Wetsuits for babies - necessary?

[SoLongAsItsHealthy]

Thinking of taking my baby swimming in a few weeks time. He'll be about 5 months by then. I have checked the place we're going to and they say the water is 30 degrees (7 cooler than I make his bath - yes, I am PFB!). Don't laugh at me... but would a baby wetsuit be a good idea, especially as it's his first time?

Did you use them? Any makes you'd suggest?

Thanks.

[Habbibu]

The konfidence babywarma things are good - keep them toasty warm and add a bit more buoyancy. Buy second-hand, if you can, as they grow out of them quickly.

[stripeyknickersspottysocks]

He'll be fine without. DD went swimming for the first time at 4 weeks and our local pool is about 29 or 30. She loved it.

[Bodenbabe]

I second the Babywarma wetsuits - I would definitely use one. You can get them on eBay...

[Thing1Thing2]

Se will be fine without - but you can stay longer in the pool if she has one.

Without - I would not stay in the pool longer than 10 mins.

[MrsMc82]

DS has been swimming since was 8wks ish and goes in trunks/swim nappy thing and we usually stay half an hour to 40mins and he's fine

[savoycabbage]

My DD wears one because she is so skinny she can't seem to moderate her body temperature without it. She is 3.5 years and we live in Australia.

She takes it off for her swimming lesson and she is blue by the end of it. She is always the same no matter which pool she goes too. She doesn't need it in the sea though.

[nobiggy]

Mine had wetsuits for lessons (half hour), the lesson was a waste of time if they were cold and grumpy.

If you're going to make a regular thing of it I'd invest in one.

Also a neoprene swim nappy. Not for warmth, for poo. Because you're not going to be lucky every time.

[BornToFolk]

I've never used one with DS and I've taken him swimming since he was 4 months old. However, he's always been a big lad so he has his own insulation! I never kept him in for more than 30 mins though.

[ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave]

DD had a SplashAbout BabyWrap over a Happy Nappy. It wass very helpful for warmth.

[EthelredOnAGoodDay]

My DD just wears a costume with a built in nappy. She has gone swimming from being about 20 weeks and her lesson lasts 30 mins and we tend to stay in for a bit afterwards.
Hope your DS loves it!

[Revelry]

DD never had one and was fine in an open air pool! What I did find though was that she needed to go straight into a towel when she got out of the pool (indoors and outdoors) as that's when she did get cold. I used to use a hooded towel and as she got bigger a hooded, towelling dressing gown.

[SoLongAsItsHealthy]

Thank everyone, think I'll get one, just to be sure. We're going to a wedding next month and staying in a nice hotel so I thought we'd give him his first dip in the hotel pool. He starts Waterbabies classes in September but I'm desperate to see him splashing about sooner than that as he loves his bath and I think he'll be a happy little fish in there!

Is it more exciting for us than them?