Design and Features
The Konfidence Jacket is made from a neoprene jacket and a series of internal floats that can be removed as your child becomes more independent in the water.
If features a strong zip and zip guard for comfort and the neck, arms and waist is lined with Lycra to prevent chaffing.
It comes in three child sizes 12 to 16kgs, 17 to 21kgs and 22 to 26kgs and also a larger youth size; and three colours, red, blue and pink.
Performance and Drawbacks
The Konfidence Jacket will hold your child's head at water level, about the same level that your head would be if you were swimming. Unlike other flotation devices the Konfidence Jacket allows your child to swim lengthwise rather float horizontally in the water. The arm holes are nice and wide to allow your child to use their arms freely to paddle and stroke.
As your child gets more confident in the water you can remove the floats to get them used to their own buoyancy and controlling their movements until they are independent. There is a methodology to removing the floats, the instructions are written on the inside of the jacket.
All Konfidence Jackets have a yellow back so they can be seen from a distance; however, these are flotation devices in the same way that arm floaties are, so your child should never be out of your immediate reach.
We started our little toddler tester off in a Konfidence Jacket at the beginning of summer and she went from a pool-fearing child to and enthusiastic jumper-inner in no time. Both mum and toddler felt comfortable with mum supervising from the side of the pool which is a big step for a little person. Our toddler tester wasn’t quite up to the stage of having the floats removed but our tester mum is keen to continue using a Konfidence Jacket next swimming season.
The other thing that was apparent from our testing is that the Konfidence Jacket is very durable. Apart from some fading on the front, the jacket is in perfect condition including the instructions written on the inside of the jacket. It will make it through many swimming seasons so once you’ve finished with it you can pass it on to another child who, in turn, can pass it on to another. Just make sure you don’t lose the floats.
It's important that you choose the right size for your child otherwise the Konfidence Jacket will be too tight for comfort or too loose and ride up their body.
Conclusion
If you want to use a flotation device for your child to build their confidence and encourage them to learn to swim, the Konfidence Jacket is much more effective and comfortable than many other options on the market.
It’s not widely available, you can buy them directly from Konfidence online.
About Konfidence
Konfidence is a UK company who specialise in swimming accessories for toddlers and children. In addition to their jacket they sell wetsuits and a range of other water wear.
