To try and take a baby and 3 yr old swimming on my own

[Whirliwig72]

Reality check needed please. Ds1 wants to go swimming - he's 3 and can only really doggy paddle if holding on to me. Also have 8 month old who I'll need to keep hold of. The local pool is shallow enough for ds1 to paddle about in on his own in shallow end but deepens quite quickly. He's quite sensible and I don't think he'd do anything silly like try to jump in out of his depth but you never know. In torn between thinking I'm being a bit paranoid to worry and thinking its a mad and dangerous idea. I'm too tired to be logical today - please tell me what to do!

I did this all the time when mine were small too (22 month age gap). Actually, when they're that little it's not difficult, as you just keep hold of the baby and follow the toddler around. It's harder when they're, say 2.5 and 4.5.

The most difficult bit thought is the logistics of getting everyone changed - especially afterwards without getting cold. I recommend large towelling robes for all three of you, especially yourself.

I did it with dd2 and ds before dd2 went to school and it was fine, just have arm bands on one and float vest on the other. One child under 5 per adult seems a bit excessive, with three children at one point under 5 we couldn't have gone even with dh. We can have 1:2 if in arm bands etc or can swim (though how can learn to swim if always in armbands am not sure). Looking forward to when dd1 turns 8, then I can take all three, and will be fine as two older ones can swim and they are all in their depth!

It is a bit ridiculous to say that you can't monitor 2 DCs in a pool- it is much safer than leaving them as a non swimmer who could drown. It is an essential life skill and the sooner the better.

I spent years as a lifesaver, and I think it's really dangerous for one person to try to supervise a baby and a toddler in a pool.

Presumably neither can swim, so both need constant close supervision.

Things go wrong in water very quickly.

You don't think armbands or lifejackets might help with that then athing

"Presumably neither can swim, so both need constant close supervision"

My eldest could swim well from 2.5 and never used armbands and swims very strongly (lengths). That said, I still watch her closely. Plus the swimming pool only usually has us and perhaps someone else so it's easy to keep an eye on her while holding the baby. Less easy in a public pool. Much easier to lose sight of them there.

Our local pool is one adult per child for under seven or eights due to a death so check the pool rules before you go.

I think that you can closely supervise 2 small non swimmers! It is much more difficult if you are stuck with a baby and your 9year old is swimming underwater in the deep end!

I don't think that people are going to be taking babies and toddlers in the deep end or trying to swim themselves!

Our pool has a 1:1 ratio for under 8's unless they can pass a competency to swim test which is pretty demanding even for my 6 yr old who swims confidently unaided (tread water for 2 mins, swim 3 continuous lengths, pick up object from pool floor etc).

If they let me, I'd feel quite happy taking two the age you have OP with baby in a seat and older one in armbands.

The rule is silly, it was much easier for me to be in the pool with a baby and toddler than my baby and my 9 year old- and safer.

I am off swimming with my toddler this morning, my friend takes her 8month old and toddler, she has baby in a floaty seat, toddler wears ting if out of depth. Pool allows this as it is a toddler session, pool has waves every half hour and flumes, we have a whale of a time, i watch her DD when she takes DS on the flume, it works well as teaches both boys to take turns, when one is riding the oter is waiting with DD. I'm pg with DC2 and intend to continue going with both DCs, but wouldn't go to a normal session as the pool is very popular so gets too crowded when open to the public

I did it lots of times.

Wouldn't have thought twice about doing this. I have often taken two non swimmers to the pool. I have a non-swimmer now who is just getting the confidence to splash about with armbands, not holding on to an adult, and I will be adding a newborn to our twice weekly swim sessions in a couple of months. I have never heard of a pool banning taking your kids in and we use four locally.

The swimming teacher supervises up to eight non swimmers at a time every day. I don't see the difference between this and me supervising two or three non swimmers, one in my arms and one/two with flotation aids where required.

I am totally shocked at the idea of leaving the baby in the carseat at the side of the pool for so many reasons - heat, noise, unfamiliarity, the fact they're not supposed to be in those seats for very long, the obstacle nuisance, and the sheer fact of leaving one child out of a family activity - how can you supervise one baby over there and one toddler over there better than you can one baby in your arms and one toddler in front of you. How do you see to the baby when the baby cries and wants you and you are soaking wet in the pool with a splashing toddler? I find the idea totally bizarre and have never ever seen anyone do it!

Crikey! Just plan it and do it! Floaty seat for baby and get a decent float jacket for the older one. Get two towel dressing gowns and take a separate towel for them to sit on after the swim while they have a little snack and drink as you get dressed. I took 3 under five! Don't go out of depth if not confident until you've been a few times. My best memories of my kids when little are when I took them swimming. Don't miss out, plan it. Be in control and be confident.

Depends what your local pools like really miss coffee. I belong to a gym and the children's pool is very small. We are often the only ones in it, and there's only every a handful of people at the most. It doesn't hurt the baby to sit in the seat for 30 mins, the rules for the car seat are 2 hours max at a time. And you get round the heat by stripping the baby down to their nappy. The baby is close enough to see what's going on, no chance of being splashed due to the small amount of people. So it works out just fine. Its quite common to see a baby in the seat on the side at our pool. The gym generally suggest it to people with new babies. If you're going to a busy public pool then I might think twice, but you've got to decide what works best for you with the environment you have.

I really don't see an issue with this at all. I always took mine, 3 yr old was zooming around in float suit or arm bands and hold onto baby. Then when I had 3rd, 5 yr old could swim, 3 yr old in float suit / arm bands and hold baby. Now at 7, 5 and 3 I don't even go in most of the time, 7 & 5 can swim, 3 yr old has arm bands, I sit by side of pool and read magazine (in my swimming costume in case quick rescue required). Semi private pool situation though, so not as if lots of crowds and I can keep a close eye on them.

Not allowed in our local pools, so our 3 won't be going swimming any time soon.

I've done it with a 2yr old and a 4yr old, both non-swimmers.

I took the easy option of going as soon as they open on a Sunday (8am) so we had the pool all to ourselves for 20 mins. Personally I wouldn't do it when the pool was busy as I worry too much, but a normal person probably could.