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Original poster

Warm swimwear for 6 yr old

27 replies

SwimmingMummy1331 · 10/03/2018 17:31

Posting here for traffic!! ...

DS has just turned 6 and just moved to big and very cold pool! He almost packed it in due to the cold (literally had blue lips for a good 20 minutes after coming out each time!) but then we found a little lightweight wetsuit and he's loving swimming again. He's in the pool at least twice a week so needs to b warm!

Problem is his swim teacher thinks the suits buoyancy is holding him back. I don't want him to be cold again as it'll put him off he one thing he loves. He's a good little swimmer too so I don't want to hold him back or annoy the teacher!

Any idea of WARM swim wear for small thin boys, that is NOT bouyant????

Thank you for any help!

OP posts:
Original poster
SwimmingMummy1331 · 10/03/2018 17:35

Bump

OP posts:
Original poster
SwimmingMummy1331 · 10/03/2018 17:39

Anyone??? There must be some other little 5 or 6 yr olds out there who've been in this situation!!! :) any advice mums/dads????

OP posts:
GreatDuckCookery6211 · 10/03/2018 17:43

I suppose you could get him a body suit type thing but no swimwear is going to keep him warm OP 😅

Have you spoke to management about the temp of the water?

Original poster
SwimmingMummy1331 · 10/03/2018 17:54

Ok! Maybe I used the wrong language! I guess I just mean 'not so cold his lips turn blue' !!! Smile

OP posts:
RandomUsernameHere · 10/03/2018 17:54

Have you tried Decathlon? My DCs are younger than your DS but they have these little shortie wetsuit type things but much thinner, but still warmer than normal swimwear. I'm not sure about the effect on buoyancy though, my DCs wear armbands so it's not an issue. Sorry if that's not much help!

OneEpisode · 10/03/2018 17:57

You could weigh his existing suit down I suppose. That’a what scuba divers do, with a weight belt to adjust for the net buoyancy of their kit. Ask the swim teacher?

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 10/03/2018 17:59

I’d speak to the manager about the temp tbh. If his lips are blue that’s not right. Poor little thing. I’d be tempted to put him back in the wet suit too. Can’t be that bouyant surely?

Original poster
SwimmingMummy1331 · 10/03/2018 18:06

Well GreatDuck, we're keeping him in it for now because it's made a massive difference to his enjoyment of the pool and it's so lovely to see him happy again in the water, he's a real water boy! But the teacher noticed we hadn't heeded advice and mentioned again to me today that we need to ditch the suit! (If there's no non bouyant alternative, I might just keep him in it til the summer! At least if it's warm outside he'll feel happier getting cold! And he'll b a bit bigger then too!)

Management are rubbish!! I doubt they'd adjust the temp of the water. It's fairly known for being cold, even among local adults! But it's been that way for years! I could try though!

OP posts:
Original poster
SwimmingMummy1331 · 10/03/2018 18:08

Wow! I hadn't thought of that oneEpisode! Not sure how weights would impact his strokes! But I'll look into it :)

OP posts:
swivelchair · 10/03/2018 18:11

DS wears a lycra shortie thing from Decathlon like Random suggested.

Pool temperature is so variable isn't it! We switched from one set of lessons because DS1 would come out shivering. Worse than when I was at school and we had an outdoor pool

GummyGoddess · 10/03/2018 18:14

Do you have a link to the one you bought so we can see what buoyancy the teacher means?

Didntcomeheretofuckspiders · 10/03/2018 18:16

To be fair, if it’s a swimming pool rather than a leisure pool, the temp should be between 26 and 29 degrees. That is going to be fairly cold for a small child, especially during lessons where there might be a fair bit of waiting at the end of a lane for example. I don’t know if you’ve ever tried just ‘adjusting the temperature’ of thousands of litres of water for a half an hour lesson, but it’s completely impossible.

Re: wetsuit, the buoyancy shouldn’t effect his performance that much, despite the extra buoyancy, especially not a shortie.

MereDintofPandiculation · 10/03/2018 18:28

To be fair, if it’s a swimming pool rather than a leisure pool, the temp should be between 26 and 29 degrees. Things have changed! When I was learning to swim, the Council learners pool was 21 degrees and the main pool was 19. School pool was outside and was a lot cooler than that.

Frogletmamma · 10/03/2018 18:30

Get him to get a neoprene suit which will keep him warm

martellandginger · 10/03/2018 18:34

Nothing will keep warm in terms of a swimsuit. Maybe a wetsuit?

He’s not swimming if he’s wearing floats. That’s floating.

Pool should be a certain temp do speak to management.

Original poster
SwimmingMummy1331 · 10/03/2018 19:06

Well it's basically this ... www.decathlon.co.uk/100-kids-snorkel-shorty-blue-id_8301698.html

Do you think that's particularly bouyant?

OP posts:
BradleyPooper · 10/03/2018 19:10

Keep him in the suit. I'm a swimming teacher and scuba diver, the difference it will make is negligeble. An overweight kid will be much more buoyant than your ds in a wetsuit, everyone has their own level of buoyancy. It's not forever and if ditching it means he's going to catch cold or not enjoy lessons, it's more important to keep it.

Original poster
SwimmingMummy1331 · 10/03/2018 19:12

Thank you BradleyPooper! You sound like you know what you're talking about! so I'll keep in it!

OP posts:
BradleyPooper · 10/03/2018 19:13

There is nothing else that will keep him warm without adding buoyancy.

Tallia · 10/03/2018 19:23

Have you explained why you’ve put your Ds in the suit to the teacher?I’d ask if they’ve got any suggestions (either of clothing or if they can keep the children moving more if it’s related to lots of time hanging round waiting in the water). If they, the professional, can’t suggest any alternative solutions just stick with what you’re doing, you’ll have shown willing, and like the pp has said it really won’t make that much difference to his swimming!

thanksamillion · 10/03/2018 19:33

We really struggled with this with both younger DCs who are skinny and get cold very quickly. Tbh other than hot drinks before and after it was just a case of them getting bigger and more able to cope. Our pool won't allow wetsuit style suits.

applesandpears56 · 10/03/2018 19:37

We just use a rash vest over a swimming coustume. Just that little extra layer gives enough warm and has stopped my dc’s lips going blue

GummyGoddess · 10/03/2018 22:14

That doesn't look buoyant, just warm.

LittleOwl153 · 10/03/2018 22:35

A triathlon suit? Not sure it would be that different from what you have but kids run/cycle whilst still wet so must be warmer?