down in the water
• stopping a child from being able to correct their position 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. 

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