Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

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:

PersianCatLady · 27/02/2018 11:47

I think people gets babies and puppies mixed up when they talk about waiting until they’ve had their “jabs”
No, I did not get confused with dogs.

My advice is incorrect and out of date, it was correct (but a few years ago now)

Raisinbrain · 27/02/2018 11:47

Your baby will hate it - too cold!

Incidentally, warmer pools are worse for bacteria, bugs are super happy at 30ish degrees.

Tinseltower · 27/02/2018 11:47

Help that is very untrue! The closer to body temperature the better conditions for bugs to thrive.

Plipplops · 27/02/2018 11:48

It used to be that the polio vaccine was a ‘live’ vaccine (i.e. it had live virus in it). So if the baby did a poo in the pool there was a chance it would release polio in to the water. It was never about protecting the baby from anything.

Now there are no live vaccines used any more it’s not a problem (although sometimes new parents are incorrectly told to wait by HV as that used to be standard advice some time ago)

NerrSnerr · 27/02/2018 11:49

www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1035.aspx?CategoryID=62&SubCategoryID=63

This is the NHS advice. It's up to you when you feel comfortable. My eldest hated swimming so we left it until she was older (now 3 and loves it). My baby is 10 months and from the second he could smile and laugh that's all he does in the pool. He loves it and always has done.

Mormont · 27/02/2018 11:49

What's the rush? Why take a newborn to a cold pool for at best 10 minutes. Fill the bath and swoosh him around in that.

Plumsofwrath · 27/02/2018 11:51

What’s the hurry?!

On the one hand you’re waiting 6-7weeks post partum to drive on doctor recommendation (can you not make your own assessment?), on the other you’re asking ransoms on the internet if you can take your newborn baby (who at 7 weeks probably won’t have been alive long enough to manifest any meaningful issues, let alone keep eyes open for as long as it takes you to drive to the pool, get you both ready to get in and out of the pool etc) into a public swimming pool (full of god knows what) to learn how to swim! The kid’s just been born! Give him a chance!

Have to say, this is the most extreme example of “starting ‘em early” I’ve ever come across! Relax. There’s a whole LIFETIME ahead of him to learn to swim!

SleepFreeZone · 27/02/2018 11:53

I was always advised to wait till they’ve had their jabs.

SleepFreeZone · 27/02/2018 11:55

Im going to guess this is your first child? I was hugely keen when DS1 was born to get out there are fo every group and sign up for swimming etc. Just calm down. Your baby is tiny and all they want is milk, cuddles and sleep.

Plipplops · 27/02/2018 12:01

One lovely thing to consider about bringing tiny babies swimming is that it’s a really great thing for dads to do with their children. I teach a Sunday class that’s full of dads and it’s really special to be able to watch them with their babies. Especially if babies are bf it’s brilliant to have a thing that’s theirs IYSWIM? Mums tend to go to a lot of groups in the week and swimming is a great opportunity to meet other couples with little babies (so the dads get to meet other dads too which doesn’t seem to happen so often)

rachrach2 · 27/02/2018 12:03

We took our first to lessons with a baby swimming company and they were really fun, started at 3 months. She's been swimming unaided since 2.5. My youngest we started by ourselves at 5 weeks in a 30 degree pool and she wore a neoprene wrap. We just did quick swims when she was so little but she's always enjoyed it and loves going now.

It is quite a lot of hassle though for a quick swim!

help1978 · 27/02/2018 12:06

Hence the reason I said "apparently"!

MimiSunshine · 27/02/2018 12:11

Honestly?!

Just wait. A Newborn will definitely get cold quickly, and won’t get a single thing out of it.

You’ll be in the pool for all of 15 mins before you have to get them out and that’s a lot of faffing for such a short time.

I was super keen to get my daughter in the pool and we take her to one of the paid for classes you mentioned (not a hydrotherapy one, although we could do). We signed her up from 18wks, I really wanted to take her at 12wks, but we’d missed the start of the term so started taking her to the leisure centre while we waited.

From 12wks she could really take notice of the pool and what was going on and by the time she started lessons she was engaging with the instructions etc.
Now when I see 6wk olds in the little baby classes I just have to smile, they’re either falling asleep or crying and the few that aren’t, definitely are doing nothing other than bob up and down.
They’d get more out if being in a bath with their parent.

Lazypuppy · 27/02/2018 12:16

You don't need to wait until after jabs, and just take them to a baby pool. I'm taking my baby at 6 weeks to our local leisure xentre one once my stitches have heeled and doc has signed me off. If i hadn't had to have stitches i'f have taken her around 3 or 4 weeks.

I think the longer you leave it the harder it is, and then theres the worry they can develop a fear of water as it is unknown to them

TrickyD · 27/02/2018 12:20

Our new DGS was taken swimming from when he was a very few weeks old. The bonus was that he wasn't remotely bothered when he had water poured over his head at his christening.

sourpatchkid · 27/02/2018 12:20

I would have said to go for it but having paid for the expensive swimming classes (which actually, sadly I don't really think are offering that much and we have done 7 terms now) the heat makes a massive difference. I've seen several little ones shaking and their lips starting to turn blue (apparently this isn't a huge deal in babies so they tell me but it doesn't look good!)

If you do feel confident maybe enquire at local small pools who hire out privately so you can try it without committing to a full term (ie private pool hire here, £10 for 30 mins. Swimming course £120 for 10 weeks)

But also, there really isn't a rush. There is no difference between then babies that went at 5 weeks and those who went at 15 weeks.

Whowhatwhy · 27/02/2018 12:21

I don't agree lazy. My dd1 certainly didn't go swimming until she was about 12 weeks old. She didn't have formal lessons until she was 7. She now swims for the local swimming club and is in the pool 3 times a week.

kaytee87 · 27/02/2018 12:22

I think the longer you leave it the harder it is, and then theres the worry they can develop a fear of water as it is unknown to them

Why would it be harder? And why on earth would they develop a fear of water? Presumably they're having baths a few times a week? Anyway babies don't develop fears until they're quite a bit older.

kaytee87 · 27/02/2018 12:25

The bonus was that he wasn't remotely bothered when he had water poured over his head at his christening.

My ds didn't bother at all at being christened either at 12wo and he hadn't been swimming yet.

Does no one bath theit babies 😂😂

Whowhatwhy · 27/02/2018 12:37

Must be a bloody extreme christening if you need to practise in a swimming pool first! They don't submerge their entire body! Just a dribble on their head which, if they've ever had a bath, shouldn't be a new experience!

hibbledibble · 27/02/2018 12:55

whowhat I am guessing you have never been to a Christian orthodox christening? They do indeed dunk the whole baby.

halfwitpicker · 27/02/2018 12:56

Total waste of time.

Give him a bath instead. Save £15 and your sanity.

halfwitpicker · 27/02/2018 12:57

Our new DGS was taken swimming from when he was a very few weeks old. The bonus was that he wasn't remotely bothered when he had water poured over his head at his christening.

^^
Yet another reason to be religious.

MrsDilber · 27/02/2018 13:34

I don't like public swimming pools and tiny babies, just think of all those unwashed anuses swishing about in that water 😶

AlishaMary · 27/02/2018 13:40

I can’t think of much I’d rather do less with my tiny precious newborn than submerge it a pool full of chlorinated water and goodness knows what else. I can barely stomach public swimming pools as it is after seeing a blood-stained plaster float past my face one time 🤢

Flip

1 2 3