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Original poster

How to take 3 young children swimming?

28 replies

Sunshine1235 · 29/12/2021 21:49

We are going on holiday next month (hopefully) and there is a family pool we would love to use. We have a 1yr old, 4yr old and 5yr old. Due to Covid they haven’t been swimming for 2 years, can’t swim and obviously our 1yr old has never been. It will be me and DH in the pool with them, there doesn’t appear to be a paddling area.

Is this possible? Should I get some swimming aids to help them and make it safer? There are big long steps along the side of the pool so my thought is that I could sit there with my youngest and one of the others while my husband takes it in turns taking the older two out into the pool. Last time we went swimming we didn’t use swimming aids or anything but we could take a child each, obviously this time we can’t do that. Any advice? Or is it just not possible to do safely?

OP posts:

Anordinarymum · 29/12/2021 21:52

Get arm bands for all three and you will be fine. If there are two of you it will be easy. Stop worrying !

ThePug · 29/12/2021 21:53

Armbands for 4 & 5 year olds and either a float vest or sit in float ring thing for the 1 year old (depending how close to 1 /2 they are) would be my suggestion. One of you is still likely to be physically holding the 1yo all the time but you'll know the older two can safely bob about with one adult shepherding them!

Blossomandbee · 29/12/2021 21:57

Check the pool rules, some won't allow a less than 1-1 ratio for under a certain age. I wouldn't risk it if you're unsure you can manage safely. If you do then definitely have armbands or a float jacket

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Hospedia · 29/12/2021 21:58

It's definitely possible to do it safely, I have four DC and managed it when they were small and I had a 1yo, 3yo, 5yo, and 7yo.

Firstly you need to check the ratios at the pool. Some of them insist on children under a certain age having 1:1 supervision in the pool so if that's the case you wouldn't be able to take three DC with two adults.

Presuming you can swim then get them all floats. Put the baby in one of those swim seats, like a big rubber ring with a chair inside it. You only need one hand to push it around which gives you a spare hand. Put the other two DC in swim vests (a zip up vest that floats). One you has the baby, one of you has the 4yo, and you pass the 5yo between you.

Take them in onesies with their swim costumes already underneath to save time changing them. For after swimming, have snacks in your bag. Little ones get hungry after being in the pool. One of you gets out first with the baby, gets dry/dressed and gets the baby dried/dressed then once they're done the rest of you get out, dry/dress a DC each and then the dry adult gives them all a snack while the other adult gets dried and dressed.

FindingMeno · 29/12/2021 21:58

Yes, swimming aids. Armbands and floats or noodles.
It's doable but keep your wits about you and make sure you're close at all times.
I'm assuming it's a lifeguarded pool in which case there's no harm in asking the lifeguard to keep an extra eye out.

sausagerole · 29/12/2021 22:06

@Anordinarymum

Get arm bands for all three and you will be fine. If there are two of you it will be easy. Stop worrying !

OP, you are absolutely right to be asking how to do it safely. This response is dismissive and doesn't pay any attention to the myriad things that need to be considered when taking 3 young children swimming. Please continue exactly as you are, and I hope you have a lovely time!

Pollingbadly · 29/12/2021 22:17

21:53ThePug

That is utterly woeful advice. Arm bands do not prevent drowning and are actively dangerous if believed to keep non swimmers bobbing about. If you don't know what you're talking about don't comment on a thread like this.

trilbydoll · 29/12/2021 22:19

Noodles are the best things. The long foam things. You can wrap them round under their arms and they will bob all the way to France

inheritancetrack · 29/12/2021 22:20

I would get puddle jumpers for the older ones as they stop the face going under and are pretty bombproof. A swim seat for the baby

PieMistee · 29/12/2021 22:24

We have 4. Always know who is looking after which kids, have a sure safe system. Take them the older ones in for the first time one at a time and teach them some rules. Noodles are useful and arm bands but not sure safe.

