Swimming - advice needed

[AdviceNeeded22222]

For the last couple of months, I have been taking my daughter swimming at the local pool - whilst she splashes around I have managed a few lengths in the pool - it is 0.8 metres deep. I am a reasonable swimmer, I wouldn't say I was strong, but I can do a reasonable breast stroke/front crawl.
I'd really like to start going twice a week in the mornings before starting work and wondering if I should just continue using the small pool to build myself up or go into the lane swim and just swim half way and back again - I am a bit scared of the deep end of the larger pool but want to build up my confidence and strength. I feel amazing after I've swam and usually aching but in a good way.
Just wanting some advice on how to start building up my strength - I feel like if I use the small pool (which is predominantly for kids) without my daughter I might look a little bit odd ! 😂

Id do halfway and back a few times in a quite lane or pick a lane that’s at one side so if you want to stop you can hold onto the side for a mo.

Or go to another pool that is more shallow all over til you get confident.

Just be mindful of those who are swimming full lengths and don’t get in the way, as it’s very frustrating to have someone not following the same processes as everyone else in the pool…

Are there slow lanes in lane swimming? If you can't do a length or you are very slow, you block the other swimmers.

It could be worth investing in a few 1:1 adult lessons. My mum did this and it absolutely transformed her confidence in the water and she only had 3 lessons.

This is what I was thinking re the lanes, I know there is lane swim etiquette and I don't want to get on anyone's nerves!

Pick the slowest lane and preferably a lane near the wall and try not to get in anyone's way.

When you're ready to do a full length, what about starting at the deep end so that you are swimming towards the shallow end as you get more tired not ending up out of your depth. Do that a few times until you know a full length is ok.

Enjoy! Swimming is great exercise

Really don't go in lanes if you can't swim lengths. It would be horribly unreasonable. Often lane sessions have have half the pool without lanes so that you can swim and chat or tien round half way. Ask at the pool if that's the case. It sounds like you could benefit from one or two swimming lessons to build your confidence (no shame, I swim loads with a coach and still get individual lessons every few years to tidy up my technique)

Check the pool timetable, ours sometimes have lanes, and sometimes have a session called ‘just swim’ where they don’t have the lane marker ropes out and you could swim widths across the shallow end if you wanted.