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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Swimming with newborn?

73 replies

ScurfyTwiglet · 27/02/2018 11:20

I'm really eager to take my son (3 weeks) swimming as soon as possible, probably in another 3-4 weeks time as that's when I'll be able to drive again after c-section. I've been looking into classes like waterbabies, puddleducks etc and they all seem REALLY expensive, working out at about £14-15 per session, and they're all in special hydrotherapy pools that are kept at 30 degrees or above etc. AIBU to think I can just take my baby to a normal swimming pool?

OP posts:

Idontdowindows · 27/02/2018 11:22

Yeah, go on, dump a newborn in a cold pool....

NerrSnerr · 27/02/2018 11:22

I have always just gone in the normal swimming pool with both mine. I use these costumes www.splashabout.com/baby-swimming/baby-wetsuits-wraps/warm-in-one-1-1.html they're expensive but sell well on eBay.

gamerchick · 27/02/2018 11:22

I wouldn’t, they’re too cold for newborns. Tiny babies lose heat really fast. Unless times have moved on from my wee one days and you can get special suits.

help1978 · 27/02/2018 11:22

It's not advisable go take a baby to an unheated pool before their jabs ......

ItWentInMyEye · 27/02/2018 11:22

I only ever took mine to the normal local leisure centre! The baby pool is warmer than the bigger ones anyway. Advice used to be wait until after their first jabs but I'm not sure these days

Makingworkwork · 27/02/2018 11:22

Seriously, my advice to myself in this situation would be to waiting until they are older.

You can get baby wet suits but they must be tight on the skin so they are a nightmare to get on. I would imagine without the baby would only manage 10 minutes in the pool.

Just have a bath together instead.

If you are very keen I am sure someone who enjoyed taking a little one swimming will be along soon.

Makingworkwork · 27/02/2018 11:23

The advice is to wait until their tummy button has healed before swimming.

NoNoCharlieRascal · 27/02/2018 11:24

We did. I checked the temperature in the training pool at it was 28°.

Ds was in a baby wetsuit wrap and we only did about 15 minutes at a time. Towels on the side to wrap him in, got him washed and dressed quickly and gave him a feed in the changing rooms. He's 8 months now, goes weekly and loves it.

NerrSnerr · 27/02/2018 11:24

It's not advisable go take a baby to an unheated pool before their jabs ......

What has the heat of the pool got to do with jabs?

welshweasel · 27/02/2018 11:25

Yes, you can take your baby to a normal pool. Until they are 3 months old I would stick to pools that have a warm baby pool (30-32 degrees) and you may find a neoprene wrap handy for keeping baby warm.

We’ve done water babies since DS was v small though. It is expensive but it forces you to go every week and does teach them water safety v early on. It’s the only group we pay for and personally I think it’s worthwhile.

welshweasel · 27/02/2018 11:26

And you don’t need to wait until they’ve had their jabs. You can go swimming straight after birth if you want.

hibbledibble · 27/02/2018 11:26

You can go to a public pool if there have a warm kids pool. Lots of leisure centres do much cheaper baby classes.

Get baby a wetsuit like konfidence to help keep them warm too.

help1978 · 27/02/2018 11:30

Nerrsnerr the hotter the water the less bugs (apparently)!

Whowhatwhy · 27/02/2018 11:31

I waited until after jabs too. I have no idea why- it just seemed like the right thing to do. I also stuck to warmer pools and very short sessions. Be mindful that it's bloody cold at the moment too so make sure you wrap him up well when you come out.

There's no rush for these things though. He doesn't need to be swimming so young. There's no harm in waiting a few more weeks so that the weather is better and he's a little older.

Plipplops · 27/02/2018 11:32

I work for one of the companies you mentioned. Under 12 weeks or 12lbs a baby should only be in a pool over 30 degrees with the air temp the same or higher.

No need to wait for jabs at all these days.

The reason good lessons are expensive (although I can only speak for the company I work for) is that the teachers are incredibly well trained, and the programmes are completely up to date with current best practise in the industry. It takes 300 hours of training plus constant ongoing assessment to become a teacher, and our technical team work with the largest international swimming association to ensure everything we do in our classes is absolutely the best, most progressive and safest thing you can do with your baby in the water. You can absolutely take a baby swimming on your own (part of the focus of our lessons is to give you the confidence to take your baby swimming independently and safely as we want you to swim with them for the rest of their lives), but sometimes it’s hard to know what to do in the water, and how you can teach your child to be safe as well as progressing them to independent swimming as early as possible (maybe not so relevant for a 3 week old!!!).

If the classes are too expensive then it’s way better to take them on your own than not at all, but if you’re going to the local pool I’d advise waiting until they’re over 6 months, and getting a BabyWarma wetsuit..

Orangedaisy · 27/02/2018 11:35

I took DD1 to waterbabies from 6 weeks in nice warm hydrotherapy pool. DD2 came with us to learner pool at local pool from 5 weeks (in a baby wetsuit). DD2 is doing lessons at local authority pool (warmish) for about a third of the price of waterbabies and I can't say there's a real difference. Advice re waiting until after jabs is outdated.

Olga81 · 27/02/2018 11:35

Even children's pools are too cool for me if I'm stood around rather than swimming, a tiny baby isn't going to be doing any physical activity to keep them warm.

greendale17 · 27/02/2018 11:38

Ridiculous- why the big rush? Where I live there are no pools heated above 25 degrees

Confusedbeetle · 27/02/2018 11:41

I really woulnt. Babies lose heat really quickly. The water is full of urine, skin cells and all sorts of rubbish, Worse than that full of chemicals. A child this age needs feeding, cuddling, loving, talking and sleeping.Maybe nappy changing also. There is no benefit for the baby

PersianCatLady · 27/02/2018 11:44

I thought that the recommendation was that babies had to have had their 2, 3 and 4 month vaccinations before going into a public swimming pool.

AlishaMary · 27/02/2018 11:45

I think people gets babies and puppies mixed up when they talk about waiting until they’ve had their “jabs”

Confusedbeetle · 27/02/2018 11:46

The reason lots of people wait until after the jabs is not because of the illnesses (although people used to think you got polio from the baths) but more importantly after three months babies have more fat on them and can withstand more cold, and that the immune system has developed more so they can cope with minor infections better. Before this you are taking risks that in my opinion are not worth it. It is a fad. I wouldnt want that water in my baby's ears, throat etc

PersianCatLady · 27/02/2018 11:46

SORRY
I apologise my comment above is out of date apparently.

There is no need for babies to be vaccinated before going swimming.

kaytee87 · 27/02/2018 11:47

Most pools (even baby pools) aren't warm enough if the baby is under 12lbs or younger than 12 weeks old.
If I were you I'd use this sleepy newborn time to go to Mum & baby cinema

AlishaMary · 27/02/2018 11:47

Scroll down to the bottom www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/myths-truths-kids-vaccines/

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