2319inprogress · 29/12/2021 22:24

For the 4&5 SwimFin - Shark fin type floats are fantastic as they will hold the child vertical if that's what they want but also support them as the lean forward to swim. No worry about them letting go of the float & they have their hands free to propel themselves.

InTheLabyrinth · 29/12/2021 22:47

Please dont use only noodles with non swimmers on that ratio. And forget about armbands.
Have a search for well respected swim aids thst will keep the heads of the oldest 2 out of the water and that they cant let go of!
Have a great holiday!

Ilovechoc12 · 29/12/2021 23:05

Have a single pram to the pool your one yr old isn’t going to last long and can get strapped into the buggy. Plus a snack box. However take loads of dolls or dinosaurs / plastic tea cups / plastic watering cans they can last hrs by the side of the pool in no water.
We always used armbands and small ring (blow up) we never got on with noodles.
could always take an extra pair of hands 🤩
We had 1.2.3.4 year old in a pool x little 2 could only manage 30-40 mins max and had enough that was in a hot country x

Almost2022 · 29/12/2021 23:08

Op are your two eldest girls? I think I have two swimming costumes with built in floats in their sizes from JoJo. Can send if you're in the UK?

RevolvingPivot · 29/12/2021 23:08

How about one has the 4 and 5 year old while the other has the 1 yr old? Instead of both keeping an eye on all 3?

Workinghardeveryday · 29/12/2021 23:24

Arm bands just make them tip forward. I would stay in shallow area at all times, one of those inflatable seat things and chest top with swim aid definitely

Bananarama21 · 29/12/2021 23:30

Im a swimming teacher best aids are the swim vests tbh and baby ring for the 1 year old, noddles are good for swimming but easy for them to let go, if they havent even been swimming before then they dont necessarily know how to stand up right if they are lied flat I would be careful with the shark fin that someone stated above as they alter the byounacy and may struggle getting back up right if they go forward and aren't confident in knowing how to stand up.

Bananarama21 · 29/12/2021 23:32

Also swimming aids are just that aids, somw are better than others however given the ratio i think youll be fine

Rainbowqueeen · 29/12/2021 23:36

First swim just take the older two so you have one on one and see how it goes. Baby in buggy at side of pool.

Definitely both wearing some kind of floatation device, not just something that they hold onto and could let go of.

Stay within arms length at all times.

Depending on how that goes you may need to take baby separately and have the other parent supervising the older two doing another activity. Otherwise try with baby in a water seat.

Even if you have to tag team and can’t all get in the water at the same time, you will still get a lot of enjoyment out if it so don’t let that worry you.

Be really clear with the DC about the rules and repeat each time you go.

Have a great time

Namechangedforspooky · 29/12/2021 23:37

Honesty? After the afternoon I’ve had with 2 semi swimming 3 year olds and 2 primary age competent swimmers between 2 of us I would say it would be exhausting to have them all in the pool together for more than a very short time. You have to have your wits about you all the time and I’ve definitely had situations when only minding 2 when one has gone under and it’s taken a second to realise as it’s so hard to have your eyes in 2 places at once.
I personally would keep one parent on the side and rotate them one by one in the pool with the other parent to teach them then only put them in together for very short periods. I think that would be way less stressful. You definitely can’t just give them a floatation aid and let them ‘bob about’
Just my opinion and I realise I’m going against the grain!

BogRollBOGOF · 29/12/2021 23:38

I used a bouyancy vest on mine when they were toddlers. They're not fool proof and don't replace close supervision but allow a good range of movement. Arm bands are more restrictive and more prone to puncture or slipping off.

Flossie2 · 29/12/2021 23:44

I used to swim with four. They'll love it

immersivereader · 29/12/2021 23:46

Armbands? No. They need proper flotation devices and you need to have eyes in the back of your head. Personally I don't think you should go, the usual ratio is one adult, one small child.

immersivereader · 29/12/2021 23:47

I agree with namechangespooky

jendifer · 29/12/2021 23:54

How much swimming can you get in between now and then? I’m aware lessons might not be possible but one of you taking each child each week will help,

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