To hold back from taking my 2 year old swimming?

[Youreatragedystartingtohappen]

My DS is 2 and hasn't really been swimming. I think he's been once but then COVID came along and I had to go back to work and, anyways he's not been.

Our local pools are opening but limited and almost impossible to book. I feel really guilty about this but then also relieved because it's one of those things I'm not sure I'm ok doing at the moment.

What are you doing? Is it essential he does swim this early?

I take my dgc age 2 swimming. The pool has a booking system with hour long slots which gives 45 minutes swimming and 15 changing showering. There are 5 people max in the pool at any one time and I feel quite safe. I don’t think it’s Essential but it’s nice to do something that feels normal.

I think your missing out on great bonding and exciting experience
If your little one loves bath time there gonna love swimming
My 14 month has a very unhealthy relationship with water
She loves the bath, she loves drinking water, paddling pool in heat wave we just had and she loves to swim
When I take her feed the ducks she more interested in the water
Also seeing the sea for first time was amazing her face was just amazed and in love
So I think you should take your little one swimming
Mine 14 month and we most likely gone 4/5 times a month since she was two months old

It's fine he's only 2 he won't remember and he might not like it anyway. It's nonsense to make a big deal of it this early and no need for lessons until the are 4/5 and can listen and follow instructions properly

My friend is taking her just turned 3 month old swimming !

DS started swimming at 3 months - he absolutely loves it.

I really recommend it and you can’t start too early. If you can afford it, book lessons.

Aww don't worry! I've done it differently with all my kids and they're all great with water. I took my first one to baby Swimming classes v early on and carried on for ages then moved on to formal swimming classes. She is now 9yrs old and we've stopped swimming classes 6m ago, she doesn't want to go anymore, she's a strong enough swimmer so I'm fine with it. My 2nd child went to baby classes but then I stopped and re-started when she was 3yrs old ish for proper swimming classes. She's very good too, she's 6yrs old and wants to restart classes when possible. My 3.5yrs son hasn't gone swimming much as he had seizures as a baby so I was scared of going on my own. We'd started some baby classes but stopped early on. I plan to take him to formal classes in the next 6-12months. I'm sure he'll be fine. He loves the pool whenever we go although it's quite rare unless summer holidays at my parent's house (they have a pool). Dont stress! Make just go to the pool for fun initially and find some classes in the next year or so.

DS has been going to swim lessons since he was twelve weeks, he's really missed them during all of this and will be so excited to go back next week when they start back. He's 21 months and is very confident around water, he can float on his back and instinctively turns and goes for the wall when he jumps in off the edge. That's important to me, but we live on the coast and see fatalities every year

He's two. Nothing bad is going to happen if you wait a year and start then. However, if you are thinking of having a second then swimming will get a whole lot more difficult for a few years so you might want to prioritize it now.

My little one started lessons at 6 weeks. She is confident in the water (now 4 years) but obviously Covid stopped lessons.

I have agonised about re enrolling her but I understand Covid cannot live in the water, so it’s the changing rooms I worry about. To get round this I have just invested in a dry robe )probably too big for her and deffo too big for a 2 yo) but this may allow her to go to the pool ready, get out and straight hone all snuggly (without changing). It’s expensive but we thought we would give it a go.

I don’t think it matters that you lo hasn’t been and there is no rush (some kids don’t go until school). Swimming is an important life skill and being water safe is critical but not right now if you’re worried.

My DD rarely went swimming before she was 4. She caught up with the lessons from birth kids within a few months of starting lessons. It's fun, but not essential.
What is important is teaching them how to be safe near water.

I wouldn't really worry. I took my children swimming as babies but didn't start actual lessons until they were 5 and 7. They have both moved up to one from top group now so obviously learning a bit later didn't hurt.
If you don't feel comfortable don't go, my children are starting lessons again on Tuesday and I'm not 100% happy with it but they are desperate to go back. Why not just wait a few months and see how you feel then?

I think the earlier a child can swim, (and be confident in water) the better. Have you seen the video where a baby can turn from its front to back in the pool and then can tread water safely?
Better to be safe than sorry i think.

My son was 5 before he started swimming lessons and we live where swimming is massive, swimming is a great skill but it will not save your life generally so it is not the end of the world if a person does not learn so at 2 yes I would wait if you wanted to