Swimming with a toddler

Or just drive to the other pool? 30 mins isn't that long.

I used to go to baby swimming lessons with my DGD at about age 2 (until Covid put paid to it!). The water was about waist height on me so of course none of the children could reach the bottom. The activities varied between using pool noodles, floats etc to play different games. One game was for the child to hold onto a float and then put various floatable toys on it and then we had to go across the pool trying not to let the toys fall off (a bit like an egg and spoon race). The adults were holding onto the children at all times pretty much. We also played blowing bubbles to encourage them to put their face in the water. There are probably plenty of games you could play if you give it some thought and it isn't that hard to hold onto the child all the time as the buoyancy of the water takes some of their weight. DGD is now 8 and can swim better than me.

Get him a wetsuit wetsuit

and some float discs Float Discs

and a pool noodle

The point of taking him swimming now is for him to get used to the water and be confident in it, putting his head under etc. With the right floatation, he should be able to be a bit independent, although obvs don’t let him out of your sight.

A deep pool is an advantage. In my experience kids don’t learn to swim if they can touch the bottom.

It's 24/7 supervision no matter what

Arm bands, noodles etc are not foolproof when it comes to toddlers

Yes, but he can support his own neck surely?

You sound like you don't want to go, so don't. My little one goes to swimming lessons and loves it. They start with armbands and then progress to noodles etc. It's slow but steady progress and I don't have to swim!

FWIW, neither of my children (3 and 6) have ever swum in a pool they can touch the bottom in, and both have swum weekly since babies. Oldest could swim from 4, the youngest currently uses a pool noodle. The key is encouraging them to kick, paddle, put face in, learn to hold the side, climb out etc. Water confidence and water safety.

This, except my dc are now adults, in their 20s, and are all strong swimmers. Being able to touch the bottom doesn't help them learn to swim or float.

Try not to let him hold on to you - you hold him. Keep him moving through the water and encourage him to reach forward with his arms and kick his legs. Front and back.

One of my DC's teachers used to get them to make up silly sandwich names when they reached their hands forward and make a sandwich shape (one hand on top of the other) - they loved that.

They really don't need to be able to stand in the water till you need them to be more independent - he is little enough for that yet.

Good luck! It won't be cold out forever and you are helping him develop an invaluable skill.

The Splash About Warm In One wetsuit is good when it is cold, I dont know what size they go up to!

Is there anywhere else that does lessons? Then you can practice at the pool on your own what you do in the lessons.

My toddler is 15 months, at his lessons he is always held by an adult with no arm bands on. He mostly picks things up and places them elsewhere, you could try with something that floats like a ball from a ball pool? He also lies on his back in the water to get confident with the water going in his ears. He "jumps" in and goes underwater sometimes. They encourage him to blow bubbles in the water, splash, kick his legs and reach for objects. He also knows how to move safely around the edge of the pool moving his hands along the side and he can climb out alone, just in case he ever needs to. Just in case any of that gives you some ideas of what to do.

Use a wetsuit to help keep them warm. I don’t think you’ve said how old your child is, but in most pools, if they are a toddler, they are likely to start to get cold after 30mins or so (and yes, you will too). The wetsuit will buy you a bit more time. Private lessons often take place in private/hydrotherapy pools which tend to be warmer, so if cost isn’t a barrier, that is an option.

Armbands are not recommended for swimming.

FWIW, neither of my children (3 and 6) have ever swum in a pool they can touch the bottom in, and both have swum weekly since babies. Oldest could swim from 4, the youngest currently uses a pool noodle. The key is encouraging them to kick, paddle, put face in, learn to hold the side, climb out etc. Water confidence and water safety.

I joined a gym with a pool when DS was that age as 1)the water temperature was warmer and 2) there was unrestricted access to pool time during the day when his sister was at school (and all the public pools were used for schools lessons).
Although the water was still too deep for a toddler, there were graduated steps down rather than ladder type steps.
We were told not to use armbands so used a mixture of a pool noodle and a float vest with removable floats.

My approach to swimming with my DC was to go somewhere that was warm that I would enjoy being in the water. I think people overthink it all a bit, but that is just my opinion.

When they are toddlers you can't take your eye or hands off them really, so just having some fun in the water together whether they are in arm bands, swim vest, a ring or nothing at all is a lovely thing to do and gets them comfortable being in the water and get used to the whole routine of going to a pool. We'd just splash around, practice a bit of kicking or holding on to the edge and turning to me or just have some fun and not really do anything structured.

If it is going to be chilly, unpleasant or a massive faff, or its not your thing, then don't bother.

You sound like you just don’t want to take your toddler swimming so… don’t? Find another hobby and leave the swimming for when he’s older?

This 👆👆

You might be surprised. If I take DD (3.5) swimming at the public pool she will happily do 45mins-1hr. But her swimming lesson she is knackered after 30mins, they work them hard. Plus everyone else is getting out so they just get used to it.
It’s expensive but best money we spend, DD loves it and it’s an important skill. At 3.5 she can float for a few seconds on her back, is very confident jumping in/going under, swims (kicks) well with a noddle and close to doing a tiny bit with no float.

Float vests are great. My little one has been doing water babies since she was small but now swims about very happily in a float vest and loves the independence it gives her. I think the cold / faff of getting changed is just an unavoidable part of going swimming!

@displaynamed DD1 had lessons from when she was a (PFB) baby but DD2 didn’t because of Covid. DD1 was far more water confident than DD2 and I think it was probably as a result of all the pool experience when she was young. However, some baby lessons can be very expensive so while it’s nice I’d imagine taking them yourself would probably be just as effective.

DD2 has also caught up since she started taking lessons.

Wait until better weather and it will all be a little more bearable.

My youngest loves swimming but last few weekends we have been for lessons and she has been in tears after as she is just too cold.

Try not to use arm bands - they are no help in learning to swim and impede movement. Do hold him.
maybe get a baby wetsuit. Do get him proper lessons if you can afford it. If can't afford private then work on building water confidence.