When did you first take your DC swimming?

[bikerunski]

My DS is nearly 7 weeks old and 10 lbs. I am keen to take him to the water ducklings classes at local baths. One lifeguard told me that it's ok to bring them from 4 weeks, another said 6 months and health visitor said 4 weeks too.

I also guess he needs to be big enough to fit a swim nappy too.

I have been a good swimmer all me life, DH can't swim. I would like DS to gain confidence in the water as soon as poss. I have expressed interest in private water confidence lessons in private pool starting in December, but was wondering if it is worthing trying ds in local baths first. Concerned that it might be too cold (water is kept at 28 degrees and not warmed up for ducklings sessions) and too big and echoey?

[RubyShivers]

he won't get water confidence at 7 weeks but he may well enjoy it

i didn't take DS until he was around 21 months

if you do take him, then take him to a baby pool where the water will be warmer

[RubberDuck]

Ds1 around 4 months I think. Ds2 at 4 YEARS!

Both love the water now though, so hasn't seemed to have done much harm

[2point4kids]

Both mine about 5 months, they both love the water

[Reallytired]

6 months. However bear in mind that babies get cold quickly. I think 7 weeks is a bit young.

[mylittlescarypumpkin]

We went at 7 weeks, DD was prob 6-7lb maybe? Only in for a bit and in a baby pool. She is a water baby now. Personally I think lessons are a waste of money, just go and enjoy and be.

[cuttingmeownthroatdibblaaaargh]

I took DS when he was about 10 weeks. A baby wetsuit will keep him warm.

Personally, I wouldn't bother about lessons - just get in the habit of going swimming together and having fun

[MrsMattie]

After he'd had all his injections, I think - so about 3/4 mths. He loved it straight away

[Surfermum]

Dd's first dip was at 13 weeks in an open air pool in Cornwall! She loved it.

I was a club swimmer and didn't bother with any lessons for dd. I took one look a the lessons, thought I can do all that stuff myself and didn't bother - we just went on our own. She did great, got very confident just from us messing about and was swimming without aids by the time she was 3.

A baby pool is better, never mind them getting cold, it's freezing for us. I found that dd was fine in any temperature water (even the Thames!) but it was when she got out that she got cold. I always took a towelling hooded dressing gown to wrap her in as soon as we got out.

[MiaMamma]

4 months i think, after all her injections.

[LilianGish]

DD (pfb) as soon as she'd had her injections, ds at about 18months - and I felt as if I'd climbed Everest taking them both (dd was three-and-a-half by that time). I just took them to the local baths.

[curlywurlycremeegg]

DD was about 12 weeks, DS2 6 weeks. I would second the wetsuit, I found DD was always fine despite being a skinny minnie, yet chunky DS2 got cold and fed up very quickly.

[bikerunski]

Wetsuit is a good idea. Would love to take him to a baby pool, but our swimming baths doesn't have one. Just an old Victorian pool. We are a bit in the sticks.

[bigTillyMint]

6 weeks - like you I was a swimmer, but DH not. 9/7 years on, they are great swimmers(much better than me) and DH can do a few lengths too!

[AussieLou]

I have to agree with MLSP, lessons at that age are usless (I used to teach). Let the little ones get used to being in water and floating. The earlier you take them the better. Seven weeks is fine as long as you are comfortable with it. I know most bubs start at around 4 months for lessons. The water wont hurt, the worst thing you have to worry about is the escaping pebbles from the nappy floating down the pool!
But definately find a baby pool with warm water and have fun!!

[bikerunski]

Hi AussieLou, MLSP and SurferMum - I was a club swimmer too, in my youth. When I said confidence I guess I really meant familiarity, I don't expect him to be doing lengths just yet (DH has suggested that I need a little raft to take him along, like a swimmer's bike trailer!)! I am interested in the sessions at the private pool, as our local baths are 1 - cold (I feel it unless I am storming lengths at quite some speed) 2 - Very chlorinated (I always get very red eyes unless I wear goggles, and a snotty nose) and 3 - quite big/noisy/echoey.

I am considering the private pool less for the instruction, and more because it is warm, small and not so heavily chlorinated (or at least they use something less stingy). I just want him to get used to having fun in the water and then graduate to the local public baths when he is a bit bigger and I am used to taking him (DH refuses to come and even stand in the shallow end to help me).

[tortoiseshellWasMusicaYearsAgo]

I took mine between 2 and 4 months. They loved it. Don't worry about lessons etc, and re getting cold - just watch them, if they look cold then they've had enough.

[RaggedRobin]

ds: slow to start (about 6 months) but he loves it now
dd: 10 weeks - she has a great time.

[bikerunski]

I found a public pool in another town that has a baby pool and a parent & baby drop in session on Thursday morninGS. We went this morning and really enjoyed it , but really need to get ds a wee wetsuit.

[wasabipeanut]

We took ds at about 3 months and he loved it from the off. Would echo comments that you should just go and have fun rather than do lessons. Ds still loves the water and we just have a laugh as a family going to local baths and an open air paddling pool when it was warm in the summer. Will prob think about lessons in the Spring when ds is about 18 mo.

My friends sister apparently took her ds from a few weeks, persisted despite the fact that he hated it and he now not only hates swimming but also his bath.

[christywhisty]

Took them both from when they had all their injections. DS started baby lessons at 12 months and DD 6 months.
The lessons are lovely and fun filled and it was the nicest time I had with them when they were little. Lots of nursery rhymes, gaining water confidence and water safety , ie getting them to automatical turn to the side when they jumped in, so if they fall in they would do the same.
They are 11 and 13 now and still go to regular lesson. DS is doing lifesaving and thoroughly enjoying himself.

[christywhisty]

Took them both from when they had all their injections. DS started baby lessons at 12 months and DD 6 months.
The lessons are lovely and fun filled and it was the nicest time I had with them when they were little. Lots of nursery rhymes, gaining water confidence and water safety , ie getting them to automatical turn to the side when they jumped in, so if they fall in they would do the same.
They are 11 and 13 now and still go to regular lesson. DS is doing lifesaving and thoroughly enjoying himself.

[beckynbump]

7 weeks for my dd. Pool a little cool so 10mins at the start. She went blue very quickly so used a baby wesuit wich meant her body temp always stayed warm despite having blue hands.

[pamelat]

I did DD at 8 weeks and she has always loved water, although she also has a bath every night! She is nearly 10 months now and we go swimming every week.