I’m a pediatrician and parent. I never let my kids use these 3 pool toys
As more kids go into the water to stay cool this summer, a pediatrician recently went viral on social media with a warning about pool toys and flotation devices that increase the risk of drowning in small children.
In a TikTok that has garnered 1.7 million views, Dr. Niky, a board-certified pediatrician and mother of three kids under 6, reminded her followers that “drowning is 100% preventable." (She did not immediately respond to TODAY.com's interview request.)
Drowning is the leading cause of death in kids 1 to 4 years old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Unsafe swimming aids ... can provide a false sense of security and may not keep a child’s head above water,” explains Bernard Fisher, director of health and safety at the American Lifeguard Association. “These devices are not substitutes for lifejackets and should be avoided.”
We asked doctors with young children what pool toys they avoid to keep their kids safe.
Water wings
Water wings, also known as swimmies or arm floaties, are inflatable bands that wrap around a child's upper arms. They are unsafe for several reasons, the experts say.
“Arm floaties easily slip off or deflate," Dr. Jenelle Ferry, neonatologist at Pediatrix Medical Group and mom of three in Florida, where her kids are around water a lot, tells TODAY.com.
"If (the floaties) slip down the arm, the child can be stuck with their arms out of the water and face under,” Ferry explains.
Water wings also encourage children to stay in an upright position in the water, which does not teach them how to swim properly and can increase drowning risk.
Swim vests, which have arm bands and a third piece that wraps around a child's chest, are unsafe for the same reason: While they're less likely to fall off than inflatable arm bands, they still encourage kids to stay in an upright position, which increases the risk of drowning, especially when not wearing it.
As a result, both types of flotation devices give a false sense of safety, which could lead kids to jump in the pool without it, thinking they'll be able to swim, or parents to walk away, even just briefly.
"Toddlers are typically unaware of the danger of the water, especially if their only experience in the water is with floatation devices," Dr. Milan Vora, emergency medicine physician and father of a 7-year-old son and 4-year-old twins, tells TODAY.com.
“Tragedies happen in a matter of seconds,” Dr. Niky added in her TikTok.
Being in the habit of wearing one can also make it harder for children to learn to swim since they’re not used to being in the prone position in the water.
Neck floaties
“There are so many reasons to say no to a plastic tube around a small child or infant’s neck,” Ferry stresses.
First, they do not prevent drowning and may increase the likelihood of it, she warns.
She recommends avoiding anything plastic or inflatable near an infant or toddler’s face due to risk of suffocation and to avoid anything around the neck to prevent choking.
Dr. Niky adds that a good rule is to avoid putting anything at all around the neck of an infant or toddler, including amber teething necklaces, which can lead to strangulation.
Mermaid tails
“Please do not put anything on your child that confines their legs or their arms in any way,” Dr. Niky cautioned.
Children need free movement of all four limbs so they can swim safely, she said.
Adds Ferry: “For most children, the majority of their strength is in their legs, and use of both is important for swimming and for the ability to easily get their face out of the water when needed."
Pool safety tips for kids
Consistently using any sort of flotation device with your kids can lead them to develop a false sense of security around water, which can increase their risk of drowning. The best option is to be in the water with your child within an arm's reach.
And if you opt to let your child use a flotation device, do not take your eyes off them while they're in the water.
Here are some other tips to keep children safe in the water.
Assign a “water watcher” within your group
“A water watcher is a responsible adult who commits to watching the children in the water at all times, without distractions,” Fisher tells TODAY.com.
“Never assume someone is looking just because many people are around,” Ferry adds.
Maintain arm’s length supervision for kids who can't swim
“For non-swimmers, it’s crucial to maintain an arm’s length of supervision while they are in the water to ensure immediate assistance if needed,” Fisher says.
Ferry stresses this is particularly important when smaller children are in the water.
“The only way to keep your kids safe in that 1-to-4-year-old range is by being with them when they’re in the water, ready to pull them up if their head is submerged, called touch supervision,” Vora says.
Avoid distractions
“Do not get distracted by conversation or eating,” Vora warns. “The more people there are at the pool, the more likely no one is watching your child.”
If you step away from the pool, assign another adult to keep an eye on your child at all times until you come back, Ferry recommends.
“A child can drown in under two minutes and sustain life-altering brain damage in even less,” she reminds.
Use U.S. Coast Guard approved lifejackets
“We recommend that children be properly fitted with a (United States Coast Guard)-approved lifejacket when in or near water,” Fisher says. “These lifejackets are designed to provide reliable buoyancy and are rigorously tested to meet safety standards.”
Start swimming lessons early
“Start swimming lessons as early as possible so your children become both more comfortable with water and are exposed to the dangers of water, as well,” Vora says.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends them as early as age 1 for many children.
Avoid blue swimsuits
It’s important to easily find your child around a lot of other people, and wearing a swimsuit in a bright color thats set them apart from the water can help you see where they are, Ferry says.
This article was originally published on TODAY.com