Water confidence classes for 3mo - know any in SW London?

[LKM]

My dd is 3 months old now and I am planning to go back to work when she is 4 months. I would like her to gain some water confidence but need to find a class that either takes a 3mo (my local pool only takes babes from 6 months) or has Saturday classes which I can start her at in 3 months time. Can anyone advise a pool in central/SW London that might be able to help?

[SoupDragon]

Aquatots run courses in Putney. More to follow, I've fallen foul of the "multiple links" problem again...

[SoupDragon]

This one Little Dippers have courses in Wimbledon (used to do Clapham as well)

[SoupDragon]

And finally, the last one I can think of off the top of my head is Aquababies who do Wimbledon, Fulham, Battersea, Kensingtom, Queens Park...

I've used Little Dippers and Aquatots and thoroughly recommend either of them. I've heard good things about Aquababies too.

[SofiaAmes]

I took my ds at around 3 mo. for infant swimming, but I found that it was way too early. He was never afraid of the water and in fact loved pools, bathing, sea etc., but really wasn't ready to learn to "swim." The most useful part of the classes for me was to increase my own confidence in holding my child in deepish (i could still touch) water. The pool at the Gurnell center (west london) has a wonderful "seaside" like edge to it and is always full of mothers with very young babies. (the pool has to be warm enough for under 6 mo.).

[bossykate]

clapham manor pool runs "ducklings" courses from 16 weeks on (i.e. when they have completed the first set of jabs).

HTH.

[SoupDragon]

Any class that claims to be able to teach under 2s to swim is, I think, exaggerating - they lack the co-ordination necessary to kick, paddle and keep their head above water all at once.

The ones I've been to are about water safety and familiarity. They train the babies not to panic should they fall in but kick to the surface, turn back towards what they've just fallen off and hold on until help comes. This can give them vital extra seconds. They also "learn" to take a breath whenever their head is above water.

This is not a quick process - DS2 (16 months) has been going since last September and is just suceeding with the turning bit.

However, for me the main thing was that neither of my sons are afraid of the water. They don't mind being splashed or thrown into the water (with someone to retrieve them ) They are happy and confident in water and DS1 (3 1/2) is now learning to swim by himself, just 2 metres so far but it's a start!

[LKM]

Many thanks Soupdragon and Bossykate - I will do some investigating!