Taking 6 month old swimming - what do we need?

[Rarfy]

Hi

Just as the title says, can anyone help? What do I need for baby and do I need to check anything in particular with the pool? I was just going to ring and ask what temperature it's kept at then I assume I just need a swim nappy? Should I get any blow up things for support?

I know probably sounds really silly but the only people I know who go, go to a private pool and I think due to the temperature they have their babies kitted out in all sorts that I don't think I need if the pool temp is right, 32degrees I think I read?

Lots of pools have a double swim nappy policy, so a disposable then a cloth type happy nappy on top. A swimming costume that covers your baby like a sun suit or better yet one of the velcro wetsuits will keep them warmer and mean you can stay in for more than half an hour or so without them turning blue. It also really helps you to keep hold of them, don't underestimate how slippery they'll be!

Don't forget towels and a change mat and a feed for afterwards. Good luck!

Swim nappy
Floaty boat thing (if you want)
Towel
Snack as they get older.

I used to take my babies dressing gown, or a second fluffy towel so I could dry him off & quickly wrap him in that all snug while I got myself dry. Else you end up shivering while you struggle with poppers etc.

Be aware they might only manage 20 mins or so & will be ready to leave first time, its a sensory explosion for them. Enjoy!

Yes I would second a wee wetsuit type vest, most local pools here wouldn't be as warm as 32 degrees unless it was a specific baby session.
The best tip I got was to lie two towels out in the pram before you swim, then when you get out you can quickly strip baby of wet stuff and lie them in, then wrap both towels over them. It keeps them warm whilst you get yourself dressed (two towels means any accidents shouldn't go through to pram fabric).
Enjoy the swim, it's a lovely thing to do with your wee one.

Thank you everyone lots of things I wouldn't think of there. If you didn't take pram or car seat in with you where would you put baby when changing? Or is one of those essential?

Do disposable nappy and a cloth one as well as maybe a wet suit if the temperatures aren't good? I think we do have a few local baby pools so they might be but if not will get a wetsuit. Never knew would need one of those. Thanks.

I would personally struggle without the pram as I also have my older child so need somewhere safe to put baby.
Some pools have changing tables in the changing room which you could use, though not great if baby is rolling over (fine if there are two of you there so one can hold baby whilst other gets sorted).

I think it will depend on the facilities at your local pool.

Ours has a specific baby change area with a high bench full of changing mats. Babies can happily lie on there while the mum's get changed (no such thing in the men's changing though ) so no need to take a buggy or seat.

I'd give them a call. They'll also let you know if you need a double nappy.

Best purchase I made was a poncho towel for me - meant I could pop it straight on and not get too cold whilst sorting DC out. I preferred to take an adult towel not a baby towel for DC so I could fully bundle them up as they do get cold when you get out.

Second phoning to ask what facilities they have as some pools do have lots in the way of change tables and so on these days.

Swimming nappies, swimsuit or happy nappy for over the top.
Normal nappies for after (I have actually forgotten these before haha!)
Inflatables if you want, we have only used a little boat on holiday, nothing in the UK.
A feed for afterwards, I formula feed so had a bottle ready as the water always makes mine hungry!
Take 2 towels too for baby one to wrap them up in and one to dry them off.
I tend to get baby dried off and dressed first and then quick sort myself, normally you find in family friendly pools a travel cot or playpen, but a quick call to them will conform of you need to take the car seat or pram in.

Enjoy! My little ones love the pool, the baby loves just being bobbed around in the water!

Thank you. Yes she's rolling now so changing table probs not safe. Think carrying in car seat might be easiest then. I worry about things getting stolen, silly I know.

Thank you. Have rang, they have family changing cubicles so hopefully that will help. Do is going to come but just spectate however he is able to come in and help so that's good. Our local pool said they keep the baby pool 30 - 32 degrees. Im not sure if we will need a vest? Is it worth trying without first time then buying if we do need one?

The hardest thing I found was not being able to put the baby down or let go! If there are two of you in the water you can pass the baby between you. A floating swim seat can be quite useful as at least you can control that one handed if necessary.

Our baby change facilities had a change table that you could strap the baby into which stopped them rolling off.

Have something really quick and easy to change them into afterwards.

