Kids and lifejackets.....

now would be a good time to qualify that statement

until then, i stick by my earlier post.

 

The calmest water in waves in on the bottom under them. i.e. duckdive... How is the little rug rat going to do that wearing a life jacket? Same goes for when he falls - he is safer deeper, away from the board, even if it's a foamie.

As long as you're there out there with him. He's fine.

 

dont raise a fairy boy

 

Americas favorite hobby is criticizing other people's parenting.

Your son doesn't need a life jacket. He has a board. He has a dad watching him nearby. But I would recommend upgrading his swimming so he can swim at least 550 yards in the pool, which is only 1/4 mile. It will build muscle and stamina.

The 9 month old on his dads board-- that's plain stupid. Nine month olds drown in a teacup. Their nervous system is poorly developed with poor motor control.

 

a mile in the pool is 1650 yards.

also, anybody checked out the latest lifesaver tech/models?
we've come a real long way from the $6 double-orange.

 

Look, if you want your kid to be safe, make him wear a condom. Problem solved.
NEXT!!

 

o barry

 

Life jackets are not made for the ocean.

As a lifeguard I had to have this conversation many many times about why their kids couldn't use them.

It makes them much more suceptble to being caught in a rip.

They can get pummled by the waves they can't get under badly.

They can flip and be unable to right themselves.

are the top three.

 

I think you mean not made for the surf zone. good thing to have in the open sea when the boats going down,

unless your Quint. He'll never put on a life vest again. but at least he delivered the bomb.

 

Actually...this all just reminded me of something that went down over the summer...7/5, lingering Artie swell...solid 2-3 ft playful wedges coming through, but with a pretty stiff offshoure wind. Fun swell, but enough juice to complicate the lives of bathers.

Anyway, next thing ya know, this kid, idk, 1 yr old, with a life jacket on, gets blown out to the impact zone, like, fast. Cruises right to us. My boy grabbed the kid and brought him to shoure, and the fat fk'n mother didn't even thank him. That baby was one set away from meeting God, fortunately luck was on his side.

All that being said, imho the problem was parental supervision, not the fact that the kid was in the ocean, the fact that his lazy arse mom wasn't out there with him.

 

Yep, Seldom nailed it perfectly, it's not saftey gear that is needed it's parents who pay attention to the child they brought into this world. Props to your buddy for saving the kid.

 

Amen Bro.

I have spent a lot of time with my boys at the beach and taught them how to be safe. They've had swimming lessons since they were 2 yrs old. I've taught them about rips, sandbars and how to read breaks. I'm usually in the water with them but not always. Has anybody ever seen a surfer regardless of age wear a lifejacket? The short drive to the beach is where the most danger lies.

 

We get a ton of tourist who have no respect or knowledge for what the ocean can do. I pulled out a kid one day who was in trouble and the parents never even noticed. One day I saw a lady frantically looking for her teenage son and I told her he was 3 or 4 streets down. Apparently she had no idea the ocean has currents. Go figure?

 

Everytime I'm on the beach with my family, I'm playing with my kids. And everytime other kids latch on and start playing with us. I always have to ask them where their parents are. They always point to people that are oblivious to where their kids are. I wouldn't call myself or my wife a satellite parent. We are just spending time with the kids and keeping an eye out. And once they get organized I can take a step back and let all the kids play. But I'm still watching. I'm still being mindful.

At the beach or any type of water area, you seriously can not take your eyes off them for a second. I had two kids in the pool last week. One is a toddler in my arms the other is 5 and can swim fairly well. I try to keep myself between him and the deep end just in case but he can be in water deeper than he can stand as long as I'm there. My baby was getting jumpy so I walked over to the side to give her to mom and let the boy get behind me for like a second. He started tiring out and sinking in water only a foot over his head. He couldn't call for help because every time he tried he was going under. He didn't panic, he got himself to the side but he had a scare and let me know about it. Not two minutes later he was doing cannonballs again but it can go bad fast.

It was my fault and I was lucky. It can happen that fast even when you think you're on it.

When you're on the beach with the little ones that's their time. don't bring a book, don't get drunk.
Be with your kids. Dig a hole. Make a sand castle. Play in the tide pools and push them into waves.
That stuff is super fun anyway and when you do that alone as an adult its a little weird.

Off my soap box now. Unattentive parents at the beach burns my biscuits.

 

Totally agree. Glad all is well for you and yours. Those young ones can give you the slip!

 

Exactly Peajay, rcarter, et al...definite difference w/ being watchful and a satellite.


I guess I feel so strongly b/c my Mom did exactly all that for me. I have some very early memories in the water thanks to her, and the countless hours she'd haul us around to find surf. I've pushed my niece (9-10 at the time) into some shorey barrels, she got worked and came up laughing hysterically. Golden moments.

 

Seldom's mom retired to Miami and is now living with Bea, Betty, and Blanche. Nice ladies.

 

I started surfing at 9, I would go out in the boat by myself( or with a friend) since 12. If you have a life jacket on surfing you'll get beat up by waves alot more being stuck on the top with them in the white water and if you fall or your board gets away from you you have alot higher chance of getting hit by it ( possibly in the head) if you fall and you're stuck floating on top the water with a life jacket instead of going under till the board passes or stops flying through the air. When I first started surfing at 9 my dad or uncle would be with me in the water till I was soon comfortable by myself.

 

Peajay is 100%. Keep a watch on em. Take your gopro and take photos of them, while they are little.

My folks wanted me to never surf; "You'll put your eye out!" I had to hide my first board in the bushes next to Haunted House where we surfed. Maybe I should have told them I would wear safety goggles.

Life jackets are a must for kids when they are on a boat, kayak, etc. Betty had it right, get that kid doing laps, also have him dive for coins in the deep end. No need for a lifejacket for a kid who can swim, but yes, be mindful and vigilant while they are out there.

Maybe get a diamond tip (if the board has a pointy nose), and soft edged fins for safety when they are learning.