Taking baby swimming?

[NewMum54321]

Hi all, DS is 8 weeks old and I want to take him swimming. The pool says non swimmers need to be wearing a floatation device. Do these exist for babies this small? Can’t find much online? He’s about 5.75kg if that helps!

Any other useful advice?

Thank you xx

I do water babies with my boy. They're expensive. However, maybe take a trial lesson for your first time in the water l? That way you've got the confidence of having a teacher/lifeguard there guiding you and they only use a warm pool.

Take 2 towels, one to wrap baby in immediately out pool then another once dried off to lie baby on and get them ready

Have a bottle of milk ready to go when you get out

Buy a 'happy nappy'. It's a diaper shape swimming nappy that seals round the waist and legs. Prevents any mishaps that could happen with just disposable one - our classes won't let babies swim without one

Take your car seat in the changing room to put baby snug in it whilst you get dressed if you can

Relax! We took E when he was 4 weeks old! And he did an underwater swim and all. Their natural instincts in water are amazing. He's now 7 months and the happiest in water.

Good luck!

PS a floatation device could be a little sit in swim ring, but 8 weeks is quite little for even one of those... I can't remember if E sat in one that small

Oh thank you! Some of these tips are great ☺️ I’m taking DH with me the first time so he can help with getting ready afterwards.

So did your LO not have any form of flotation device? It seems a bit daft for a baby this small, and I’m thinking maybe the rules apply to toddlers who won’t be in parents arms the whole time...

...no idea how I’ll get ready when/if I do take him on his own, he bloody hates his car seat! He will have to deal with it though, I can’t drive home in my swimming costume 😂

They usually have changing tables you can put them on, so you wouldn't need to put him in the car seat. I wouldn't even bring the seat in because where will it go when you're swimming??
When I used to go by myself I would get baby changed and then put them on the change table while i changed myself.

I don't think you need a float device for such a little one but you can get swimsuits/wetsuits with foam boots attached to help them float.

My pool has change tables in the larger family rooms. My to love swimming, we go every week from being so small.

There were two babies in the pool on our last visit on with a baby float but he barley spent time in it, one without and he was just held by his parents.

One was doing a relaxing trip to the pool the other was doing some routine l had not seen before. Our pool has a notice up about babies and pre schoolers and underwater swimming (l just can’t think of the word!!)).

I was always able to just hold my babies, and in the swimming classes we did (signed up at about 5m) it was just parent holding the baby. The pool's idea being that aids such as arm bands affect the way you can move in the water.

I don't know about sizes, but the most popular floats tend to be a boyancy jacket or seat float.

Give the pool a ring to check as pool guidelines do vary.

Thanks all. I think I’m going to need to call them indeed. Their website has a guide to floatation devices and it says those little chairs are not acceptable. But armbands really don’t seem to exist for babies, and I think SudowoodoVoodo may be right about them hindering their movement.

We have armbands for under 1s, bought them at our local swimming pool. They look huge on him lol.

You don’t need a floatation device with a tiny baby as you just hold them all the time.

My DS is 2 and has never worn arm bands or float suits. He now uses a woggle so that I don’t have to hold him.