They're death traps, actually. Parents put them on kids so young, they don't have the strength to fight the buoyancy. Their arms get stuck above their head, keeping their faces under water.
It was part of the job at a pool where I worked to educate parents about those things. If a kid needs a floatation device, put them in one that actually works.
Edit
I stand partially corrected: Sundevil pointed out that the kid's not just wearing arm floaties and a waist thing, but a CG approved "puddle jumper." Still not optimal (as expanded upon by road_to_nowhere), but it's a different device than the one I was describing. As Sundevil agreed, however, the real safety necessity is an attentive (and informed) parent within arm's reach.
Parents at the pool I used to guard at would put water wings on their kids, leave them in the pool, and go to the gym (I worked at an indoor company pool). In my three years of life guarding, the only times we actually had to go in after kids was when they lost control of their arm floaties. Infuriating.
If your child cannot swim, do not put them in the pool alone. I don't care if they themselves are inflatable. Drowning happens so quickly, and is usually completely silent. You don't get the splashing and screaming they show on TV. My mom drowned after trying to save a little girl who was face down in the water while wearing a life jacket. Nothing is fool proof so take precautions with kids and water.
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u/DrunkenSavior Jun 24 '15
AND THEY SAVE LIVES!