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21st June 2023
09:27am BST
However, experts now believe they're causing children to develop poor swimming habits.
Rishona Hyman, the owner of Aqua Essence Swim Academy, told Today's Parents that the device automatically puts the child in an upright position, also referred to as the drowning position.
She explained the danger of this: "Kids will build muscle memory from being vertical and this is a very scary situation. If they forget to put [the puddle jumper] on or they fall in, they will revert to this position as it is all they know and then tragedy can strike."
Experts shared that the device also hasn't been tested as rigorously as normal life jackets or armbands.
Pamela Fuselli added: “I wouldn’t classify them necessarily as a toy, but they haven’t undergone the same kind of rigorous testing and they’re not made of the same material as a life jacket or a PFD.”
Water safety is more important than ever, especially after the harrowing number of drownings that happened in Ireland this summer.
Experts have urged parents to be extra cautious when spending time in the sea, lakes, or pool.
"Children and parents have been without swimming lessons for fifteen months now and there is a danger that they will overestimate their ability and underestimate the risks, such as rip currents, and swimming in unsafe areas as they try to avoid crowds when social distancing," says Roger Sweeney, Deputy CEO of Water Safety Ireland.
"People should make every effort to swim at lifeguarded waterways, all listed at www.watersafety.ie and never use inflatable toys in open water as children can be blown out of their depth by the gentlest breeze," he advised.
A swimming expert added that wearing a life jacket is something parents must normalise.
"Noodles, Inflatables, baby circles, tubes, and all other items are not safety-related and should not be used or trusted to keep your child safe," she warned.
"We see countless videos of kids who flip over in an inflatable ring, can't right themselves and are stuck underwater upside down, or are in arm floaties and can't get their head out of the water because their arms aren't strong enough, or who lose purchase of a kickboard they were holding onto for floatation. Even in a lifejacket, you need to diligently and constantly supervise, as children can get in positions that can still obstruct their airway, especially if they are younger or weaker."
Click here for more water safety tips.
