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AIBU?

To let go of dd in the swimming pool?

20 replies

HerrenaHarridan · 21/06/2013 23:44

I am scared to go swimming now, the last 2 times I took dd we were on holiday so different pool and my mum was there.

Kiddie pool was between 1ft and 3 ft deep. Dd was fighting for me to let go of her. She's 16mo and we go swinging sporadically and she usually clings on or dear life.

Because it was so shallow I warned her I was going to let go, then did name, ready, go (as I have taught her to hold her breath to this, google uswim it's not dragon butter) then I let go.

She dropped under the water, flailed around a bit and then I panicked and grabbed her.

Now she just does not want to be held. It's a bigger, deeper pool. Just me and her an I'm terrified of going again.

For the sake of completeness I should add that's she has a floating seat thing and will go in and out of this but still does above. We also do the belly float thing for her to practise the motions but she just tries to her away

So what the fuck do I do... Let go and somehow force myself not to grab her while she magically floats to the surface and breathes (or gets a lung full of water and dies)

Cling on to a screaming child (in an echoing swimming pool)

Not take her swimming until she olds enough to have lessons with out me (half joking)

Please tell me there's another way?!?

OP posts:

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curlew · 21/06/2013 23:48

Arm bands.
Sorted.

Fairyegg · 21/06/2013 23:54

Armbands, swim jacket, woggle? I'm failing to see the problem here.

Startail · 21/06/2013 23:57

Arm bands definitely.

Mind you DD2 would try and take them off and jump in before she could swim.

I let her once, she didn't seem greatly fussed about going under.

She always had to go right at the back of baby and toddler swimming because she had absolutely no fear of water and happily splashed about scaring the babies.

MagratGarlik · 22/06/2013 00:01

Don't go down the armbands route. I am a strong swimmer now,but was terrified of water till 10 yo because I wouldn't let go of my armbands. I knew how to swim, I was just scared.

DS1 never had armbands, floats, woggles or goggles. Once he realised that if he didn't fight against the water, he floated, he has developed into a great little swimmer.

curlew · 22/06/2013 00:04

Disagree. I have two confident capable swimmers. Both started off in arm bands because they could be in the water it hour being held. Easier and more fun for all concerned- especially me.

babyhmummy01 · 22/06/2013 00:10

Arm band or those floating life jacket thingys

HerrenaHarridan · 22/06/2013 00:10

Definitely not armbands!
Apart from anything else her tiny arms are too skinny.

I'm not keen on the way they make you arms float but your body sink like a star.

I did see some kind of swimming costume with padding round it that I thought might be floats but the kid in it was so swamped they could have easily slid through a leg hole!

OP posts:

HerrenaHarridan · 22/06/2013 00:12

Oops sorry.

Is that what you mean? Is it called a life jacket? Even though it looks like a lumpy swimming costume?

Off to check amazon

OP posts:

MagicHouse · 22/06/2013 00:14

swim jackets are great for little ones (as long as you are close - as they can still "tip up")

I think you just carry on feeling confident in saying that you won't let her go as she can't swim yet! Small children are often determined to get their way - and sometimes it can feel easier to give in - but on this occasion - you are allowed to refuse if it's just you and her and you're not being supported by a trained baby swim teacher. My little boy is a daredevil in the water and thinks he can swim on his own - he's pretty stubborn a lot of the time - but this is one time that I very determinedly tell him that no, he cannot swim on his own! I do let him float around in his swim jacket though!

(I guess what I'm saying is go for the screaming child option!)

curlew · 22/06/2013 00:14

Have you actually tried arm bands? Honestly, they are fine. You don't sink- but they make it possible for you to experiment with swimming movements. Give it a try before you buy anything expensive.

MagicHouse · 22/06/2013 00:15

www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9267246.htm

Fairyegg · 22/06/2013 00:16

eBay have loads of 'baby swim jackets' for sale. These were great when little, from around the age of 2 dd just used a woggle ( but she's very convinent in the water).

Waimea · 22/06/2013 00:17

Check out the speedo jackets
They are made out of a material similar to neoprene so not as bulky as those ones with the floats in

But I'm not sure they sell them in the uk
Got ds's in US and had to order another one online and it came from US

sugarandspite · 22/06/2013 00:23

We've used floatsuits for all our boys when they were independent toddlers desperate to explore on their own in the pool but needed a bit if bouyancy.

www.konfidence.co.uk/acatalog/Floatsuits.html

I couldn't recommend them enough. You can gradually remove the floats so they learn they have to swim to stay afloat and it lets them swim horizontally easier than they can with armbands.

sugarandspite · 22/06/2013 00:26

They're also brilliant for wearing if they are pottering around on the beach / near a pool. Of course you'd be supervising but its nice to know if they do hurl themselves unexpectedly into the water, you can haul them out without the terrifying 'baby-underwater-hair-floating-up-looking-like-they're-drowning' moment

BackforGood · 22/06/2013 00:27

You do know you can get different sized armbands, don't you ?
They do a great job.

MagicHouse · 22/06/2013 00:30

www.amazon.co.uk/Zoggs-Kids-Zoggy-Back-Float/dp/B003891RMA?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21
These are good too

MaryMotherOfCheeses · 22/06/2013 00:30

If you're prepared to let go of your child sans armbands, you can manage to do it in some kind of float aid, even if you think they don't fit perfectly.

Keep an eye on her but give her the freedom she's after. You'll still be watching her every move.

cornyblend37 · 22/06/2013 00:45

you can buy the swimming foam rings which are better than arm bands.
All the professional swimming teachers use them.
Have a look online
I started my ds's with 2(or maybe 3?) on each arm and then took one off when they were confident and so on.

yummumto3girls · 22/06/2013 00:56

Sorry but you are making this way more complicated than it needs to be. Just put some arm bands on her, she will love it, you won't need to worry about her drowning, job done. She's too small for the swim jackets as she is not heavy enough, it will make her flip up flat on her face. As she gets older you can use woggles etc but right now it sounds like she needs her independence and you need her to be safe.

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