8 best kids’ swimming aids that will help them feel more confident in the water

Our animal-obsessed five-year-old tester took no convincing when it came to putting on this whale-themed swim vest. Made from high-quality, durable (yet soft on the skin), chlorine-resistant fabrics, this vest has built-in UPF 50+ sun protection for long days at the beach.

Unlike some other swim vests, the foam floats are built into the vest, so they can’t be removed or adjusted, but we found it was the right level of buoyancy to help get our little tester into a natural learn-to-swim position. We found there was plenty of freedom of movement, too, while the slimmer design means it’s easy to pack, as it’s flat and lightweight.

The swim vest comes in a range of sizes, starting from 12 months, enabling toddlers to find their feet in the water, and giving a little extra support to older kids while they hone their swimming skills.

This is the cheapest of the body-warmer-style vests we tested but we didn’t feel short-changed at all – the chunky safety zip felt secure, the binding is soft against the skin (preventing any nasty chaffing), and the vest is not bulky, even when wet. It dries super speedily, too.

While these may not look like your typical swimming aid for kids, once you have a more confident swimmer on your hands, these dive balls from swimming giant Speedo will help teach children new skills without them even realising.

Sinking to the bottom of the pool, these dive balls gave our five-year-old tester plenty of new challenges, requiring her to hold her breath while strengthening her swimming ability underwater.

The pack comes with two dive balls, and the tails help them to be seen and retrieved more easily from the bottom of the pool.

What we love about this floatsuit is it is just as at home at the beach as it is at a swimming pool. Thanks to built-in UV protection, the suit offers UVPF 40+ to the neck and part of the arms and legs. Unlike jackets, there’s a back zip to facilitate dressing, which means kids can’t take it off themselves.

The Konfidence floatsuit is backed by more than 25 years of experience in designing children’s floatsuits and swim jackets, which is evident in this well-thought-out product. Working with your child’s natural buoyancy, it correctly positions children in the water for learning to swim, as the eight foam floats sit in pockets of the floatsuits, which can be removed as your child’s confidence and ability grows.

The lycra composition is as soft as it is stretchy, and it dries incredibly quickly. There are nine vibrant prints to choose from, making this a great option for helping kids swim without them being restricted by armbands or having to hold on to floats.

The shape of the Nabaiji swim vest is totally different to anything else we’ve seen, but we’ve found it a great learning-to-swim tool for our youngest tester. Offering a good level of buoyancy, its simple shape wraps around the torso and can be adapted to a kid’s size (we tested the 15-25kg option), thanks to the adjustable three-point safety buckle.

The clever design leaves the arms and shoulders free, for greater freedom of movement in the water, and doesn’t chafe the armpits, unlike some other swim jackets. We found the fluorescent colourway great for visibility in busy pools, too.

Last year, British brand Konfidence celebrated the 25th anniversary of its award-winning swim jacket. This year, the brand has launched a “mark II” version, uniquely featuring an optional removable support strap, which can be adjusted based on the swimmer’s height.

Attaching to the bottom of the jacket with a buckle and comfortably sitting in between the legs, the extra strap has been designed to give children a little more support. We weren’t sure how our youngest tester would react with another buckle to contend with, but he seemed more than happy wearing this body-warmer-style jacket and found it a doddle to put on. Once your child’s swimming confidence grows, simply detach the strap, and you’re ready for action.

The jacket still features the key elements parents and children alike have loved for a quarter of a century, including the bright yellow back for high visibility, soft lycra binding for extra comfort, and the simple but very effective system of eight removable floats, which means the buoyancy can be tailored to your child’s needs. Geared up for a day spent splashing in the sea, or at an outdoor pool, this jacket also offers 50+ UVPF sun protection.

The trusty armband has been helping children float in water for more than 100 years, and the Zoggs float discs are modern-day alternatives that offer kids complete freedom of movement in the water, unlike traditional armbands, with which children are more likely to bob on the surface of the water.

Suitable for children aged two to six (max weight 25kg), the discs were comfortable to wear, thanks to the soft blue inner piece, which left no nasty red marks on our mini tester’s skin.

For those who are new to the water, you can use both floats on each arm, or, if your child is more confident, simply reduce to just one on each. We found these were great for getting our testers into the correct position for swimming, encouraging them to kick their legs.

JoJo Maman Bebe has been a much-loved childrenswear brand for more than 30 years, providing everything from sleepsuits to sandals. This float jacket with a cheeky crab design will give young swimmers the confidence to float in style, and there was no hesitation from our youngest tester, who put this on independently, while we tackled the zip. We did notice the zip wasn’t as chunky as others we tested, meaning it could be a little challenging when tackled with wet hands.

The UPF 50 sun protection is reassuring for days spent outside, and we found the jacket offered great coverage around the neck and shoulders. Available in two sizes (small and medium), it’s important to go by your child’s weight – small fits those weighing 15-18kg, while the medium size is for those weighing 18-30kg.

The jacket comprises eight removable floats, which are clearly labelled on the inside. We found the buoyancy was spot on for our three-year-old tester, with the water sitting at his shoulders. Depending on your child’s weight, you can remove the floats in pairs, to ensure your little one is in a ready-to-swim position.

Conceived on the beaches of Sydney, Sunnylife knows a thing or two when it comes to producing great beach-ready products. Available in three sizes and four fun designs, the suits have a sculpted embellishment on the back or a fun illustration on the front. We tried out the fluro shark design, which is a popping neon green, making it great for visibility at crowded pools or beaches.

There’s no denying the appeal to children, with a shark tail on the back of the vest, but practicality hasn’t been overlooked, either, as the vest is easy to get on and off with a zip up the front, and it doesn’t feel too bulky, even when wet.

The smaller sizes come with an “anti-rise” clip, to keep the vest in place, which we found very useful, as the sizing is generous. This is a great buoyancy aid for gaining confidence in the water, while the animal design enables children’s imaginations to run wild.