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AIBU?

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Original poster

would you take a 8 week old swimming with siblings

28 replies

ghostspirit · 13/06/2015 12:49

hi i wanted to take the children swimming. there would be me 8 week old 4 year old and 8 year old. in small pool. the 8 year old does his own thing. the 4 year old needs arm bands or ring. shes confident in the water and wants to do her own thing. but shes not old or capible enough to do her own thing in the pool. so im trying to get her to stay reasonably close to me/i follow every where she gos. for the baby i wanted to get a swim ring with the seat part but im not sure if they do them for an 8 week old.

another thing. my kids and neighbours and what ever friends happen to be about all play in garden. can be 8-10 kids. then there is a boy who lives the other side to me. i see him out in back garden on his own and does not seem to have any one to play with. should i suggest that the kids ask him if he wants to play?

OP posts:
fiveacres · 13/06/2015 12:51

No, and I think you might be on dodgy ground with the management as well, although different pools have different rules.

Yes.

QueenofLouisiana · 13/06/2015 12:53

If the baby has had all the relevant injections and a swim nappy I can't see why you can't take him/ her swimming. Just make sure the pool is warm enough and be prepared for a short visit!

And yes, it would be lovely if they asked the other child to play!

WorraLiberty · 13/06/2015 12:54

I'm not sure the pool will allow it.

I can't fathom why you're asking about the child nextdoor? It's obviously a no brainer so I assume you posted to early/left some information out?

HereIAm20 · 13/06/2015 12:55

The pool may have rules about adult to child ratios for different ages but in theory I would say get the baby swimming as early as possible but without a ring to start and merely supporting under arms and chin. There is a special way to hold newborns in the pool.

Yes - definitely ask the parents/carer of the child next door if the boy would like to join in (rather than just the child).

SeenSheen · 13/06/2015 12:58

Why not but you realise that you will not be able to stay for very long in the water?
Perhaps take a large towel for when baby's had enough and sit on the side with it so that the others can stay for a bit longer.

MakeItRain · 13/06/2015 13:00

I don't know if a public pool would allow a big swim seat. I think at 8 weeks and 4 your youngest two are too young just to have one adult supervising. Most pools will allow an eight year old to swim alone though, and will ask for one adult for two children younger than that, so technically you'd probably be within the rules. I just know that I had to have eyes like a hawk when my children were 4 and non swimmers and I would not have been confident I could properly supervise if I also had a tiny baby.

As for the boy, asking him to play would be a very kind thing to do, especially if you're happy in general with having children over. As long as you're confident it's a safe place for 10+ children to play.

ohdearitshappeningtome · 13/06/2015 13:00

I think swimming ratios mean u can't take the 4 year old and the baby. It's a good idea to take baby swimming early but be prepared only to stay in the pool only around 10-15 mins. Not sure how your other kids would like that. Plus a swimming seat wouldn't be appropriate as baby can't support themselves in it by being able to sit up and hold neck

gatorgolf · 13/06/2015 13:01

We took my ds swimming from 6 weeks but about 10 to 15 mins only at first. You'd be fine to get out and sit on side and watch 8 year old but I think you'd have to be in pool with 4 year old. Would be difficult to do on your own

Original poster
ghostspirit · 13/06/2015 13:02

allowed 2 children under 8. so my 8 year old is ok. i was thinking about baby swing ring so that although i would still be holding him. it would take some weight of so my arms done hurt

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 13/06/2015 13:03

Perhaps take a large towel for when baby's had enough and sit on the side with it so that the others can stay for a bit longer.

Adults have to remain in the pool with non swimmers.

Chottie · 13/06/2015 13:04

no.

Artandco · 13/06/2015 13:09

I think it's fine. I take my two fine alone and have done since Tiny. There is a years gap and both under 8.

What I would do is take car seat to pool side with towel lined in for baby, and extra to wrap them in. Then if baby gets cold you can put them in car seat so you can stay in pool another 10 mins with 4 year old. Keep 4 year old in shallow end with bands so you can walk and easily help her even if she can't reach the bottom.
I would just hold baby though as those seats aren't supportive enough imo.

When I had ds2 8 weeks I used to just hold him, but had him in a wet suit thing so easy to hold without slippy and kept him warmer
www.splashabout.com/baby-swimwear. Ds1 would have been 16 months and in a swim floating vest

Original poster
ghostspirit · 13/06/2015 13:11

when i done some googling it said 30 mins in pool. still dont think kids would be impressed though :/ seat rings are allowed but only seem to get them from 6 months old. wonder if theres anything simlar probably not. babys dont have to wait for their injections before they can go in a pool. but yeah it might be a bit of a madness trying to do it on my own

OP posts:
ThreeFrazzledFandangos · 13/06/2015 13:14

At 8 weeks DS only lasted 10 minutes before his teeth started chattering.

I think it's a nice idea but you'll probably end up paying a lot of money for not very long and having a very annoyed 4yo when you have to drag her out early.

Original poster
ghostspirit · 13/06/2015 13:19

*artandco they look ace thank you :)

OP posts:
Original poster
ghostspirit · 13/06/2015 13:21

three it would only cost me 3.50 as kids swim for free. im hoping we could stay in a little longer if i can warm swim suit not sure how they work though

OP posts:
PannaDoll · 13/06/2015 13:21

Of course! As long as the pool was warm enough. My baby started swimming lessons at 8 weeks. They love the water at that age.

The pool needs to be warmer than than usual though as their body temperatures drop rapidly.

PannaDoll · 13/06/2015 13:23

Also, if there is a shallow end you can stand up in. Sling the 8 week old and splash about with the other two.

Original poster
ghostspirit · 13/06/2015 13:27

i did wonder about a sling in the pool but also was not sure.

OP posts:
ThreeFrazzledFandangos · 13/06/2015 14:27

Ah okay. Here you'd pay for the 4yo (only about £1) and then £3 for 8yo and £3.70 for you.

Kvetch15 · 13/06/2015 14:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
ghostspirit · 13/06/2015 15:10

three we are very lucky here. all kids under 16 swim free as long as they have a libary card. so cheap couple of hours out. and my 12 year old can go on with mates ect very handy.

vetch it would be 2 children. as the 3rd is 8 and allowed unsupervised.

i was going to say i have been in the pool with more than 3 children...but i have not maybe it just felt that way haha.

OP posts:
littlejohnnydory · 13/06/2015 20:27

At our local pools it's 2 children under 5 per adult in the training pool so you'd be ok ratio wise. I've used a water sling for tiny babies and a wetsuit to keep them warm. Still don't stay in as long as the big ones would like though.

Twistedheartache · 13/06/2015 20:33

I haven't taken my 4 yo & 7 month old together yet because 4 yo is a bit crazy & wants to stay in way longer than the baby would cope with.
Am planning to do outside pool so that baby can sleep in the tent over the summer though

Babiecakes11 · 16/06/2015 22:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.