When DD did baby swimming I had a habby nappy plus a Velcro wetsuit (wrap around one, no arms or legs) for her. She was snug and warm and the wetsuit also meant I had a better grip than just a thin swimsuit.

I never had a floating thing as I wanted her to “learn” to swim, not sit in the water,

For afterwards I had a poncho towel for her to wrap her in straight away, I got a size bigger than her age, far more fabric and lasted longer. Plus another towel which I put on the car seat I kept with me. But it was a private leisure center, not public and we could put them or a prat on a rack with a chain and lock to keep them safe.

I wrapped her up and then changed myself and then her.

No matter how hard I try to travel light for swimming I still end up sweating and stressed with all the crap you have to carry in, all for forty mins max 😂 It is worth it though because I personally found DD loved it so much after initial uncertainty. We did lessons from about 8 weeks old until she was 1, now I know the basics of safe holding etc, may be worth just looking at a lesson or two as I found it really helpful.

Agree with above posters suggestions of what you need, and also maybe a bit of baby shampoo for the showers after? Just because mine always falls asleep on the drive home from swimming so you may want to wash the chlorine off. But that’s personal choice.

Never even thought about showering her off. So glad I started this thread. Sounds like a lot of people use the vests I didn't think I would need one so not sure what to do. Feel free to post links to the type you used. I've picked swim nappies up today so that's one thing off the list.

Search 'baby wrap wetsuit' on Amazon & loads come up at about £10. You really don't need to splash out on anything fancy.

As others have said they're good for getting a firm grip, but not essential in a warm pool. My babies lips did tend to go a bit blue after a while with or without a wrap though!

I got Dd’s swim pants/nappy type thing (the one that holds in everything!) from Sainsbury’s. They wash well from their IME.

Oh god tell me about it, I had no idea what you needed to take/do I thankfully had a SIL who is very organised and knowledgable who’d had a baby 6 months before me, so she told me what I needed. The hooded towel ponchos are really good to just wrap baby up in. If your little one is sitting up there’s no harm in them sitting wrapped up with their bottle on a towel whilst you dry off. You’ll probably find they are absolutely starving and shattered after their first swim! It takes it out of their little legs :) Oh and don’t forget a carrier bag for the wet stuff!

Same here @GroggyLegs DD is 19 months now and still does a max of 40 mins in the water before her lips get a blue tinge.

Poncho towels are great.
Never heard of a ‘two nappy policy’ and been to plenty of pools... I just use a reusable swim nappy and it’s always been fine.
Swim suit obvs
The inflatable baby seats are great to save your arms from holding them constantly.

That’s it really.

Thanks everyone. I've ended up ordering a happy nappy suit. Bit pricey but will save on the disposable swim nappies and dd is only 6 month and this one says till 14 months so should do her a while.

Unfortunately she isn't sitting up alone yet would probs be easier if she was but I think dp being there and not swimming will hopefully make it a bit easier. I will change her and pass her back whilst I get sorted. Thanks.

DS wears a splashabout suit like a wetsuit with arms but no legs in the 31 degree pool we use. We use a Bambino Mio swim nappy (about a fiver in supermarkets) underneath so there is even less chance of poo leakage although he’s never pooed whilst swimming yet! He’s warm enough in that that he can stay in the pool for an hour if he’s having fun.

Most of the changing tables I've seen at swimming pools are curved so babies can't roll out. The pool we went to for lessons didn't have changing tables though so I just used to put her in her changing mat on the floor once she was dressed.

I've never used a wrap. I figured I'd try it first and see what if he needed it before buying. Neither ds has needed one. One started at 4 months and ds2 started at 2 months. Both fine in just a disposable swim nappy and happy nappy

That's the one we've just bought @TinyMystery! I did debate trying without first and quite honestly I don't know how often we will go so could be a complete waste of money but I've ordered it now lol. I just hope she likes it and we find it is easy enough to go just us two then i can try and go weekly.

Please still use a disposable swim nappy under the happy nappy. If baby poops in the pool it will likely leak out the legs of the happy nappy shorts. Think how liquid baby poops can be, and then the pool water will also ahem, help things along.

If that happens they need to close, drain and clean the entire pool!

Agree with @TheLovelyChebbyMcGee that happened to a friend, it was a solid poop that floated out! She was mortified. Every pool I have been to states they must wear the disposable underneath with the swim nappy on top.