Swimming pool advice with toddler

[gollyimholly]

Hello all!

I've signed my two year old up for swimming lessons and we start next week. I will also be starting my own lessons next week. Other than school swimming lessons when I was a child, I've never really been to the pool and so I wanted to ask about common etiquette and especially if there's anything I can do to make life easy going with my toddler.

For example, can I leave a towel and sandals in a bag for my toddler by the pool before we go in?

Should I get a swimming cap for my two year old? She has a big mop of curly shoulder length hair.

I've ordered happy nappy swimming nappies - if she does poop while we are in the pool, what is protocol? Leave the lesson immediately?

When you finish in the pool, do you both shower together or go home for showers? I'm a bit stressed about this really as I wonder how I'll juggle two year old plus carrying all our bits to and from the showers eg. soap, towel etc.

Sorry if this all sounds ridiculous, I don't want to unprepared or miss out something really obvious.

Thank you in advance x

Edit to add my list of things I've bought in prep:

• swimming costumes for the both of us
• waterproof sandals for the both of us
• towelling poncho for DD
• waterproof bag to put wet clothes in for after the the pool

We've done swimming lessons for around 18 months, now 2.5y old toddler. We just get out, rinse off in shower, get her costume off then wrap in towel. I find taking a towel to the pool just means it gets soaked by the costume. I don't do a full shower just rinse then bath in the evening. Most places have a double nappy protocol if they aren't potty trained.. ie a huggies swim nappy then a happy nappy on top. If they poo you need to get out. I cannot imagine a toddler tolerating a swim cap but I've never seen a toddler wear one

My biggest tip for swimming is bring snacks. Get her costume off, wrap in towel, give snacks. Get you dressed, then get her dressed.

Our pool didn't demand the double nappy thing so ask your pool what they want before you buy.

I only started showering her when she started pre school lessons which is when I wasn't in the pool with her any more.

As PP said snacks to keep occupied while getting changed!

I also bought a wearable towel for me and I chuck it on when we get out so I can sort her out first!!

My daughter has loads of hair too but wouldn’t tolerate a cap so I just take 20p to give it a bit of a blast off with a hairdryer before leaving but its never got too wet!

I wear my costume under my clothes though to save a bit of faffing when we get there!!

If you can get her to wear a swimming cap go for it. Saves wet hair especially in winter. May take some encouragement.
If they pooh you take them out change and return.

Most pools I have been to don't allow bags/towels on the side of pool (exception being club swimming gala/point score/visiting team) most have lockers you can use.

My routine was get out have a quick rise. Child stripped towel on. Me in towel (as PP mentioned costumes soak towels) got child dry - used this time to develop dressing oneself with mine also - them me dry. Shower/bath that evening.

I hope you both have a lovely time OP

I took 2 small towels for toddler, one to wrap them in straight away and keep them warm and one to actually dry them. I used to dry and dress toddler first as they would inevitably pee after being out of the pool for a little while and swim nappies don't absorb wee so it would go all over the cubical if I didn't have a proper nappy on by then. Might just be my toddler though 😆

Have you got goggles for both of you? May not be needed but mine preferred them and can practice in the bath with them. Agree with snacks and a drink for afterwards. For you wear costumes under clothes (&remember to take underwear) and get DD dressed when you are there. We put everything in locker and nothing to poolside just rinse off in shower, get stuff into a cubicle, undress and wrap in towels, give snacks and they'll be distracted whilst you dress then get them dressed. The thought of doing it all is worse than actually doing it I find. I think it's such an important thing for children to do, hope you both have fun

Just back from our first session. Really really appreciated everyone's advice here. Thank you so much.

Thank you @Loveshine and @JollyHostess101 and @Tea10sugars for the snack tip. It worked a treat. Although can you believe I was so stressed about DD complaining of the cold that I forgot to give her the raisins until I saw another mum give her toddler food.

Thank you @Purplerain1144 and @MrsRL for the nappy tips. Thankfully DD did all her pooping pre swimming!

I bought goggles but in the end didn't really need them @Tea10sugarsbut can imagine we will as things progress a bit.

I do have another question which I wonder if you might know the answer to. I noticed almost all the toddlers wore full sleeve and full trouser wetsuit type swimming costumes or half sleeve/shorts swimming costumes - does anyone know the reason for it? x

I chose one like this because it keeps them warmer in the pool and prevents them from getting burnt on the beach.

We always used sun protection swimwear for lessons too. It keeps them warmer, and the child is easier to grab in an emergency. And it gets them into the habit of wearing them for when they swim outside.

The wetsuits - our local pool is chilly and toddler would end up shivering, so anything to help keep them warm, depends on your pool though