swim wear?

[babymumma1]

Hi all! I'm taking my dd (5 months) swimming next week and was looking at mothercare online for a swimming costume when I came across a 'baby warmer' it does kinda look like a swimming costume but I'm wondering if I would put a costume on her underneath this regardless or just put her in this? Also any other tips to keep your little one warm whilst swimming? I have checked pool temperature is in baby guild lines she just hates being cold and I'm nervous she'll not like it at all if she's the slightest bit cold but it's a risk I'm willing to take any suggestions? Thanks in advance


..I've posted this a few places because wasn't getting a reply

[babymumma1]

Anyone?

[IwillrunIwillfly]

I can only speak from friends with young babies but I'd say you need a swimming costume on her too. I know you can get knew that are almost like mini wet suits that I think keep them warmer? Be prepared for the first time to not be in the water very long, if she doesn't like it no point staying in for too long! But go back regularly and let her get used to it! Hopefully she'll be loving it in no time. My friend also found it helped to have a towel at the side of the pool so you can get them wrapped up cosy right away when you do get out.

[Thebookswereherfriends]

If you buy a baby wetsuit then you really only need that and a swim nappy. I would definitely recommend a baby wetsuit as the water will feel quite cold to your baby.

[babymumma1]

Thankyou both

[BexusSugarush]

We put our 3 month old in a baby warmer with a disposable swim nappy underneath and although it didn't last her very long or keep her very warm, it DID make her more buoyant in the water.

At 5 months old she was wearing a sunsuit (swimsuit material but covers whole body) and that was a bit better than a baby warmer. Kept her warm, although didn't last long and her chunky legs meant the poppers around the nappy area kept coming undone. That was with a disposable nappy underneath.

Now she's 6 months we'll probably just buy a swim costume for her, as pool temperatures in baby pools can't be too cold and as long as you keep them under the water and don't stay in for TOO long it shouldn't bother them too much. We make sure her baths aren't too hot so she's used to cooler water, and she's been in a swimming pool with her whole upper body uncovered and didn't care.

Basically, a disposable swim nappy is a must, then some sort of material ontop to keep that in place (as the water WILL loosen it) but at 5 months I doubt the temperature of the water will bother your baby too much, if they're a good weight. Be more concerned about the fact they will outgrow what you buy them extremely quickly so price is worth considering.

Happy swimming!

[tigersinamess]

I teach baby swimming. Wouldn't recommend a baby warmer unless your baby is actually cold (keep an eye out for limbs and lips going blue) - it can give a false sense of buoyancy (fine in a little one but some parents get dependant on them even when the child is older). A great part of swimming is the skin on skin contact you can have with your child, so we (and all other respectable swim schools) would insist on a disposable or reusable under nappy and a neoprene over nappy - these are the best. Disposable swim nappies on their own are pretty rubbish at catching poo and the neoprene ones do a much better job. You wouldn't need an additional swimming costume, although some parents put their kids in them as they're cute.

As PP has said, keep her low in the water, keep her moving and don't stay in too long (half an hour or so?). If you take her and feel she's cold you could consider baby swimming lessons, they are quite often in hydrotherapy pools so then temperature isn't an issue.

[MozzchopsThirty]

A baby warmer FFS

Listen to yourself!

How did we all grow up without one?

[PacificDogwod]

Well.
IME wrestling 3 and 4 year olds in to wetsuits is a nightmare and they hated it DS2 now 12 still hates neoprene of any kind. I cannot imagine stuffing a lovely pudgy 5 month old in one.

Take your baby swimming if she enjoys it.
Don't do it if she doesn't like it.
Try again after a month.
And repeat until it is fun for everybody involved.

A 'baby warmer' is a bit PFB tbh

[tigersinamess]

They can be a great idea for the odd baby who really feels the cold (I watched a lesson the other day where a baby was really shivering, we put him in a suit, it warmed his core and he was fine for the rest of the lesson), but for the majority are totally unnecessary. Incidentally the UV type sun suits offer absolutely no protection from the cold, but they're great if you have a baby with eczema as you can cover them in cream and then actually hold them without them slipping everywhere...otherwise pointless imo.