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Original poster

Toddler wetsuits

22 replies

AddressLabel · 08/03/2020 21:15

Not quite sure where's best to post so thought I'd try chat.
My 17 month old gets too cold in his swimming lessons. He's visibly cold (his teeth literally chatter). All the other babies/toddlers seem fine. His strawberry birthmark literally turns purple sometimes. He has a Splash About Warm in One but this doesn't make much difference, it's also size 12-24 months and is getting a bit tight.
I was thinking about getting him a cold weather wetsuit. Has anyone tried one for a toddler and if so any recommendations? I don't know how much of a trauma it would be to put on and take a wetsuit off with a toddler. I've always struggled to try and get mine off when I've gone surfing, but I'm a fat bitch with no flexibility (you shoud see me try and "pop up" on a surfboard, it's hilarious).

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 08/03/2020 21:17

I think if the splash about one isn't helping you might struggle to find one that does.

We had a pop in baby cosy suit, that is fleece lined and seemed warm. I'd look at a bigger size though as DS2 only got to wear his literally once as he was too big for it well before the age range.

BertieBotts · 08/03/2020 21:19

Just seen they have a toddler one which is full arms and legs:

www.closeparent.com/shop-now/bath-and-swim/pop-in-toddler-snug-suit-new

BertieBotts · 08/03/2020 21:26

The Warm in One looks very similar, though.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

1 year olds Behaviour & development Clothing Families
Windyatthebeach · 08/03/2020 21:29

We got one from Aldi last year for a fiver!

Original poster
AddressLabel · 08/03/2020 21:31

Yeah, the warm in one is short on the arm on him (not sure if it's supposed to be full length) and the legs are 3/4 on him as well. Not sure if it's supposed to be like that, he's quite tall for his age. A full length one might be better, certainly on the arms.

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Pascha · 08/03/2020 21:37

We used ones from 2BareFeet which had a neoprene body and legs and lycra arms like this until they were about 3.5yo and grew out of the need for it indoors. They were great.

Original poster
AddressLabel · 08/03/2020 22:43

Right, I've ordered a Squadron Spring Baby Wetsuit from Two Bare Feet, it has long arms and short legs, so hopefully this will be better. Should arrive in time for next weeks lesson.

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YesThatsATurdOnTheRug · 08/03/2020 22:53

What's the pool temp like ? I've found public pools vary massively in temperature and just don't take my ds to some as he's pretty skinny and gets cold quickly.

Original poster
AddressLabel · 09/03/2020 09:07

What's the pool temp like ? I've found public pools vary massively in temperature and just don't take my ds to some as he's pretty skinny and gets cold quickly.

It's a public swimming pool and I find the temperature quite cold compared to the last pool we used. We had to change provider when I went back to work. The last pool was private and they used to put the temperature up a degree for the lessons, which was better but he still got cold, but no where near as obvious.

OP posts:
crustycrab · 09/03/2020 09:37

Easy answer is that swimming lessons are completely pointless for a 1 year old. Send him when he's 4 or 5 and save yourself the money and hassle

BertieBotts · 09/03/2020 09:54

Presumably she's already paid for the run so there's not much value in stopping!

Original poster
AddressLabel · 09/03/2020 10:32

Easy answer is that swimming lessons are completely pointless for a 1 year old. Send him when he's 4 or 5 and save yourself the money and hassle

Well, you might think they are pointless (yes I know babies/toddlers can't learn to swim), but he enjoys the lessons and it gives him water confidence. He loves running along the big float and jumping in the pool, dosn't mind doing short underwater glides and can hold onto the side etc. Unlike my nephew who didn't step into a swimming pool until he was nearly 4 and screamed his head off whilst clinging to my sister like a limpet. It took several visits to get him to stop screaming.

OP posts:
crustycrab · 09/03/2020 11:00

You can get water confidence and have fun by taking him swimming, without the lesson element. Then he doesn't need to stand on the side shivering!

I know kids that screamed even though they'd had plenty of time in the water, I've known kids that didn't despite never going in before.

Comparison is the thief of joy and all that Wink

Pascha · 09/03/2020 11:53

Every baby and toddler swimming class I've ever attended has had mums (dads/grans) in the water and moving about for the whole duration. I've never sat shivering on the side and neither did my children.

Both my boys benefited from the group classes and, crucially, so did I! The structured regular weekly half hour amongst the same group who became friends of a sort was immensely good for our wellbeing.

Original poster
AddressLabel · 09/03/2020 12:38

**You can get water confidence and have fun by taking him swimming, without the lesson element. Then he doesn't need to stand on the side shivering!

I know kids that screamed even though they'd had plenty of time in the water, I've known kids that didn't despite never going in before

Comparison is the thief of joy and all that wink**

He doesn’t stand on the side shivering, he shivers in the pool. So he’d be shivering regardless.
Anyway I often take him on my own outside of term time when there are no scheduled lessons. I much prefer the lessons and feel less of a dick singing songs and blowing bubbles when in a group. My son also enjoys seeing his little friends and I enjoy the social side of it as well.

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CroissantsAtDawn · 09/03/2020 12:44

My nearly 6 year old still turns blue in swimming pools Sad

He adores swimming and water but there are so many times we've gone (as a family) that he ends up getting out after 20 minutes and sitting on the side wrapped in 2 dressing gowns.

It's very frustrating.

The only time I've seen him really happy and we had to drag him out after 90 minutes, was when the water was as hot as bath water and they rest of us were feeling ill from the heat!

Original poster
AddressLabel · 10/03/2020 09:29

Oooof, I can see my son being like this at 6 as well. Full length wetsuits seem he way to go when he's older. Just seems to be mainly shortie ones for toddlers unless you want to break the bank.
Another poster mentioned Aldi so I'm going to keep my eyes peeled in future.

OP posts:
troppibambini · 10/03/2020 09:49

I find that the suits make mine colder, the wet cold fabric on their skin makes them turn blue.
They aren't proper wetsuits though so maybe they would be better.
Sorry if it's a stupid question but have you tried him in just shorts/trunks?

NotGenerationAlpha · 10/03/2020 10:01

When mine were young, we went to water babies and they are in hydrotherapy pools so it's very warm. Now DC2 is 5 and she's still cold in the public pools. She's got a thermal rash vest and also a shorty wet suit from two bare feet www.twobarefeet.co.uk/wetsuits/accessories/rash-vests/two-bare-feet-kids-thermal-rash-vest-long-sleeve-black.html

You need to try to have two layers, not just the polythene wetsuit.

CroissantsAtDawn · 10/03/2020 13:11

That thermal vest looks great. will look at getting one for my DS.

In the summer we'll be buying him a proper wetsuit to play in the sea!

Original poster
AddressLabel · 10/03/2020 15:40

I tried an all in one normal swimsuit for him we were given when he grew out of his first warm in one. In the other pool he was fine with it, but in the pool we are in now after the first lesson even the instructor said he needed a different one. So I got another warm in one. I think I will put the normal swimsuit under this new wet suit I've ordered and see how he is.

OP posts:
LeSquigh · 10/03/2020 16:19

Decathlon sell good but cheap kids wetsuits.

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