1-year old swimming cossie - how does it work?

[cornflakes5]

I'm planning to take my 15-month old to swimming classes at the local leisure centre. She's a non-walker, not sure if relevant.

My question is: what does she wear? I know she needs to wear a swim nappy and a nappy cover, but does she then need an actual swimsuit on top? DD is not the easiest baby, so I'd like to minimise the amount of stuff I've to put on and take off her.

Also, is it better to go for a normal swimsuit, or a wetsuit type long-sleeved number?

Thank you!

At that age mine just wore a nappy and nappy cover. I didn't bother with a costume until she was out of nappies.
Depending on the water temp you might want to consider something to keep her a bit warmer, you can get a wrap which is easier to wrestle on than a wetsuit

Taken my dd since she was 6 weeks old, she wears wet suit type thingi and swimming nappy. She loves swimming nearly 8 months now. Enjoy it!

Definitely depends on the water temperature. The baby pool at our leisure centre is like a bath so a nappy would be enough but the main pool is quite cool so costume needed. Wetsuits are hard to get on and off. We use a high necked swimming costume which covers up to DDs knees and has long sleeves. About £12 from Amazon

Just get a rash vest to keep her top half a bit warmer. Easy to find long-sleeved ones that go on over the head, but I once had one that fully zipped up at the front which was brilliant for a wriggly toddler. Also, get a much bigger size than you think you need - easier to get on and off when wet!

Thanks all! I was definitely thinking bigger size anyway, to get more use out of it. So DD is 11kg (chunky!) and 15 months, so do you reckon 2-3 years would be ok?

When I said wetsuit, I meant rash vest - as in long-sleeved top made from swimsuit material. Sounds like that might be needed if the pool is a bit chilly.

Would you guys recommend we do classes, or just splash around?

Lessons or splash around kind of depends on you and what you want. I like lessons because it is sociable for me, I get ideas of games to play in water and you are led through a session (I get bored quickly when we go on our own), it can help your confidence if you're nervous with them in water, and it motivates me to get out and do all the getting changed faff (because I've paid!). If none of the above applies, then you'll probably be fine just splashing about! It won't make a difference to her swimming at age 4 if she has done lessons or just gone with you at 15months.

The long sleeve type that are just swim suit material won't keep her any warmer. Try something like this....

www.amazon.co.uk/Swimbubs-Swimming-Toddler-Warmsuit-Swimsuit/dp/B07RL8Z3GH/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?smid=A2OWDX5Z3HO7OR&psc=1&s=gateway&keywords=baby+swimming+wrap&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1563796361&sr=8-1-spons

@StopMakingATitOfUrselfNPissOff ah thank you for that clarification! I had no idea rash vests didn't keep you warm! I was going to get a rash vest set from JoJo's but might just get that one you linked instead.

You need a neoprene suit of some kind to keep her warm if the pool is cooler. I use one of these at our leisure centre www.splashabout.com/baby-swimming/baby-toddler-wetsuits/happy-nappytm-wetsuit.html keeps him nice and warm. It has a built in swim nappy so you want a disposable swim nappy then this over the top. It's pretty easy to get them in and out of because of the zip. Our swimming lessons are at a much warmer hydropool so he just wears the neoprene nappy there.

Kids grow out of them very quickly, have a look on eBay

As above, anything that's swimsuit material won't keep her warm, you need neoprene for that. We've always used the Splashabout fleece-lined wetsuits, but DD has always been a bit of a shiverer in the pool. Plenty of babies in her class just wore the nappies and were fine, although public pools are likely to be a bit cooler.

Could always get her just in the nappies the first time and see how you get on? If she's fine then you'll save some money! Other thing to consider though is that we found DD a bit tricky to grip without anything on her top (only did this once, on the one occasion I trusted DH to pack her bag and he forgot her swimsuit 🙄).

Rash vests are for sun protection, rather than warmth. Useful for the paddling pool on a hot day :)

I used a neoprene swim suit on top of the swim nappy as my two both tended to get cold in the pool.