Media
Buoyant babies - The Age - mpg
November 2003
Necessity is the mother of invention, as the saying goes. And so it was for Melbourne's Caroline Hume (right), who has developed a range of buoyancy swimwear following her frustration at being unable to find a suitable product in Australia for her baby daughter.
Inspired by several years living in Europe, where buoyancy aides are widely available for toddlers and babies, Caroline has spent the past 18 months adapting the concept for Australian conditions.
This has involved sourcing durable, chlorine-resistant lycra fabric from Italy with 50-plus UV protection from the harsh Australian sun, and ensuring that the design of the all-in-one swimsuits - which contain a moulded polyethylene insert - allow plenty of arm movement.
"Many of the European products are skimpy and don't provide Australian children with enough sun protection," says Caroline, who worked as a primary school teacher before the arrival of her daughters Isabella, 4, and Eva, 18 months.
"Australian children also tend to stay in their bathers all day long, so the suits have to be both durable and comfortable."
Another consideration was safety. Unlike some overseas-made buoyancy products sold in Australia, Caroline's range - sold under the Cuddlefish label - has been manufactured in accordance with the Australian Standards for buoyancy and flotation devices.
Caroline stresses that the range is not designed to be a lifesaving device - a message made clear on the labels.
"It's about assisting buoyancy and water confidence," she says, adding that most kids "go like a rocket in the suits once they learn how to kick their legs."
The Cuddlefish range - of buoyancy products and also ordinary swimsuits - is available in four sizes for two - to six-year-olds. The buoyancy swimsuits retail about $76 and are stocked at quality boutiques around Australia.
